Wet and Wild by Chelle

Chapter #1 - 1

“Why do I have to stay with him? I’m the Slayer! I should be out … shopping for Christmas.” Buffy cried, glaring at the people who stood in Giles’s apartment. They had just informed her that they were going to see a movie and she was the only one left to Spike-sit. “We’ve only got three weeks left before the holidays and you guys can see this movie anytime.” “No, we can’t.” Giles replied, pulling his jacket on and looking for his keys. “It’s only here for the weekend and tonight is the last night of said weekend.” “Well, did it ever occur to you that maybe I would like to see it and Spike can watch his own damn self?” Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her friends. Willow glanced at Giles, Xander wrapped an arm around Anya and Giles pull his coat on. “Well, did it?” “No, it didn’t, Buffy. Because when I mentioned that Schindler’s List was playing at the Sun for one weekend you said, and I quote, ‘Is that anything like Santa’s list?’” Willow slid her arms into her jacket as well and smiled. “He’s not so bad to look after. Just give him the run of the television and he’ll be fine.” “I don’t want to watch him. I had plans too!” Buffy stomped her foot and stared at everyone as they brushed past her. “Oh, okay, fine. Just leave me here during the holiday season with a demon! If he rubs off on me and makes me evil, it’s all your fault.” The door slammed and her jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe that they had actually left her there for some movie. Stalking around the sofa, she flopped onto her back and threw her feet on the coffee table. If Giles had been there, he would have knocked them off and scolded her but he wasn’t there and she would be damned if she would respect his house while she was upset. Glancing at the bookcases around the room, she decided to slide a few books out of alphabetical order as punishment. Grinning, she stood and walked toward the nearest case. She was letting her fingers walk down the spines of the books when Spike began to laugh hysterically in the next room. Sighing, Buffy glanced down the hallway and listened closely. “That’s it, then! Do it, do it. TITS! Wooo hooo!” His voice carried up the hallway and assaulted her ears and she curled her lip back in disgust. She could hear gunfire blaring from the television and decided that putting the books in disarray wouldn’t be nearly as fun as bothering Spike. Rubbing her hands together, Buffy walked down the hallway and opened the bathroom door. Spike saw her and quickly shut off the television with the remote. Buffy grinned and flipped it back on. “What are you watching, Spike?” “Uh, history channel.” He replied, flipping it back off. Buffy turned it back on in time to hear grunts and moans. “The history of what? Pornography?” “Giles gave it to me!” Spike shouted as the television began to show a couple in western wear going at it wildly. He smiled devilishly and licked his lips when he saw her face redden and she shut it off. He flipped it back on immediately. “No, no, luv. You wanted to watch it so watch it.” Buffy made a sound in the back of her throat and yanked the plug out of the wall. It was absolutely mortifying to have such a reaction to a porno film. Especially in front of Spike, who would never let her forget it. He’d tease her about the fact that she had blushed brighter than a neon sign and tell everyone. Gathering her composure, she turned back toward him. “I don’t have to watch a movie about sex. I can have it anytime, whereas you … can’t. You can only see tits on the television.” “I don’t need to see the porno to look at tits. Look at your nipples, Slayer.” He pointed at the front of her shirt, where he could see both of her hardened nipples brushing under the thin fabric. It delighted him to no end to see her aroused. When they had been ‘engaged’, he had copped several brief feels of her dainty little breasts and enjoyed it immensely. “I guess I’m not the only one who likes movies.” If it was at all possible, Buffy turned ever redder and slammed her hands against her breasts, cupping them and hiding them from his view. She turned to rush out and ran straight into the door, closing it completely. His laughter was loud as she grabbed the doorknob, yanking it furiously. There was a sudden snapping sound and she toppled back onto her ass, the doorknob in her hand. Spike glanced over the edge of the tub and smiled down at her. “Congratulations, that has to the most idiotic thing I have ever seen.” “I hate you.” She sat up slowly and held the broken knob up to the light. It had not just popped out; it was literally broken down the middle. “I don’t think it will go back in.” “Bloody hell, Slayer. Do you know what this means? You’re stuck in here with me.” Spike kicked the tub and accidentally hit the water faucet, snapping the handle off. It made a strange hissing noise and then began to spew water straight at him. He hacked several times, trying to move his face out of the line of fire. “Fuck! It’s cold! Do something!” Buffy leapt to her feet and reached into the tub for the handle. She found it submerged in the water, right at his crotch, and tried to fit it back where it went. The water pressure was too powerful though and it forced her to drop the handle several times. Spike watched her with disbelief before he spoke, “You stupid ‘git. Go over there and turn the water off at the sink!” “Right!” Buffy shouted. She made her way to the sink and glanced at all the pipes and handles under the cabinet. Gripping one of the knobs, she turned as hard as she could. Apparently, she didn’t know her own strength, and the pipe buckled under the pressure and cracked. It was her turn to get soaked as ice cold water shot out, blasting the pipe wide open. “Ack!” “What in the hell are you doing?” Spike screamed through chattering teeth. “Buffy, you are undoubtedly the biggest mistake ever made in human beings! You can’t do a fucking thing right!” “What do I do now? And shut the hell up! You think you’re a good vampire? Look at you! Talk about a mistake!” Buffy’s shoes slipped and slid on the smooth linoleum and she backed up toward the tub, trying not to fall. Spike’s hand shot out when she was close enough to grab and he snatched her into the tub with him, positioning her so that she took the brunt of the water. “I suggest that you unchain me so I can do something since you are apparently too daft.” “I am not!” Buffy squirmed in his grip, her teeth clanking together as the cold water splashed against her back. “What does daft mean?” “It means Buffy!” He growled, and shook her several times since he couldn’t hit her because of the chains. “Unchain me before we both die!” “You can’t drown.” She replied. “No, but I’m going to kill you, even it kills me, if you don’t let me go right now.” “I don’t know where the key is!” Shivering, she punched him in the chest and tried to pull free. “Then you help me bust loose.” He flipped her around, laughing when she took water in the face and forced the chains into her hands. “Pull!” One hard yank together and the chains broke free. Still cuffed at the wrists, Spike tossed Buffy forward and stood up, dangling what was left of the chains at his sides. Buffy stood as well and punched him in the face. “You bastard.” Spike snarled at her and massaged his jaw. “What was that for?” “You’re a bastard.” She shoved him angrily and stepped out of the tub. Already, the floor was inches deep in water and the force with which it was shooting out was making it that much deeper by the minute. “We better do something.” “I am.” Spike replied, shoving a window open. Buffy turned and caught him by the seat of his pants, as he was about to wriggle through. “Stop or I’ll stake!” Rolling his eyes, he turned his body and sat on the small windowsill, glancing back in at her. “If you want to drown then go ahead. I’ll leave you in there. I’m going to go through the front door, find the keys to this bondage and dry off.” “What about the water?” Buffy cried, as he jumped out the window and landed on his feet. “Drown. No sense letting it go to waste.” His chuckling disappeared as he rounded the corner of the complex. Chewing her lower lip, Buffy glanced back at the water and quickly made her way out the window as well. She thumped to the ground, bashing one of her knees on a concrete step, and followed Spike around the building. When she arrived at the front door, she found him standing with his hands on his hips. “Slayer, why is the door locked?” “Uhm … to keep trash like you out?” “Trash like me has to be invited in. Now, not only have you destroyed Giles’ s bathroom, you’ve destroyed his front door.” “Me? How have I-?” Spike smiled and grabbed her around the neck, causing a searing pain to shoot through his head. Ignoring it, he lifted her off her feet and slammed her into the door as hard as he could several times. Frowning, he noted that the door made a cracking sound but didn’t cave in the way he had hoped, so he dropped her and kicked it himself. “Why can’t you weigh a normal amount. Healthy girls would have busted straight through!” Buffy was stunned when she picked herself up off the ground. The freezing air forgotten, she launched a kick at his head and connected, sending him flying into one of the flowerbeds that lined the atrium. When he didn’t stand immediately, she went after him and used the front of his shirt to heft him to his feet. Ignoring the string of profanity he was spewing, she positioned him in front of the door, took a step back and slammed into him as hard as she could. Spike yelped when his body connected so hard against the wooden door he expected to see a perfect indention of himself there. He staggered around for several seconds, clearly addled, before he leaned against the side of the building. “Bloody hell!” “You want to try anything else? You want to insult me some more?” Buffy asked him, stopping in front of him in a fighter’s stance. “Because I can go all night, believe me.” “Piss off.” He moaned, clutching his shoulder. “Fine, Spike. I’ll piss off. I’ll leave you here and then go to town and tell all the little vampires I see just what happened to Spike. I’ll tell them how you can’t eat, you can’t hurt a fly and how you’re chained up with PEOPLE and helping research and-“ “You wouldn’t dare.” He peeled himself off the wall and towered over her, almost nose to nose. “Or better yet, I’ll call Angel and let him come and see what’s become of his little boy. He’ll enjoy it even more than I do.” Spike drew back to hit her and then grabbed his head as whatever the soldier boys had done to him kicked in. “I bloody well hate you.” “I bloody well don’t care.” She mimicked his accent and shivered as a cool breeze assaulted them. “All I care about right now is getting dry clothes and making up a story that puts all the blame on you.” “I won’t take the blame. I was alone and minding my own business when you came in there to bother me.” Spike tried to make the chains dangling from his wrists fit down into the pockets of his jeans but he had no luck. Sighing, he slumped and held them for her to see. “Can’t you do something? I can’t be seen walking around like this.” “We’ll hit the sewers. You’re keeping those on because for all intents and purposes, you broke loose, ruined the house and I had to go get you. Boy, is Giles gonna be pissed at you!” Spike dropped his arms fast, making one of the chains whip around sideways and hit him hard between the legs. His eyes widened and, for a second, no sound escaped his open mouth. Then a low howl began to build and within seconds, it was a scream, a high shrill scream that sounded like a woman. An opera singing woman. Buffy clapped a hand over his mouth and tugged him toward the sewer opening in the back of Giles’s yard. “Spike, if we ever needed a siren then we could strap you to the top of the car.” He didn’t reply. He was too busy trying to make sure his legs didn’t rub against his balls in any way. ~ Giles stared at the assortment of jewelry in front of him and bit his lip. He had asked the entire gang to accompany him to select the perfect gift for Buffy, but so far, they were being no help. Willow had been sidetracked looking at Stars of David for her mother and Xander and Anya were kissing in front of the bubble gum dispenser. The sales clerk watched him intently as he glanced from one velvet case to another. Rolling her eyes, she stared at the clock and said, “Sir, who is the gift for and maybe I can help you decide.” Giles looked up at her, trying to find a way to describe what Buffy was to him. Certainly, she was his friend. Most definitely was she a loved one and she was absolutely the highlight of his life. “It’s for my daughter.” He replied, deciding that that was how he viewed her and the only way he could explain how perfect the gift had to be. “How old is she?” The woman softened, despite the late hour and how long the man had been looking at the items they had. “Eighteen, almost nineteen.” Giles replied, smiling a little. His precious, precious Slayer had lived through all the perils of being the Chosen One, and she was an adult now. “It really needs to be something quite magnificent.” “How about a bracelet?” The woman led him toward another viewing area and pointed out several charms and gold chains. “Nothing says love like gold. Especially charms and pendants because they can really be personal. Bracelets, necklaces-” “Right. Right!” Giles glanced at the various items and nodded his head. “You ’re absolutely right. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? I’ll take a gold necklace please. Just a plain gold chain, sturdy and not easily tangled, if you please?” The sales lady shrugged and led him toward the necklaces. “We have a herring bone that won’t break or tangle and the clasp is guaranteed not to come undone easily.” “That sounds fine.” “What length?” The woman pulled out several necklaces in various sizes and draped them over her finger. “Oh good heavens.” Giles glanced around and motioned for Willow, who joined him eagerly. “Willow, would you please try this chain on?” Willow stood in front of him and let him clasp and unclasp several of the chains around her neck. He decided on one that hung just below her throat, because it wouldn’t be snatched off easily and quickly paid. “Would you like this gift wrapped?” Asked the woman, closing the box and reaching for paper. “No, I have a charm to add to it.” Giles shook his head and smiled. The perfect gift had been with him all along. __ The sewers reeked and Buffy struggled not to breathe through her nose. Still shivering, she led Spike along, knowing instinctively which way led to Revello Drive. She dreaded the amount of explaining she would have to do when she showed up at her mother’s door with a half-chained Spike and soggy clothing. Sighing, she glanced behind her and said, “Will you keep up?” Spike was walking slowly and bowlegged, trying not to make the wet fabric of his jeans rub his aching crotch. It already felt like it was bleeding and the friction was making it feel like it was blistering as well. “Will you shut up? You make me wish I was deaf! Hell, you make me wish I was dead.” “Would killing you make you happy?” “Yes! Stake me, please?” “Nope, not a chance. Only if you were cured and enjoying life would I stake you.” She stopped walking and waited for him to catch up, smirking at the way he was walking. “You look ridiculous.” When he arrived beside her, he stood up tall, trying to appear indifferent. “You always look ridiculous.” “Spike-“ She began to reply but paused when she heard something at one end of the tunnel. “Shhh, get back behind those pipes.” Spike nodded and stepped up into a small recess in the wall, then ducked behind some low pipes. He watched her for several seconds and then reached out and grabbed her, pulling her up with him. “You’re not even armed, Slayer.” “What the hell do you care?” She growled, trying to break loose. His arms around her waist reminded her of how great he kissed and made her remember things she should not be thinking. Like how much she thought about the ‘engagement’ they had and how much she enjoyed his love. Granted, it was fake love but the memory of it made her tingle all over. “I care because you’re the only person who might be able to help me so you serve at least one purpose. Now be quiet.” “Prick.” They grew silent as they listened to the approaching footfalls splashing in the water. Whoever it was sounded like they were jogging. Buffy gasped when a military clad man dashed past them and rounded a corner. She glanced at Spike, saw the way he was gritting his teeth and whispered, “We may be close to where they operate from, you know?” “Yes, I know.” He replied, taking in the small space that offered their only protection. They were completely shielded from the main tunnel, but that did little to reassure him. “I don’t like this. I’d rather go above ground and risk being spotted with you than take my chances with those soldiers again.” “I’m going to take that as a complement.” Buffy poked her head out scanned the tunnel. “I think it’s safe.” As soon as she said it, several more voices could be heard and she ducked back in, pressing herself against Spike. Their eyes met and held as the men stopped right beside the opening and began to talk. “He should have starved by now.” One man said, his voice low and grainy. “I agree but you heard the boss. She wants to be sure.” “How can we bring her proof if he’s dead? Don’t vampires dust?” A third voice replied, “No. Vampires that starve to death don’t combust. They just wither up and dry out. Hostile 17 will look like a mummy by the time we find him.” “I can’t believe he got away.” “I can’t believe we’re still looking for him.” “I can’t believe we’re standing here talking about it when we have direct orders.” The third voice spoke with authority and Buffy cocked her head to one side, trying to remember where she had heard it before. As the soldiers walked down the tunnel, she became aware of the fact that Spike’s hands were still snug around her waist and his thumbs were trailing small circles under the back of her shirt. She realized that he didn’t even know he was doing it when she saw the look on his face and felt him shudder against her. “Spike?” “They’re talking about me.” He brought a hand to his head and ran it through his hair. “They’re talking about me like I’m nothing.” She watched his face for several seconds and whispered, “It’ll be okay.” Angrily, he slammed his head back against the concrete and squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself not to cry. The only thing that could be worse than being neutered would be to cry in front of the Slayer. Breaking down was a luxury he only afforded himself at night. When he was alone, bound in rusty chains with nothing to do, he wept for what he now was. He wept for the loss of Dru and the loss of what made him complete, his savagery. Silently, he whispered to himself over and over again that things would get better, but he knew he was fooling himself. It startled Buffy when she glanced up and saw the tear coursing down Spike’s cheek. She gasped, thought about making a joke of it, but wouldn’t let herself when she saw his chin begin to quiver. Reaching a tentative hand upward, she caught the tear before it dripped off his chin and whispered, “Spike?” “Don’t laugh at me.” He said in a low voice, opening his eyes and staring at her face. Where he had expected to see a large grin, he saw a frown. Where he had expected to see her features contorted with glee, he saw concern and something that resembled compassion. “I’m not going to laugh at you, Spike. I know what you’re going through. Did I tell you about the time that I lost all my power?” She smiled a little, letting her hand move upward so she could wipe away what was left of the tear. His skin was cool and she pulled his head down. Her need to comfort him surprised her and she kissed him softly on the cheek. “I know how you feel, Spike.” Spike’s eyes widened as he felt her hot breath against his face. Licking his lips, he caught her mouth in his, pulling her tight against his chest. He felt her tense and was afraid she would pull away, then she sagged against him and returned the kiss. The comfort he sought so desperately was given and he took greedily, hungrily, not caring who she was. Buffy moaned against his mouth and pulled free, drawing in a ragged breath. When she had kissed his cheek, she had expected that to be the end of it. No part of her expected to want to kiss him as passionately as she had just done. “Spike, I-we-.” He buried his face in her neck and clung to her. “I know. I just needed-“ “I needed too.” Buffy replied, her arms circling her neck and holding him against her. What she was feeling confused the hell out of. She was going to tell him that she needed –him- when something jolted against her back, stinging her and making her throat feel like it was closing up. Spike felt her go limp against him and caught her, not letting her fall. Glancing up toward the entrance, he saw two military men holding guns. “No! Buffy! Buffy, get up!” One man slapped the other on the back of the head, “What the hell did you shoot her for? You know who is going to be madder than hell!” The other man threw his hands up and said, “Well, how was I supposed to know it was her. Why is she here? I’m not going to be the one to tell him what she was doing.” “As soon as you tell him that you shot her, he’s going to kill you anyway.” “Let’s just take get them downstairs. The Professor can decide how to handle the girl.” Spike lifted Buffy, trying to decide what to do. There was no way he was going to let them kill her. “Let her go. You want me.” The rays slammed him in the neck, just above Buffy’s head and he slumped forward. He was vaguely aware of the soldiers pulling her out of his arms and then he faded into darkness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Two Giles tried to turn the doorknob on his front door and discovered that it was locked. He glanced at Willow and Xander and rapped several times with his knuckles. When no one answered, he dug through his pocket for the keys and unlocked the deadbolt. As soon as he stepped through the door, he knew something was wrong. The floor of his living room was soaked and he shouted, “Buffy?” Hurrying down the hallway, he tried to open the bathroom door several times and finally slammed against it, knocking it in. He gasped when he saw the water and open window. Turning quickly, he made his way back down the hall, feeling a sense of dread and trying to ignore it. “Xander, call a plumber and stay here to see that he arrives.” “Where’s Buffy?” Willow cried, stepping on top of the sofa to get out of the cold floor, which had soaked her sneakers. “She’s gone.” Giles yanked his weapons trunk open and pulled out a crossbow, shoving several wooden bolts and a crucifix into a duffel bag. “And so is Spike.” “Where are you going?” Anya asked, watching him load the bag. “You’re going to kill Spike? You are going to willingly murder the demon that tapes your shows for you religiously?” “Only if he gives me a reason to.” Giles replied, and headed for the door. It made no difference to him that Spike had become something other than a nuisance as of late. All that mattered was that he had better find Buffy unscathed and if Spike caused so much as a scrape, he was going to die. Permanently. Willow grabbed several stakes from the trunk and followed Giles, unwilling to let him hunt alone. “Xander, fix the water. We’ll be back soon.” “Okay, is it just me or has this night gotten really bad?” Xander leaned down to fish a soggy phone book off the floor and jumped when he felt Anya slide her hands over his back. “What are-?” “It hasn’t gotten bad. We’re alone and we’ve never done it in the water.” “Anya, do you have feeling in your feet?” “Not right now. The water seems to have numbed my feet.” Xander nodded at her and said, “Right. If the part of my anatomy that ‘does it ’ comes in contact with this water … then I will lose that part of my body.” “But it will numb it like my feet and you will last longer and therefore, I will get greater satisfaction.” She smiled when she finished, unaware of the fact that she had just insulted him. “Now the night has gone from really bad … to really, really bad, Anya.” “Can we still fornicate?” *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- “I can not believe you would do something so careless!” Voices that had been altered through a computer greeted Buffy when she slowly regained her senses. Her entire being ached and she tried to bring a hand to her head, but found herself strapped tightly to a stretcher. Three large bands ran across her body, one over her chest, one over her hips and one so tight across her ankles she imagined they were bleeding. Rolling her head to one side, she forced her eyes open and squinted against blinding light. She could just make out a mirror on one wall that ran the entire length of the room. Various tubes had been attached to her body and she pulled against the restraints, listening intently to the conversation that was coming through several ceiling speakers. “The subject is beginning to come around.” A voice said, sounding robotic and strained. On the other side of the glass, several technicians had been studying Buffy's progress, monitoring her heart rate and giving her oxygen. Microphones lined their workstations so they could speak to the things that usually wound up strapped to the bed. Never had a mortal girl been in the position their current patient was in. Riley slammed his hand down in front of Forest and spoke angrily. “I’m really fucking surprised, considering that she’s a human being and you jolted her with enough volts to fry someone twice her size!” “Look, I said I was sorry. It’s not my fault that the girl was necking with Hostile Seventeen. What would you have done?” Forest glanced up at his friend and then across the room at Professor Walsh, who looked away. “I wouldn’t have shot a civilian. I can tell you that much.” Riley began to pace back and forth in front of the glass, staring at the small blond girl who had piqued his curiosity in more ways than one. He had no idea why she was down in the sewer with a vampire, but he intended to find out. “And besides-“ Buffy tugged harder and grunted loudly, causing the conversation to come to an abrupt halt. The angry voice spoke again, kindly this time, “Miss Summers, don’t struggle and hurt yourself. You aren’t going to be harmed, we just have a few questions for you.” “How do you know my name?” Buffy stopped struggling and stared at the mirror, cold chills dotting her flesh. Someone had removed her clothing and put her into a hospital gown, but that wasn’t the reason for the chills. Knowing that they knew her name was the cause and she didn’t like it one bit. Riley put his hands in his pockets and leaned his head against the cool glass. “It is our job to know everyone, ma’am. As soon as you give us some information, the sooner you’ll be out of here.” “Screw you!” She shouted, twisting and turning, still trying to break the binds. “Where is Spike?” “Spike?” Riley asked, recognizing the name and narrowing his eyes. Buffy pulled one of her feet out of the straps and kicked the bed angrily. “Don’t you act like you don’t know. You took him too and this wasn’t the first time. He’s not a hostile seventeen. Whatever that is!” Riley pulled his hands out of his pockets and shut off the microphones. “She told me a while back that she was marrying someone named Spike. She said it was a joke but-“ “Maybe she’s fried!” Graham pointed out, speaking up for the first time since they had shown Riley what happened to his main squeeze. “Maybe Forest nuked her so much that she’s all burnt in the head and doesn’t know what she ’s talking about.” Professor Walsh moved across the room and laid a hand on Riley’s arm when he started toward Graham. “Keep her talking so we can assess the damage.” “She’s not damaged!” Riley said, turning the mics back on. “Miss Summers, can you tell us what you were doing in the sewers?” “I could, but I won’t.” Buffy shot back, successfully pulling her other leg free. “Were you harmed in any way by the man you were with?” Riley scratched the side of his face when she began to roll on the bed, wondering at her strength. Surely she hadn’t been turned. “Did anyone check her for bite marks?” “She was examined.” Walsh said, watching with interest as Buffy wormed her way onto her stomach and started to push against the restraints around her back. “Who secured her?” “I did.” Forest stood up and stared with wide eyes as Buffy broke the strap over her back and then the one on her ass. “No, I changed my mind. I’m not the one who strapped her down. Someone else did it.” Riley stared at the boy in disgust and turned back toward the mirror in time to see a chair bounce off the other side. He saw her moving toward a lamp and shouted, "Buffy, calm down!” “Let me out of here!” She screamed, grabbing a table full of instruments and flinging it against the glass as well. Having seen what the soldiers were capable of, Buffy wanted no part of anything they had to say. “I’ll get a mask and go in.” Riley shook his head and sighed loudly. “This is ridiculous! Does anyone object to sedation before she gets hurt?” When no one voiced opposition, he shoved a syringe in his pocket and glanced back at Buffy. “Perhaps you should wear the padding.” Walsh jumped as the stretcher slammed against the wall and moved to the other side of the room. “She’s very aggressive.” “Look at her.” Riley shouted, pointing at the waif of a girl who was now pounding her fists against the mirror. The ray gun had caused her hair to stand on end and her face was dirty from the sewers and she was still the prettiest girl he had ever seen. “What can she do?” Buffy narrowed her eyes when she heard someone ask what she could do. “Yeah, you send someone in here and I’ll show you what I can do.” Riley grabbed a mask out of the supply closet and turned so Forest could secure the straps that prevented it from being pulled off. He paused at the keypad to enter in his code and said, “Miss Summers, I’m going to come inside and give you something to help calm you down. You are not going to be harmed in any way. I promise.” “You aren’t giving me anything.” Buffy said, when a door opened in the corner and a big man walked into the room. He held his hands up, trying to show that he was unarmed, but Buffy wasn't impressed. “I’m warning you, Mister. If you force me to fight you, then I can guarantee you’ll feel it for weeks.” Riley smiled underneath the mask, amazed at how courageous she was. When he had first met her, he figured her for nothing more than an airhead, but here she was, standing up to someone twice her size. Carefully and slowly, he pulled the stretcher off the floor and sat it upright. Disguising his voice as best he could, he spoke through the mask, “Please, just get back on the cot and we’ll be finished before you know it.” Buffy glanced at the open doorway, wondering how many people waited in the other room to intercept her if she ran. The man followed her gaze and changed positions, moving between her and freedom. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “This is kidnapping. You’re holding me hostage and I don’t care who you think you are, you can’t do that.” “You are not a hostage.” “Do you electrocute everyone?” “You weren’t electrocuted.” Riley chuckled and then grew quiet when he saw the fury on her face. “We used a neurological stimulator to shut down your motor functions for a while. That’s all.” Buffy pointed at her head. “You electrocuted me. Look at my hair.” “You’re fine. Now, let me help you and we’ll see to it that you’re out of here within the hour.” He hated himself for lying to her and he despised himself for the fact that she would wake up with absolutely no memory of what had happened to her and would forever wonder. It wasn't a simple sedative in the shot he was planning to give her. It was laced with a truth serum. Swallowing hard, Buffy weighed her options. Taking out the big lug in front of her wouldn’t be too hard. If he was human, and he appeared to be, then she could knock him out quickly. Or, she could beat the hell out of him and use –him- as a hostage to get through the other room. While she was thinking, he pulled the needle from his pocket and stepped toward her. With a small smile, she waited for him to get close enough and punched him in the face. “Ahh!” Riley’s head rocked back and he tasted blood. He brought his hand to his jaw and shook his head back and forth several times, trying to still the steady aching. Stunned, he stared at her, wondering where she was hiding her muscle. Buffy decided to make a break for it, figuring she’d cross the next bridge when she got there and darted past him. The man lunged fast, catching her around the waist and she threw her head back, slamming into his jaw again. He dropped her and she spun, a roundhouse kick connecting with his neck. Despite her bare feet, the kick was powerful enough to slam him back against the wall and he wheezed for breath. On the other side of the glass, Professor Walsh watched in horror. “Boys, mask up and help him.” Graham and Forest were already pulling masks on as she spoke and quickly rushed into the observation room. Buffy saw them and grabbed the arm of the first man, shoving him into the two oncoming soldiers. They all stumbled and one of them grabbed her gown as she ran toward the door. Bringing her foot back, she caught the man between the legs and threw her arm up just in time to backhand another. Not concerning herself with the fact that these were human beings, Buffy fought hard, spinning, leaping and kicking her way toward the door. Everytime one of them stood, he found himself back on his ass. She was mere inches away from rushing through the entrance when one of the men grabbed her ankle, tripping her. Gripping his wrist, she slammed his arm across her leg and flinched when the bone snapped through his skin, showering her with blood. The man screamed and clutched his arm to his chest and Buffy ran through the door. She didn’t take time to notice anyone who stood in the control room. Instead, she made a mad dash for another door and jumped through it just as an alarm sounded. Sprinting down a long hallway, she tried several exits and found them all to be locked. Crying out in anger, she glanced behind her and saw several masked men heading her way. Off to the right, there was a metal staircase that led upward, and to her left there were stairs that led down. She rushed to the ones that led up and took them two at a time. Three flights later, she shoved open a pair of double doors and gasped. She stood on a balcony that overlooked what had to be the heart of the operation. There were demons all over the place, lying on stretchers, standing behind glass in padded rooms and being led from one place to another. Several large machines blinked different colored lights and men in lab coats rushed back and forth, carrying vials and clipboards. The doors were shoved open behind her and she saw the same man who had been hiding the syringe barrel through. He stepped toward her, beckoning her to come to him and she glanced around for a way to escape. There were no stairs that led off the platform she was on and she bit her lower lip, trying to decide what to do. It was easily a thirty foot drop over the side and she was barefoot. If she did manage to land in one piece, she’d probably hurt her feet too badly to run. Glancing skyward, she noted several exposed beams and bent at the knees, leaping up and grabbing onto one. Riley gasped and watched in shock as she made the jump and shimmied her way through the unfinished second story landing. Professor Walsh rushed through the doors and stood beside him, masked and out of breath. “She’s not human, Riley. There’s no way she can be. You saw what she did to Graham and we both just saw that jump.” “I won’t have her put out of commission until I know that for sure.” Sighing, he took the tranquilizer gun from the woman and aimed. Buffy saw what the man was doing and let go of the pipe she was holding onto, dropping a few feet to the next one and leaning low. The dart whizzed over her and she called out, “Missed me, G.I. Joe!” Directly across from her, on the bottom floor, Spike noticed the commotion and followed the gazes of the soldier boys upward. He was stunned when he saw the Slayer, wearing a gown that flashed her panties, climbing over and under beams and cables in the ceiling. Scanning the area, he saw a man aiming a gun at her and went wild, slamming against the Plexiglas that kept him imprisoned. Several of the military men turned and glared at him but he was unfazed, hell bent on creating enough of a diversion that all the attention would fall on him. He noticed a demon with horns across the room start banging against his own glass. Soon, the loud drumming of the other demons in captivity drowned out his shouts of encouragement for Buffy. One by one, the various demons sprang into action, creating chaos, and Spike stopped, watching the Slayer disappear from view. “Don’t forget me.” He whispered and slumped to the floor. Riley used the gun’s shoulder strap to fling it over his arm and raced back down the hallway, deciding that Buffy was going to try to work her way to the emergency exit, which would take her directly back to the sewers. He could hear Walsh shouting orders and ignored her, willing to do anything to keep Buffy alive. If that meant breaking code to do it, then he would break code. As he rounded the corner and used his entrance card on the stairwell, he heard something crash on the other side of the door and knew that she had made it through. Swearing under his breath, he coded his password in and shoved the door open. Buffy had cut her arm badly when she punched through the thin sheetrock wall. She was crouched down in the corner, trying to assess the damage when the door opened. Shooting to her feet, she stared down the barrel of the gun that was aimed at her heaving chest. A few feet to her left, she could make out a sewer grate and wondered if she was faster than a speeding bullet. Deciding to pull the pathetic victim routine, she forced herself to cry and whispered, “Please? God, it’s Christmas and I don’t want to die. I’m only eighteen and my mom-” Riley eased his hand off the trigger and lowered his weapon. For the first time during his term with the Initiative, he wanted to reveal himself and screw the system. He could hear several of his comrades shouting and stepped aside, removing the grate. “Go straight through there and you’ll be in the sewers under a club called the Bronze. Keep left and you’ll find a ladder. Get out of here.” Buffy stared at him, trying to decide if he was being serious and he grabbed her arm, “I said go.” Buffy began to cry for real as she thanked the man and dropped down into the murky water. She watched him reseal the opening and began to run, choking on her sobs as she thought about Spike being left behind and how terrified he must be. She stopped running and leaned against the concrete wall of the tunnel, trying to get her bearings. Blood dripped off her right arm in a steady stream and she knew that the smell would be a magnet for any vampires in the area. She began walking again and slowly climbed the ladder to freedom. When she stepped out into the alley behind the Bronze, barefoot and shivering, the only thing on her mind was how soon she could get back in and free Spike. __ Riley heard the keypad being punched on the other side of the door and pretended to be hurt. Professor Walsh stepped into the room and pulled her mask off. “Where is she?” “She got away. I was standing here waiting for her and she came through the wall and knocked me out.” Riley pulled his own mask off and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I don’t know what happened.” Maggie turned and looked at one of the doctors that had joined the chase, “Did we get a blood sample on this girl?” “Yes, ma’am. We got a full mark-up on her to check for contamination and sickness.” The man replied, staring at the hole in the wall. “Whatever she is, she’s strong.” “Good, I want it analyzed thoroughly and I want to know by dawn.” She waited until the doctor had excused himself before she turned back toward Riley. “And I want you to go to the infirmary immediately and see if your nose is broken.” “Yes, ma’am.” Relieved, Riley ducked out of the room, leaving his supervisor by herself. He didn’t have any answers to the questions that were bound to come. All he wanted to do was get out so he could go find Buffy and see that she was alright. Professor Walsh ran her fingers over the hole that Buffy had knocked through the wall and glanced toward the sewer. Something wasn’t right. She walked over, tried to lift the grate and confirmed that it had been closed from the inside, the crank turned tight. Riley had not been knocked unconscious, he had allowed the girl to escape. Confronting him about it was the last thing she wanted to do. There were more important things at the moment, which included evaluating Buffy’s DNA and running tests on Hostile Seventeen. If Graham and Forest had witnessed what they claimed to have seen, then the Hostile would be an essential figure in providing information that tests could not conclude. Riley could wait and when she had the time, she would let him know just what she thought about the stunt he had pulled. With a sigh, she headed toward the laboratory to put in a request for rapid results. Maggie was looking very forward to discovering exactly what the cute little blond was and how she had been the first to elude her and her crew. It wasn’t like she didn’t still have the upper hand. Buffy would be reporting to her class after Christmas break and her only son would continue to woo her. Only now, he would have no choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Three They found her walking down the side of the road toward Giles’s house. Willow was the first to spot her and squealed, causing Giles to clutch his chest and slam the brakes. Jumping out of the car, Willow was the first to arrive at Buffy’s side. She took in her friend’s appearance, the gown covered with dried blood and lack of shoes, and said, “Buffy, are you okay?” Buffy was so cold she could barely move. A light drizzle had been soaking her since she had climbed out of the sewers and it had to be less than forty degrees outside. Her feet felt like they were torn to shreds, something she hadn’t noticed until she stopped walking. “I-I’m okay.” With the sound of a sputtering engine, Giles succeeded in shutting his car off and rushed around the side, removing his coat. He tossed it around Buffy ’s shoulders and lifted her, motioning for Willow to get into the backseat. Her thighs were like ice against his arms and he could imagine what Buffy’s feet and lower legs must feel like. There was dried mud all over them and her breathing was ragged and forced. “We’ll take her to her mother’s house.” “Shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?” Willow asked, as she pushed the seat forward and climbed in. “No.” Buffy shook her head and let go of Giles’ neck as he placed her on the seat. She had seen enough of sterilized rooms and stretchers to last her a lifetime. “No hospitals.” Giles shut the door and made his way to the driver’s side, his mind racing. He turned the heater on full blast and what little warm air it produced, caused Buffy to moan gratefully. He drove as fast as his car would go and arrived at Joyce’s home in record time. Willow climbed out on his side of the car and rushed to the front door, knocking loudly to wake Joyce. By the time Giles carried Buffy up onto the porch, Joyce was yanking the door open. She took one look at her daughter and put a hand over her mouth. “Buffy?” “Willow, go run a warm bath.” Giles entered the house, noting the stake that Joyce was clutching in her hand and nodded his approval. “She’ll be okay, Joyce. She’s just cold.” Joyce flung the stake onto a letter desk and brushed Buffy’s hair back. “Buffy, what happened, baby?” Buffy shook her head and whispered, “Later.” Willow ran the tub the downstairs bathroom full and shouted that it was ready. Giles walked the short distance down the hallway and deposited Buffy in the warm water. The gown billowed over her and Giles excused himself quickly, going through the house to build a fire in the living room. Joyce watched as Willow began to take charge of the situation with Buffy and followed Giles. “What happened? Why is she wearing a hospital gown?” “I don’t have any answers right now. The only thing I know for sure is she’s safe.” He stacked the wood in the fireplace and fumbled for a match from the mantle. When the fire was going strong, he replaced the screen and stood, realizing for the first time how shaky his hands were. “She’s safe. She’s fine and she’s safe.” “Mr. Giles? Rupert?” Joyce watched as he brought a hand up and removed his glasses, squeezing his eyes shut and rubbing his thumb and finger against them. “You would think that I would have grown accustomed to this by now. I’ve seen her bleed and bruise and it never gets easier. Actually, to be quite honest, it only gets worse.” He put his glasses back on and glanced at the woman, the mother of his charge. “I’m sorry, I’m sure you know.” Joyce walked across the room and hugged the man tightly. “We both know.” __ Willow held her breath when she rubbed the blood off Buffy’s arm and her friend cried out. “I’m sorry. I just need to see how bad it is.” “It’s okay, go ahead.” Buffy’s teeth had stopped chattering, but now she was even more uncomfortable. The hot water lapped at her flesh, making it sting all over as the feeling returned. She was aware of every cut and scratch she had and she couldn’t even begin to count how many places she ached. “Is it horrible?” “No. I don’t think it would have needed stitches.” Willow stood up and dried her hands. “Can you- do you need me to help you bathe?” Buffy blushed a little and shook her head. “No, thank you. I can get it.” With a nod, Willow walked out of the bathroom, leaving the door open so she could hear. Buffy pulled the soaked gown over her arms and squeezed the water out of it as best she could, before she tossed it into the sink across the room. The movement caused her shoulder to protest and she grabbed it, rotating it a little to work the cramp out. Glancing at the water, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. It was a murky brown and when she ran her feet along the bottom she could feel gritty dirt. Pulling the plug, she stood and flipped the shower on, letting the jet stream massage her back. Standing up, she could feel the small cuts on the soles of her feet and lifted one, turning it inward so she could see. Fresh blood drops welled up and dripped off and she decided to hurry. Shampoo had never smelled better, soap had never felt better as it washed the residue off her mottled skin and she inhaled deeply. As the water rinsed clear, she remembered Spike and leaned her head against the shower stall. He had kissed her. He had kissed her without being under any kind of spell and she had kissed him back. Spike had been terrified when the army men had gotten close and she had comforted him, telling him she knew how he felt. Something passed between them, a kinship; a new level of respect for one another and she felt it then and now. Hot tears coursed their way down her cheeks, stinging as the salt mingled with a scrape on her chin. She didn’t care. She deserved the pain for leaving him down there where he was afraid to be. He had told the military men to take him instead, she had heard that much before she lost consciousness, and she hadn’t even tried to find him before she escaped. She hated herself. Buffy turned the water off and dried her face with a towel. There was a way out of there so there had to be a way back in. Even if she died trying, she would find that way and get him out. __ Spike stood up and glared at the people who were approaching his holding cell. One was a woman with short red hair and she was followed closely by two armed guards and a man with a white coat on. He watched her swipe a card down something beside the door and then it lifted and the woman stepped through. He made a move toward her and the men with guns immediately aimed at him. Smiling, Professor Walsh said, “Don’t make any sudden movements and you’ll be fine.” “Oh, you already saw to it that I’m not fine. You people took away my ability to keep myself alive.” Spike snarled, but didn’t snap her neck the way he kept envisioning. Being jolted with whatever was in the guns was not a pleasant experience so he kept a safe amount of distance from the lady. “Who is the girl we caught you with?” Walsh leaned against the padded wall and nodded at the doctor, who pulled a pen out of his pocket and poised it over a clipboard, ready to write. “My dinner.” Spike replied quickly. Could it be possible that they didn’t know what the Slayer was? “You can’t bite anyone, remember?” “I didn’t say I was going to bite her. Vampires have other needs, not just blood.” A small smile tugged his lips and Spike grabbed his crotch. “You didn’t hurt this ability and it was hungry.” “We don’t need visuals.” Professor Walsh said with a sigh. “We have reason to believe, based on what this girl told us and your behavior during her escape, that you two know each other.” “No.” He shrugged and crossed his arm, relishing the fact that the Slayer had gotten away. “I’ve never seen her before.” “Then you must have made one hell of a first impression because she was very upset that we had taken you.” That comment made Spike’s eyes widen and he quickly shook it off and tried to appear indifferent. “Well, you took us after I had her all hot and bothered and eating out of my hand. Sexually frustrated women can be really aggressive.” Walsh moved closer to him, causing the guards to go on instant alert and crowd into the small room. “Your name is Spike, isn’t it?” Spike didn’t answer her and she was unfazed as she continued, “Well, Spike. I can make things easy for you here or very, very uncomfortable. I think that you have information and I want it.” “I already told you that she was going to be a lay. Nothing more, nothing less.” Spike stared at the guns again and stuck his chin out defiantly. “I’m not afraid of you.” Walsh raised her right hand and made a motion with her fingers. One of the soldiers unstrapped a bottle from his belt and handed it to her. “I don’t want you to fear me, but you will learn to fear my techniques.” Spike ducked as she took aim and sprayed. The Holy Water soaked the back of his shirt and he howled, ripping it off. He made a dive for the woman and she sprayed again, covering his chest. Smoke poured off his skin, making him shout and he retreated to one of the corners. “Please-“ Walsh handed the spray back to it’s owner and put her hands in her pockets. “Like I said, I can make it very uncomfortable for you here. With that fact laid out on the table, I’m going to leave you alone to think about it. You will tell us what we want to know. It’s up to you to decide how much damage it will take to get us there.” Spike turned his back to her and faced the wall, not saying a word. It was going to take a lot more than a dash of Holy Water to make him tell all. The Slayer was the only hope he had of getting out and if what the woman said was true, if she had been upset that they had taken him, then there was a chance she really would do something to help him. After all, she had kissed him back. Right? __ Riley was pulling his shirt back on when his mother opened the door of the infirmary and walked in. She stared at him for several seconds and then tilted his head back so she could see the shape he was in for herself. Both of his eyes were black and the side of his jaw had a large bruise on it. “Is anything broken?” “Nah.” Riley shook his head and buttoned the last button. “Doc said there may be a hairline fracture in my jaw but it’s not showing up on X-ray if there is.” “Did he give you pain medicine?” Maggie grimaced when he stood up and groaned a little. “Riley?” “I’ll be fine, Mom. He gave me a shot though and I’m tired. I’m going to go home and go to bed.” Riley said, hoping she would accept it and let him leave. He was actually planning to go see Buffy even though she might put two and two together when she saw his bruised face. “You can sleep on the plane.” Maggie replied, her eyes locking on his. She had decided that he needed to be removed for his own well-being. “I’ve already made your reservations and your grandmother will be picking you up when you arrive.” “What?” Riley had been about to pull his coat on when she spoke and he paused. “I have responsibilities here. I can’t just leave.” “Christmas break started yesterday and we were planning on going next week anyway. You know protocol, Riley. If you become too involved I have to pull you out.” “I’m not too involved.” Riley spat out furiously, shoving his arms through his sleeves. “Really? Since you aren’t involved, maybe you could explain how the sewer entrance was sealed tightly from the inside then. How did that girl manage to close it back up?” He knew he was caught and glanced at the floor. “She begged me. She thought I was going to kill her.” “Maybe you should have. Whatever she is, she’s a threat and you let her get away.” Shaking his head, Riley walked around her and put his hand on the door. “I didn’t let her get away. She was as good as gone the minute she got out of the observatory. Whatever she is … she’s powerful and that scares you.” “You’re damn right it does. She knows about us now and not only that, we don ’t know what she’s capable of.” Maggie leaned a hip against a stainless steel table and pointed at the phone. “I trust you will call me when you arrive at the farm and let me know you made it there safely.” “And I trust that you won’t hurt her just because she’s a mystery. Maybe there’s nothing more to her than martial arts training and a will to live.” “She won’t be a mystery much longer. By the time you land in Iowa, I’ll know every genetic detail about her and will proceed accordingly.” Maggie watched him open the door and said, “Son?” “Yes?” “I know how you feel. It hurts when you care about someone and discover that they aren’t what they seem, but we have a responsibility and that comes first.” She crossed the short distance and gave him a quick hug. “It will be fine, you’ll see.” Riley accepted her random display of emotion and gave her a small squeeze back. He couldn’t remember the last time she had hugged him and it was awkward. She pulled back and smiled and he nodded at her. “I’ll call you.” Walsh watched him leave and picked up the phone, “Grant? Riley is going to be leaving the building. I want you to see to it that he packs a bag and goes to the airport. He’ll be leaving on flight 302 to Des Moines at four am. Yes, Graham appears to be fine. I know. Thank you.” ___ /// Spike lifted a rose from a pile beside the cool metal table she was lying on and sat next to her, trailing the dark red bud between her bare breasts. Buffy sighed and opened her eyes, smiling up at him. “What a way to wake up.” Peeling off one of the petals, he dropped it onto her lower stomach and said, “The roses are days. The petals are the hours and the thorns are the pain.” Buffy winced when Spike brought the stem across her abdomen and a thick thorn pricked her just below the belly button. A drop of blood formed and she watched him lick his lips and lean down, gently flicking the blood away with his tongue. He fastened his lips over the puncture wound and sucked hard, making Buffy cry out. Grinning, he sat up and stared at her. “Sorry, luv. I am what I am.” Buffy sat up as well, not caring that she was naked, and pulled his mouth to hers. Their tongues met halfway, dancing against each other as she moved across his lap, straddling him. She could feel his cool fingertips sliding down her spine and she sagged against him, breaking the kiss. “I want-“ “Count the roses, Slayer.” Spike buried his face in her neck as she stared at the flowers, silently counting. “There are a dozen.” She smiled and turned back toward him. “I counted the roses. Do I get a reward?” “The roses are days. I have twelve days left.” He lifted the rose in his hand and ran it over her cheek, caressing her flesh with it’s silky softness. “Goodnight.” She closed her eyes and felt him shift and lie her back on the hard metal. When she opened them again he leaned down and brushed his lips across her temple. “Spike, please don’t leave.” “Shhh.” He pressed a finger to her lips and lowered his head to her breast, pulling her small nipple into his mouth. “Twelve days.” “No, Spike-“ Opening her eyes, she reached for him, only to see him vanish right before her eyes. As quickly as he was gone, she suddenly found herself pinned down to the slab she was on by several military men. One shoved a large needle in her arm and she screamed as loud as she could when she saw him start an embalming machine. Her body twisted and turned as the vile mixture shot through her veins, burning her from the inside out. “No, please!” /// Buffy screamed and sat up quickly in her bed, blinking her eyes several times. The clock on her night table read eleven-thirty three and she glanced at the window, noting the fact that the sun was peeking through her closed curtains. “Some dream.” She started to pull herself out of the bed when the phone rang. Thinking her mother would get it, she ignored it, letting her mind play back the previous night. On the fifth ring, she rolled and snatched the phone up. “Hello?” “Buffy?” Riley glanced into the back yard of his grandparent’s house, reassuring himself that they were still gone to the market. It was such a relief to hear her and hear that she was still breathing, if she breathed. No telling what she did or what she was. “It’s Riley.” “Hi.” Buffy replied, changing ears with the receiver. She moved too quickly and caused a sharp pain to move through her arm and groaned. He heard her and said, “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I just uhm … got a pretty bad cut last night, actually. It’s a long story.” It dawned on her suddenly that Riley didn’t know her home telephone number. He only knew her dorm number. “Hey, how did you find me?” Riley glanced at the student file he had stolen from Walsh’s file cabinet and took a deep breath. “Oh, I asked around because I knew you’d be going home for the holidays and did you just say you’re injured?” “No, not really. I’m fine.” Buffy glanced at her arm, wondering what he would say when he saw it. Deciding to avoid him at all costs, she added, “Are you going to be around today?” “Actually, no. I’m in Iowa as we speak. I just got here about an hour ago.” Riley heard a car coming up the gravel driveway and glanced out the back door. His grandparents had arrived with the tree and he knew that anything he did would get back to his mother. “Awww, I didn’t get a chance to tell you bye or anything.” She replied, trying to sound like she was really interested in saying hello or good-bye to him. All she could think about was Spike and the dream she had just had. Twelve days. Twelve days until what? “I’ll be back soon. You take care of yourself, okay? Be careful.” “I will. Merry early Christmas, Riley.” Buffy said in a small voice. “Have fun with your family.” “You too.” He hung up and stood, quickly shoving his arms through the sleeves of his coat. There was no way he was going to have a good time when all he could think about was her. And what his ‘family’ had in store for her

Chapter #2 - 2

Part Four The machines hummed around her, clicking sporadically and constantly blinking various colored lights. Maggie leaned against one, making a show of checking her watch and sighing loudly. Several times, she had been instructed to wait outside by the technician, but she was the one in charge and made sure that everyone there knew that. When the clock on the wall ticked that another five minutes had passed, she spoke again. “Michael, what is the holdup exactly? You called me here over an hour ago and told me that the results were in.” “The results were in, ma’am, but I don’t think you’ll be pleased with them. I’m running the tests again to compare the old ones against.” Michael, a short balding man with thick bifocals replied, shoving his glasses further on his nose nervously. Maggie sighed again and crossed her arms. “Why would I not be satisfied?” Michael stopped what he was doing and turned, lifting a stack of papers that the printer had spit out earlier that day. “Because, Mrs. Walsh, if the tests were right the first time, then she’s a human being. Nothing more, nothing less. Granted, her endorphins were abnormally high, indicating that her threshold for pain is above average. Not to mention her white blood cell count is double that of a normal person, which could be a result of the blast she took from one of our guns and her body’s self healing. Other than those small differences, she’s as normal as you or me.” Walsh took the papers from the man and flipped through them, noting the results that she had expected to be different. Buffy had normal type o+ blood, a wonderful heart rate, her blood was oxygenated enough and the skin sample concluded that she was human. Grinding her jaw, she whispered, “You saw what she did.” “Maybe the kid just wanted to live and her adrenaline was pumping. She was upset and we both know what people are capable of when they’re upset.” Michael clapped his hands together when the printer sprang to life again and moved across the room to get the new results. He thumbed through several pages before he turned and shrugged, “It’s the same thing. This is the more extensive of the testing capabilities we possess here and nothing’s different. I can send her blood to-“ “No, that won’t be necessary.” Maggie interrupted, handing him the paperwork. “This may not be a bad thing after all. If she is just a human, and can fight the way she does, then we want her. The Initiative is always recruiting.” “But she’s just a girl.” “And I’m just the boss. What better way to ensure that she won’t talk than to get her down here and make her one of us?” “How do you plan to go about that? You’ve scared her to death, you know?” “No, the people in masks scared her to death. Maggie Walsh is just her teacher.” Maggie paused and took a deep breath. “And teach her I will.” __ “That’s all he said?” Giles glanced across the table and stared at Buffy who was lying on her sofa under a pile of blankets. “Twelve days? From today that would be the … eighteenth of December. A Saturday.” Buffy nodded, purposely leaving out the part of her dream where she had practically attacked Spike sexually and he had played with her nipple. “He said to count roses and there were twelve of them on the floor. He said that the petals were hours and the thorns were pain, then he poked me with a thorn and vanished.” “That’s our Spike.” Willow said, not glancing up from her open laptop. She was currently viewing the underground sewer system of Sunnydale. “Always making you squirm, Buffy.” “You have no idea.” Buffy replied without thinking. “Hmmm. The New Year, the ‘millennium’ occurs two weeks later, on a Saturday as well. Though it’s not the actual millennium-” Giles trailed off, staring into space and didn’t catch what Buffy had said, but Willow did and smiled at her friend knowingly. Buffy blushed and was about to smooth it over when Giles spoke again. “I suppose it could be a message, a portent, that we have twelve days to react to this underground league. I must confess that it is unsettling to be working in a time frame now. We know nothing.” Buffy nodded and watched her friend tap away at the laptop. “Do you have anything, Willow?” “Well, if the underground facility is as big as you say and the exit from one of the tunnels was directly under the Bronze, then no … I have nothing.” She shook her head and turned her laptop around so they could see the map. Pointing with her pen, she tapped the screen. “This is the exit you must have used. It opens into the back alley of the Bronze. Now, if you backtrack into the tunnels, you’ll see that the only access to that specific area is over here, really far away, “ she pulled her pen several inches away and tapped again. “and you said that you stayed left when you dropped into the tunnel, right?” “Right, I kept going left and then the ladder was there.” “Then you couldn’t have come from here.” Willow glanced at the screen again. “How far did you walk?” “Not far at all. Just a few feet but it felt like years.” “Then the system that these army guys use is new and it was built after this map in the early nineties…er…wait a minute.” Willow glanced at the screen again and squinted. “This map is marked as nineteen seventy-two and it claims to be the most recent renovations.” “It’s not?” asked Giles. “No, it’s not.” Willow shook her head and clicked the back button on her browser, making sure she was viewing the correct map. “I remember that they cracked open the roads about three miles south of the University when Xander and I were still in middle school. It rerouted our busses for about twelve weeks and we had to get up earlier because of it. Wait, there’s something else … what was it?” She paused, deep in thought. “That’s it! The trucks that they used had an emblem on the side that had nothing to do with the Sunnydale utilities. My dad told me that the this town must have failed some kind of test and the big guys had to come in and rebuild a portion of the waste area.” “Do you remember what this emblem looked like, Willow?” Giles had leaned forward as Willow spoke, hanging on her every word. She nodded, “All I remember about it was that it was a big red ‘I’.” “And eyeball?” Buffy made a face. “No, the letter I. And it had this circle type thing around it.” Willow smiled and added, “I’d know it if I saw it again.” “Is there any way you can go back through the town records and find building permits or anything?” Buffy stared at her friend hopefully. “There has to be something.” “Definitely.” Willow beamed and began typing furiously. “And if it’s not on town record, then I can hack through the personal files of the city council. I’ll find out who sanctioned the workers and go from there.” “You are my hero.” Buffy smiled and glanced over at Giles. “We need to go down into the sewer and do a search, Giles. We need to do it now, before too much time goes by.” “Agreed.” Giles stood and grabbed his jacket. “I’ll get Xander and Anya and we’ll sweep the south side.” Buffy stood as well and said, “Give me ten minutes.” “No.” Shaking his head, Giles pointed at the sofa. “You stay here and rest. We’ll get it.” “No way, Giles. I know the sewers like the back of my hand and I was there. I can either go with you now or catch up later, but I’m going. Spike is down there because of me and I intend to help get him out.” “Buffy, you don’t even know if he has survived thus far. He could have been killed immediately.” “I don’t care. I owe it to him.” Buffy brushed past him and started up the stairs. “Why do you owe it to him?” Giles called, following her and pausing to glance up at her. Buffy turned and laid her hand on the guard rail. “I can’t explain it, okay? Some stuff happened that I don’t want to discuss and I have to help him.” “Buffy, Spike is and always will be a vampire. I won’t speculate on what happened, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t want to know anyway, but your safety and the safety of human beings must take priority over his well being.” “I’m going.” She turned and headed toward her room. How was she supposed to tell him that maybe she was developing feelings for Spike. Maybe she already had feelings for him. How could she possibly hope to justify something like that? There was no justification and it defied logic, even to her; the one person who it should all make sense too. Sighing, she shut her door and pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt. She dreaded going underground again and she was terrified of what she might find. Pulling on a pair of knee high boots, she stood. At least this time her feet would stay warm. __ Xander wrinkled his nose and held a hand over his face when a rigid corpse of a dog floated toward him. It bobbed up and down, bouncing off the sides of the cement tunnel and he tried his best to remain indifferent to it. Keeping up with the others had proven to be difficult, especially since Anya seemed to be turned on by stench and stagnant water and kept seeking kisses when no one was looking. Panning his flashlight, he saw Giles beckoning him to hurry along and picked up the pace, leaping over the dog. The murky water splashed when Xander landed and Anya shrieked as it hit her face and neck. “Xander! You better be glad that I don’t mind getting filthy or else you would pay for that.” “Why don’t you mind?” Xander asked, using the sleeve of his coat to wipe the splotches of dirt off her face. “Because, the filthier I get, the longer we can shower together. And actually, Xander, before we leave this wonderfully rancid sewer, would you like to wrestle with me in the water?” Anya stared up at him adoringly, earning a small groan from Buffy and forcing Giles to clear his throat and walk away. Xander smiled a little, embarrassed, and replied, “Anya, I think we’ve already covered why we don’t ‘wrestle’ in cold water.” “Okay, we won’t wrestle. We’ll simply mate and dry off. We can have one of those quickies that you seem to be so fond of.” Buffy snorted a little and hid her face, moving off toward Giles and Xander closed his eyes, silently praying for strength. “Anya, I realize that you’re new to being a human and you have a lot of naughty time to make up for, but do you think that from now on you could quietly reflect on what we do?” Giles stopped walking and shined his flashlight toward the top of the tunnel, interrupting the banter. “Is this where you came through Buffy?” Buffy stared at the grate and then glanced around her surroundings. She took several steps, pausing directly under the opening and then moving back toward the wall. “No, I don’t think so. I came out right in the middle of a bigger tunnel and the opening up there looked different.” “This was the opening that Willow indicated as being too far away. I suppose she was right. We’ll go to the Bronze entrance and see if you can backtrack and find where you fell through, yes?” Giles pocketed the map and motioned for Buffy to lead the way. Anya sighed as everyone filed past her and said, “Xander, have you ever done it at the Bronze?” “No.” He replied, shaking his head at the irony of it all. Two years ago, he would have jumped at the chance to find a girl who wanted to have sex as much as he did. Now, he was so tired from having sex all the time that he would be willing to bet that by the time he was forty, he’d be using a penis pump just to get a hard on. At the rate they were going, Anya was going to kill his dick. “We’re here.” Giles said, tapping his flashlight against the palm of his hand as it began to flicker. Buffy stared at the ladder that led to the alley behind the Bronze and walked backwards, scanning the ceiling with her light. If her calculations were correct, then the opening should be right around the area they were gathered in. She squinted as the light played over the gray cement, inch by inch. Giles moved to stand beside her, his light joining hers and together, they covered the tunnel three times, finding nothing. “I don’t get it.” Buffy finally said. “It was just here yesterday.” “Hey, what’s that?” Xander pointed his light toward the ladder and Anya moved to grab the bag that floated in the water. “It’s a cement bag.” “The sons of bitches have covered the opening!” Buffy cried, throwing her light against the tunnel and shattering it. “How could they move that fast?” Anya opened the bag, sifting through the powdery residue. “Ohh, here’s something else. The receipt for the purchase of the supplies and some candy wrappers and tools.” “Why would they be stupid enough to leave it here?” Buffy asked, eyeing the receipt as she took it from Anya. “Perhaps they were scared away by something. Or perhaps they were climbing the ladder to dump it in the trash behind the Bronze and dropped it.” Giles began to climb up the ladder and the others followed. “We’re going dumpster diving. Let’s hope we get something good, shall we?” “Dumpster diving?” Pulling herself up the ladder, Buffy gritted her teeth. “And I just thought nothing could get worse than the sewers.” “Have you ever had sex in a dumpster, Xander?” Anya asked, following Xander and eyeing his ass through his baggy black pants. “No, Anya. Some places are just totally off limits.” “And gross.” Buffy supplied. “Let’s not forget gross.” Giles pushed the grate open and scanned the back alley before he shoved the lid all the way off. He turned quickly and helped the others out, noting that Buffy’s arm was bleeding again. Sighing, he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around her, before he secured it with an I-told-you-so look. She ignored him and shoved the top back on the big garbage can. The odor was powerful and Buffy shook her head, rifling around the contents. The top layer was mostly stale pizza and plastic cups; the staples of the Bronze. Giles pulled a large box out of the way and climbed up into the trash, his feet sinking down in several spots. Anya moved to one side and jumped into the dumpster as well, earning a grateful smile from Giles. Together, Anya and Giles succeeded in digging through the garbage, pocketing this and that and handing several things out for Buffy and Xander to inspect. They were about to call it quits when Giles noted a fanny pack stuck in the corner, behind an empty bag of potato chips. He handed it out to Buffy and jumped down. Buffy pulled the pack open and stared at the contents before she reached inside and pulled out a floppy disk. She flipped it around so that Giles could see the label and smiled. “Well, well, well, what have we here? A red I surrounded by a circle.” “And Willow will know what to do with that compact disc!” Giles exclaimed, taking it from her and shoving it into his breast pocket. “Giles, that’s a floppy disk.” Xander said, taking the bag from Buffy and rifling through it. “And here are condoms!” “It’s not floppy!” Giles pulled the disk out and shook it at the boy. “It’s hard as a rock.” “Ooh, hard as rock is such a sexy phrase.” Anya exclaimed, fanning herself. “Xander, would you like to use those condoms in the dumpster?” “Giles, he means that a compact disc is round and plays music and DVD’s and…” Buffy watched the man’s face go blank and shook her head. “Never mind. Willow will know what to do with that disk.” “Indeed!” ** An hour and half later, everyone had showered and met back at Buffy’s house to see what Willow would find on the disk. Bashful under such scrutiny, Willow fumbled with her computer, finally inserted the floppy after several tries and ran the contents. The only options she had were upload and exit and she shrugged. She had a virus scan in place and had enough hard drive space for whatever the disk held, so she selected upload and watched as it transferred. It took fifteen minutes for all the files to load and she rebooted when the computer requested that she do so. As she waited for the Windows splash to load, she glanced at Buffy. “You look pale.” “I think I have a cold from walking around half naked.” The Slayer shrugged. “I’m fine.” “You were half naked and I missed it?” Xander raised an eyebrow. “I heard that!” Anya screamed from the kitchen and then appeared carrying drinks. “Don’t think I’m deaf just because you screamed in my ear during our shower.” “Oh God.” Xander shrank back on the couch. “That’s right. You screamed ‘Oh God’.” Anya smiled and handed him his soda before she passed out the others. “Of course, I was so busy screaming ‘Oh Xander’ that I’m surprised I heard you at all.” Willow turned a deep crimson and stared at her computer. A new icon had been installed on her desktop, a red I with a circle. “Oh my god!” “That’s the spirit!” Anya shouted, clapping her hands together. Willow double clicked the icon and watched with wide eyes as the screen showed the words, “Welcome Agent 2, please supply your password.” She minimized that window and used another program, one she had devised, that would automatically decrypt any passwords that had been entered into the system and choose the correct one for the screen name. She waited for several seconds and opened the window again to see twelve asterisks lining the password box. “YES!” Clicking enter, she smiled when she was taken to a new window with a list of options. Moving as fast as she could, she right clicked and saved everything to her drive in case the program detected the breech and booted her. She skimmed the contents, commenting on the basics. “They are doing tests on demons. They don’t have the right names for any of them, except vampires, but that’s the basic run down on what I’m seeing. They're taking blood, skin, and tissue samples, altering DNA and they hope to be able to someday reverse the process that something becomes a demon. Wipe out all forms or something.” Moving over the various links, she added, “They call them all hostiles and give them a number.” “Hostile seventeen!” Buffy screamed. “That’s what Spike is. Hostile seventeen.” Willow scrolled down the screen and her eyes widened. “Oh. Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m positive! Why?” Getting to her feet, Buffy moved behind Willow and read the screen. “Oh my God!” “That’s the spirit!” Anya shouted again, pulling her mouth off of Xander’s to do so. Buffy stood and stared at Giles. “The chip, or whatever they stuck in Spike’ s head, is programmed to kill him on the eighteenth. Exactly twelve days.” __ Riley excused himself from the dinner table, claiming that he was tired and went upstairs. He quietly dug through his bags and pulled out his laptop, quickly logging onto the net. Using his mother’s password instead of his, he logged into the Initiative’s main frame and scanned for updates. When he saw Summers, Buffy he clicked and scrolled fast, skimming over the results and finally reading the summary that Michael had uploaded. Subject: Buffy Summers – female Height: 5’3 Weight: 96lbs Blood type: O+ All outward signs suggest that the subject is a human girl, aged eighteen to twenty. Long blond hair, hazel eyes and small frame. She displayed English speaking skills and spoke with clarity and confidence. No abnormalities could be detected with the naked eye or with a generic physical examination while subject was unconscious. No reaction to Holy Water, no reaction to ultra-violet light and no reaction to the Bremmal demonology test. An internal mark-up on the subject confirms that the girl is a healthy human being. There are no characteristics in blood testing or chemical reactions that would suggest otherwise. The only abnormalities noted were higher endorphin and white blood count levels, all attributed to the subject’s experience with being captured. All findings conclude that the subject is a viable candidate for the Initiative’s recruitment and the process has begun as of 12/7/99. ** Riley reread the findings several times before he threw his laptop back into his backpack and pulled his jacket on. Rummaging through his wallet, he made sure he had enough cash and threw his bags over his shoulders. He hoped he would already be back in sunny California by the time his grandparents let anyone know he was gone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Five Riley dreaded confronting his mother. He had a gut feeling that she would be expecting him, so he chose not to postpone the inevitable and went straight down to the control room. He was directed toward the observation lab and made his way through the corridors, not pausing to speak to the many men who offered greetings. Once he arrived, he saw her speaking with Hostile Seventeen on the other side of the glass and stood back to listen. “We have lost time to make up for. Someone as advanced as you are is usually already on the final levels of testing.” Maggie was saying. “So I suggest you cooperate.” “I’m not in the mood.” Spike replied, staring at the assortment of tests that were laid on the table. “If you want to pick my brain apart then you’ll have to do it when I’m dead and you dissect it.” “I plan to.” Walsh said casually, lifting a box with several different shapes cut into the sides. “Now then, I want you to take these blocks and put them through the proper holes as fast as you can. If you behave accordingly, I’ll see to it that you get human blood for dinner.” With a grimace, Spike accepted the wooden box and the blocks. He sat it in front of him and watched as the woman set a timer. Smiling, he knocked the box into the floor and stomped it, breaking it into two pieces. He grabbed both and sat it in front of her, then gathered all the blocks and dropped them inside. “Did I pass? Fifteen seconds must be a record, eh?” Maggie shifted the ruined test off the desk and concentrated on another, devoid of emotion. “This is a word association test. I want you to look at the photo and say the first thing that comes to mind.” “Can’t I just be sent to my room for breaking your toy?” Spike asked, rolling his eyes when she shook her head. “I’ve been bad, send me to bed with no dinner. I don’t bloody well care.” “Boy, when I punish you it will be about ten times worse than anything you can imagine. You’re really close to seeing what I mean.” “Ohh, can you whip me and let me call you ‘big bad mama’?” Spike put two fingers up to his mouth and licked between them. “You’ll be calling me ‘bad daddy’ within seconds. On second thought, no you wouldn’t, because even –I- am not that desperate.” Maggie nodded at one of the men who stood in the corner and he sat a box beside them. Spike eyed it curiously and watched her open it. She smiled and held up a cross with pinchers on the end. “You will be wearing this as a tongue ring if you don’t start playing by my rules.” “Let’s play word association, then. Woman with weird crucifix? Bitch.” Spike crossed his arms and glanced at the boys with the guns. “Bitch. Flaming bitch! Don’t you fellas agree?” Maggie held up a card that showed a woman breast feeding her child and said, “What do you think?” “Lucky little shit.” What he actually thought was that Buffy had nice nipples that poked through her shirt and he would love to nurse from her any time and any place. Nodding, she tossed that photo and held up another. It showed a man opening a car door for a woman. Spike shrugged and said, “Desperate to get laid. He’ s going to turn on the charm until he can get into her knickers and then she ’ll be opening her own doors, buying his dinner and begging him to make her get off first for a change.” “Can you keep it to one word answers, please?” “Why? Does my in-depth analysis throw you? Were you unprepared for me to be able to think?” Spike cocked his head to one side and took in the next photo, a supple little teenager who was baring her throat. “Boring.” “Boring?” Maggie stared at the photo and then back at the blond vampire. Most vampires called the photo ‘dinner’. “Could you elaborate?” “No.” “Why not?” Walsh slammed the photo down and glared at him. “You said I could use one word answers and I’m afraid you’ll poke my tongue if I don’t behave.” Spike hid his grin when the woman sighed in exasperation. “Just explain. Why would you call this boring?” “Well, it’s been my experience that anyone who bares a throat that damn easy is too stupid to appreciate my power. I’m not going to feed on someone who wants to be fed off of, woman. A meal is no good if you don’t taste fear in the blood.” Maggie tossed that one and held up another, a big red splotch in the middle of a gray background. Spike eyed it critically and replied, “Art.” “You know you thought of blood first!” She cried, throwing that picture as well. The next one showed a wishing well, causing Spike to smile. “Blood.” “Why would you think of blood looking at this one? Can’t you just answer honestly, please?” “I think of blood looking at that because Timmy was down a well and I missed it. I wanted to make the person who caused me to miss it bleed.” “That’s absurd.” Walsh snapped, flipping through her stack of pictures. “If you are going to question everything I say or tell me what to think, then give me what grade you think I should have and let me go!” Spike shouted, indicating with his hand to see the next one. When she held it up, he yawned and shrugged. “Michael Jackson.” “What?” Maggie flipped it around so she could see it and rolled her eyes. “Why would a photo of a woman surrounded my demons make you think of Michael Jackson?” “Thriller. Damn good video. Smashing make-up.” Spike smiled. “He’s a demon, you know?” “You enjoy music videos?” Walsh leaned forward and scribbled furiously on her notepad. “Not as much as I enjoy NBC’s daytime lineup, but they’ll do.” “You watch television?” “Don’t you?” Shaking her head, Walsh jotted several things in the margins of the hostile’ s file. Never before had she seen a vampire like this. None of the others had ever engaged her in conversation or been so animated. Usually by the time she tested them this way, they were already so broken that it was like testing someone in a coma. “I don’t watch any television.” “You don’t watch television and you think –I- need these tests? You’re the daft one! There is a television in every home in this country. Every person watches television, so why does that surprise you?” “You aren’t a person.” Spike stared at the ground and said nothing, his jawbones protruding as he gritted his teeth. Professor Walsh watched him closely and then spoke in a small, calm voice. “It bothers you, what I just said, doesn’t it?” “No.” “Did you want to become a vampire? You wanted to have sex with a mortal girl in the sewers and most vampires find that repulsive. You watch television and most demons are too busy plotting the end of the world to be bothered with that. So what exactly is your story?” Spike crossed his arms and willed himself not to speak any more. Absolutely nothing, no amount of torture or starvation, would make him reveal the events that led to his turning. Nothing would make him relive the day he died or the way he came into being or his shame. Nothing. He glanced up when a tall young man stuck his head through the door and cleared his throat. The woman turned and said, “Riley Finn! You have a lot of explaining to do.” “I’m not the only one, am I?” The man shot back, ducking behind the doorway. Spike watched the woman stomp out and tried to remember why that name sounded familiar. Riley? Wasn’t that a friend of the Slayer's? Hadn’t she said that someone named Riley knew that she had been engaged to Spike? “This just gets worse and worse.” He muttered under his breath, then stared at the armed guards. “Do either of you Gomer Pyle’s have a cigarette?” __ Maggie slammed the door of her office and pointed at the chair in front of her desk. She waited until Riley sat down and then she spoke, “Do you realize how much pressure I have been under the past twenty-four hours?” “Yes, ma’am.” Riley concentrated on staring at the papers on her desk, unwilling to look at her. “Do you want to send me to an early grave, Riley? Because worrying about what we do, first of all, is enough by itself. Then, you release a girl who we suspect of being a demon, knowing that she can reveal us. I did what I had to do and sent you to Iowa and you come back! Your grandparents are worried sick and I expect you to call them with a full apology.” “Yes, ma’am.” Riley glanced up at her and said, “Were you planning on telling me that she was going to be recruited or just let me come home and see if for myself?” “What?” Stalking around her desk, Maggie yanked her chair out and flopped into it. “How did you know this?” “I had my laptop.” “You can’t access the Initiative’s files unless you have the program and I don’t recall giving you any clearance for that.” “I didn’t ask. You can’t expect me to just go away and do nothing when the girl I’m falling in lo-“ He stopped talking and stared at his shoes. For several seconds the silence was deafening before he added, “When the girl I’ m interested in is in danger by the very people who I trust.” “Trust is a dead issue here, Riley. I trusted you on several counts during this incident and you’ve failed to live up to it, so don’t you talk to me about trust.” She narrowed her eyes at him and spoke with a mother’s authority; something she seldom used. “Where did you get the program, young man?” “The ‘young man’ would prefer not to say.” “I have to insist that you do.” “You can insist all you want to, Mother.” He spat the word ‘mother’ like it tasted vile against his tongue. “You have your way of doing things and I have mine. I took that disk myself and saw to it that it was disposed of. Now, why don’t you tell me exactly how you plan on convincing Buffy to join us?” “I won’t have to now, son.” The smile that pulled her lips upward was anything but jovial. “You’ll do the convincing or I will see to it that you are pulled from the Initiative and your memory erased.” “You wouldn’t dare.” Riley leaned forward in his chair, gripping the armrests to keep from throwing a fist against the wall. “Oh, I’d dare. You do remember that man you called ‘daddy’, don’t you?” Riley stood and moved to open the door. He definitely recalled his father and what became of him. “This is wrong. She’s a girl and she doesn’t deserve a life like we could give her. Constantly fighting, seeing demons everyday and living a lie to keep it a secret. How can you wish that on anyone?” “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” “What if I am?” “Then this is the perfect arrangement. We’ll teach her how to survive in your world and you’ll never have to live a lie with her. Go rest, it's late and I expect you to give me an outline of your strategy by tomorrow.” Riley stepped out the door and slammed it hard. Resting could wait. The first thing he had to do was make sure that Grant disposed of the disk like he had told him too. __ Willow pulled the thermometer out of Buffy’s mouth and stared at it. “Wow, Buffy. Your temperature is over one hundred and three.” Buffy sneezed into a tissue and smiled at her friend weakly. “I’ll be fine, Will. Did you find anything else about the thing in Spike’s head?” “Not yet. I’m still getting into the system without any problem though, so if there is a way, I'll find it.” Nodding, Buffy rasped, “What about the commandos?” Willow had dissected the files and was able to tell the gang-- minus Buffy, who was napping-- quite a bit about the organization. How it was founded, why it was founded and when it came to Sunnydale. What she had left out were the names associated with the soldiers. It took her a while to get the nerve, but she had finally told Giles, who was as stunned as she was. Now she had to tell Buffy and she dreaded it with every breath she took. “I did, actually. Since you’re sick though, I’ll just wait and tell you later.” “Tell me now.” Buffy replied, hacking and pounding her chest. “Take my mind off the fact that I can’t breathe.” “The Initiative doesn’t mean what you’d first think the name implies. You hear people say, ‘take the initiative’ when they want you to react swiftly, however, that’s not exactly how it’s used here. These people are using the Political Science terminology of the word; the right or procedure by which legislation may be introduced or enacted directly by the people.” She paused, saw the blank look on her friend’s face and chose smaller words. “Basically, they eventually want to make the public aware of demons, have testing under their belts and have a law put on the books regarding the existence and threat that demons pose. They want government funding and the only way to get that is to have enough evidence to prove they have a legitimate civil complaint.” Buffy blew her nose and took a sip of water. “That doesn’t really sound like an evil thing.” “Well, it’s not. I mean, not in the classic sense. Unless you view testing these demons as inhumane, its not a problem. Altering the DNA might freak some people out though, I guess.” Willow shrugged and handed Buffy another tissue. “The evil part is the fact that they’ve hacked into banks, small businesses and even the college funds to pay for their endeavors. They are taking the citizens of Sunnydale for all they’re worth. They have outside funding as well, an organization I couldn’t trace, but anytime the ends don’ t meet, they dip into the town’s funds.” “Yeah, but if that’s all they’re doing then why would they use guns and strap me to a bed? I’m human! This one guy shot a poison dart at me!” “I’m pretty sure it was a tranquilizer dart.” Willow replied and tucked her hair behind her ear. “There’s more, Buff.” “Is it something that will give me a reason to find them and really rough them up for scaring me half to death?” “I dunno.” Willow shrugged and took a deep breath before she spoke. “Maggie Walsh, as in Professor Walsh, is running things down there. She founded the organization in the eighties and has been in charge ever since.” “No way!” Buffy sat up in bed and began shredding her tissue anxiously. “Walsh? I had her pegged for a demon!” “I did too. No one could assign that much work and still have a clear conscience.” Willow grinned, but then grew serious. “The special agent in charge is Riley.” Buffy’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “Riley? Finn?” “From what I could gather, he is Walsh’s biological son. She’s named as his mother anyway, his father was left blank. I checked him out and he seems to be on the up and up, I mean, he’s normal and has no criminal history or anything.” “He’s not normal!” Buffy cried. “He’s living a lie! Normal student by day and demon hunter by night and let’s not forget that he hasn’t bothered telling me what he does and-“ She paused and raised her eyebrow. “Oh my God, he’s me. He’s, like, a male me.” “Sorta.” Willow chewed her thumbnail and watched Buffy, trying to gauge her emotions. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I guess. It’s just a little shocking.” “That’s putting it mildly.” Shoving a cough drop in her mouth, Buffy flopped back against her pillow. “I ’m glad I didn’t have time to fall for him. This would really, really sting if I had fallen in love with the wrong guy, yet again. And what if he was there? What if he just stood by and let those big men attack me?” “What are you going to do?” “I need to get down there and get Spike out. That has to happen first and second, I need to teach them that money doesn’t grow on trees, even in Sunnydale. They can’t just steal ... even if they think it's for the greater good.” “You’re going to get your chance.” That comment got Buffy’s attention and she stared at Willow. “What do you mean?” “As of 12/7/99, you are their newest recruit.” “I’m so proud.” Buffy deadpanned, crossing her arms angrily. “I’ll show them a thing or two about what motivates a real demon hunter. I’m hunting Spike and I intend to catch him.” **And see if I could fall for -him-. What is it with me and bad guys?** She added silently. "It's getting late, Buffy. You should probably turn in and I'll see you in the morning." Willow stood up and moved the contents on the table closer to the bed so the 'patient' could reach it better. "Yeah, to sleep perchance to dream." Sighed Buffy, snuggling into her cover. "You know Hamlet?" Willow looked at her skeptically and felt her forehead again. "You really must have a fever." "Good Night." __ /// The room smelled of antiseptic spray and Buffy glanced toward the ceiling, wondering if anyone could hear her if she yelled. It was the same room and the same dirty needle was stuck in her arm. Part of her subconscious marveled at that, pondering why her dream would pick up where the last had left off. She shivered, her naked body protesting the cold metal table beneath her skin and the fans that blew freezing air her way. Opening her mouth, she pulled in a deep breath and shouted, “Someone help me.” “It won’t help to scream, pet. I’ve been screaming forever.” Spike stood in the corner, twirling a rose in his hand. He held it up for her to see and said, “Now I have eleven remaining. Do you know what that means?” “Eleven days. I know what it means.” Buffy felt a hot tear course down her cheek and she turned away. “They are killing you.” Spike moved closer and laid the rose against her thigh. "Slayer, look at me." When she faced him again, he trailed it upward, pulling it along her hip and pausing at her ribcage. “The signs are all there, luv. Twelve roses all lined up in a row, just waiting for you to find them. Pretty roses, every one.” “I don’t understand.” Buffy cried, trying to sit up. Spike pulled the embalming needle from her arm and yanked her upward, shaking her. “All you have to do is look harder. You’ll know it when you see it.” Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, closing her eyes. His tongue darted out, tracing her earlobe and she shuddered. “Spike …” “Shh, no more words. The rest is for you.” He pulled away and smiled at her, putting his finger to his lips and licking it. She started to protest as he moved his slick digit between her legs, but every sound died in her throat when he pressed against her inner thigh. “Bloody hell, Slayer. You’re hot.” “Spike, tell me what I need to do?” Buffy pleaded, her hips arching into his hand as he slid one, then two fingers into her core and used his thumb against her swollen clit. He didn’t reply and she squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating on how good he felt. Suddenly, without warning, he stopped and moved away. “Don’t forget. Look closer, Slayer. Go where you’ve always gone and you’ll see what you need to see.” Buffy sat up and leaped off the table when he vanished. She shook her head and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, unsatisfied and more aroused than she had ever been. “Spike, wait!” Firm hands gripped her and a mask was lowered over her head. Buffy screamed into it, smelling gas. They were killing her, poisoning her air. Her chest tightened and her eyes grew heavy, watering as her oxygen was depleted. The last thing she thought was, "Roses, find roses." // Buffy sat up fast, pulling fresh air deep into her lungs. A cough, loud and thick with congestion, erupted from her chest and she groaned. Feeling her head, she noted the damp sweat and how hot she still was. Putting her feet on the floor, she shivered and stood, intent on finding some kind of medicine in her mother’s bathroom. Trudging quietly through the house, she pilfered through the contents of the cabinet and chose a bottle of decongestant. It would be dawn soon, but she was too ill to care that she would sleep all day if she took the meds. Walking back to her room, she felt a moisture in her underwear and reddened, “I’m the only person alive who can turn a portent into a wet dream. And isn’ t it just like Spike to start something and not finish it?” __ Riley, sitting in his car, watched the lights turn off and on in the little house on Revello Drive. He drained his coffee cup and glanced at his laptop, waiting for the tag registration on the car in the driveway to load. In order to recruit someone, you had to know everything about his or her family, home life and social status. Judging from the modest home, the Summers' family wasn't wealthy by any standards. It was a good thing the Initiative didn't discriminate based on financial status. The laptop beeped as it pulled the requested information, straight from the Department of Motor Vehicles, up quickly and without any problems. With a copy of the mother's drivers license, date of birth and social security number, he would be able to find out everything about her life and discover whether or not she had any known disorders that could be passed to Buffy eventually. He already had Buffy's social security number and Forest was busy doing a background check on her in the seat next to him. "Hey Forest, are you sure you got rid of the disk well?" "Yes, man. Damn!" Forest hit the enter key on his own laptop and waited. "You keep asking me that. After Grant and I put the new cement up, we dumped everything behind the Bronze and you know as well as I do that even the beggars around here stay away from that trash!" "You should have destroyed it." "Listen, dude. We were in the sewer unarmed ... with that thing that none of us can catch somewhere down there. And Walsh was on our asses to get back underground. Sue us for being in a hurry." Forest whistled and stared at his screen when it loaded. “Damn, Rye! When Walsh gets a load of this chick’s police record there is no way she will pull her in.” Riley motioned for his friend’s computer and swapped his own for it. His eyes widened as he digested one screen after another of complaints and incidents logged against Buffy. He didn’t want her in the Initiative. At least now he had hope. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Six “We have eleven days before Spike dies.” Xander said, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth. He stared pointedly at Willow and then turned his attention toward Giles, who was seated next to Joyce on the sofa. “I still don’t know why that makes a difference. It’s Spike. Spike, of the pointy fangs and Spike of the growly growl. I can’t stop thinking that he is-” “That’s because you have a one track mind.” Anya interrupted, nibbling on an unpopped kernel from her spot in the floor next to Xander’s chair. Xander paused, halfway to his mouth with the next handful, and raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me? I have a one track mind?” “Well, yeah. Last night, when we were rutting like wild deer, you kept mumbling about Spike.” Anya sighed and took his coke can from his hand. “I swear, if I was a jealous woman … ” “Now hold it right there-“ Xander said, trying not to notice the smirk on Willow’s face or the way Giles and Joyce were staring at him. “I just had a lot on my mind and I don’t rut! That cheapens it. Can’t you just call it-“ “Fornicating? Copulating? Having intercourse? Oh, or making love?” Anya asked hopefully, turning to rest her chin on his knee. “Screwing.” Xander replied, not willing to go that far. Anya sat up straight and stared at him apologetically, “Oh, Xander. I don’t have a screwdriver. Unless, oh, you could loan me yours from your toolbelt. The only time you wear it anymore is when you show me your interpretation of those Village People who do that dance.” She stood and hummed YMCA, making the motions. “I love it when you use your penis to spell the letters.” “It bends?” Joyce blurted, staring at the two in horror. Xander was too flummoxed to reply, so Anya spoke again. “Oh no, it doesn’t bend. He dips it into finger paint and spells the letters on paper … just by thrusting his hips. Sometimes I get to be the paper and then we merge our genitalia in acts of coition.” Her hand roamed over her hips and she stared off into the distance, panting. “Bodies clapping, undulating, uniting in slick friction until semen and-” “Anya for god’s sake, stop now!” Fumbling to his feet, Xander dropped the popcorn bowl into the floor and clapped a hand to her mouth. Giles was no longer able to remain stoic and quickly excused himself. Joyce followed and when Xander heard them erupt into laughter from the kitchen, he grabbed Anya’s arm. “You and I are going to the book store.” “We are?” Smiling, Anya grabbed her purse. “I’ve always wanted to couple with you in the human anatomy section.” “Anya!” Xander whirled and grabbed her by the shoulders. “We are not going to fornicate, copulate, mate, couple or anything else remotely pertaining to intercourse until you can learn some slang.” “I don’t understand.” “This entire humiliating moment could have been avoided if you knew what it meant to screw. No more big words! We’re going to teach you what slang is all about.” “Coitus and coition are fairly short words.” She reasoned, running her hand over his chest. “Would you like to perform coitus on the Slayer’s sofa?” Willow, who was sitting beside the sofa in question, composed herself from the laughter and shook her head. “No. There will be no coitus here.” “Nothing dealing with intercourse, Anya!” Xander pulled her toward the door. “Cunnilingus doesn’t have intercourse. Can we do that? Fellatio?” The door shut on Xander’s groan and Willow shouted, “It’s safe! You can come back in!” Giles and Joyce came back into the living room, both flushed from laughing and found seats. Willow shook her head and went back to the computer, reading and jotting down anything she thought pertinent. Glancing at the clock in one corner of her screen, she said, “It’s after three. Shouldn’t we wake Buffy up?” “She’s awake. I’m gonna go out for a while.” Buffy replied, dragging herself into the room. Despite all the sleep she had gotten, she had dark circles under her eyes. She was dressed though, wearing black pants, a red sweater and boots. Something that she remembered from her dream was standing out. Spike had said something about going where she had always gone and seeing roses that were lined up. “I’ll see you later.” “Are you certain, Buffy? You don’t look very well.” Joyce laid a hand on her forehead and sighed. “You’re hot.” The phone rang and Joyce glanced at Willow, who was sitting next to it. “Willow, honey, will you get it?” Willow grabbed it, tuning out the debate on whether Buffy should go out. “Hello?” “Willow?” Riley asked, wondering if he had dialed the dorm by mistake. “It’s Riley.” Waving frantically, she got everyone’s attention and said, “Oh, hello Riley.” Emphasis on Riley. “Is Buffy around?” “You want to talk to Buffy?” Willow spoke, indicating the phone and questioning whether her friend wanted to talk. When Buffy nodded, she replied, “Yeah, hang on a sec.” Giles intercepted the Slayer on her way across the room and whispered, “How are you going to handle this? Are you going to let him know that you know or allow him to labor under the illusion that you know nothing?” “He’s calling from Iowa. He’s not even here.” Buffy shrugged and glanced at the red head. “Will, what should I do?” Willow covered the mouthpiece and said, “If he knows that you know, he’s going to wonder how and then I may lose access. Let him think you know nothing.” “I guess it’s settled then. I’m clueless Buffy. It’s a good thing I’ve had a lot of practice at being her.” With a sigh, Buffy took the phone. “Hello?” Riley perked when he heard her voice and smiled, ignoring the instant message from his mother that popped up on his computer screen. “Hi Buffy.” “How’s Iowa? Is it snowing?” “I’m actually back in Sunnydale.” Leaning on one elbow, he cradled the phone with his shoulder and replied to the message. –I have her on the phone! I’m logging off!— “You’re in Sunnydale! When did you get back?” Glancing at the audience she had, Buffy mouthed. –He’s back.— “How convenient.” Willow shoved her hands in her pockets and glanced at Giles. “Didn’t I tell you? They will use his connection to her as the way to get her. Classic strategy.” “My grandparents decided to go on a cruise and couldn’t stand the thought of me being alone. They shipped me home.” The message box blinked again before Riley could disconnect and he rolled his eyes. His mother had written, --Remember your father! Don’t give me a reason to get upset. -- “Aww, I’m sorry!” Feeling a little light headed, Buffy perched on the edge of the couch before she added. “Since we have such a long break from school though, maybe you can get back out there.” “Yeah, got to love that millennium madness. It got us two extra weeks just for computer upgrading. Imagine if it’s as bad as they say?” “Yeah, really. We’ll get all of January off too!” Buffy cleared her throat and then coughed, twisting the receiver so he wouldn’t be deafened. “I’m sorry.” “You’re sick?” “Oh, it’s just a cold. I forgot my jacket the other day and got caught in the rain.” Riley thought for several seconds and then shut his computer down. “Hey, you know what? I have just the thing for the sniffles. Would you mind a visitor?” Buffy’s eyes widened and she glanced up at her friends. “No, I wouldn’t mind a visitor.” “Great, I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” “Uh, Riley?” “Yes?” “Don’t you want to know my address?” He slapped himself on the forehead for allowing himself to make such a slip. “That would come in handy, wouldn’t it?” Buffy quickly gave him directions to her house and hung up, pacing nervously around the room. “He said he had just the thing for a cold and he’s on his way.” “Don’t take anything he gives you!” Willow instructed. “Just tell him that you’re allergic to most herbs and you don’t want to press your luck.” “Right!” Giles nodded his head in agreement. “We know they plan on recruiting you but we don’t know exactly what that entails. Having you drugged and in their element would be absolutely horrendous.” “Definitely.” Willow eyed her friend up and down. “Just stay calm and be natural.” “Actually, call him back and cancel the whole thing.” Giles pointed at the phone, wagging his finger. “I just don’t think Spike is worth the risk of getting involved with this militia. We aren’t thinking logically here. If you become involved, steal Spike and somehow manage to salvage him, then you ’ll have an entire army angry at you.” Willow made a noise in the back of her throat and stared at Buffy with wide eyes. Buffy shrugged and said, “I have thought about it. When I get Spike out, secretly and without them knowing, I’ll simply do something that will get me kicked out. Or maybe let them know that I’m the chosen one and say it ’s a conflict of interests.” “I don’t like this.” Giles pulled his glasses off, rubbing them furiously with his cloth. “We haven’t prepared.” “Spike’s life is on the line!” Buffy shouted, her pasty skin flushing in anger. “You think he was prepared for that?! If I get in and see that I can ’t do anything then at least I can let him know what’s going to happen to him. He deserves that much!” Joyce stepped forward and put an arm around Buffy’s shoulders, intervening before it got any worse. “I’m going to be here. I’m not going anywhere and I ’ll take care of her.” “Mom, you can’t be here. You’ll just make us uncomfortable.” “Yes, she can and she will. It’s absolutely perfect. Of course your mother would be here when you’re ill! I’m still not happy about this, but we haven’ t the time to argue.” Giles motioned for Willow to collect her things. “Willow, I’ll drive you home.” Grabbing her belongings, Willow paused and squeezed Buffy on the arm. “Just let him make all the moves. Kinda feel him out and see what happens. And call me.” __ Buffy was staring at the television, trying not to panic, when she heard the soft knock on the door. She had insisted that Joyce stay upstairs for a little while, at least, so that there would be less tension and her mother had complied finally. Collecting her thoughts and plastering a false smile on her face, she stood and walked toward the door, telling herself that it was all for Spike. Riley was about to knock again when the door opened. Relief was the only thing he felt as Buffy smiled up and him and offered a friendly greeting. He adjusted the bag in one arm arm and quickly hugged her with the other, closing his eyes and leaning his head on top of hers. Part of him had been convinced he would never see her again, much less touch her. “It’s good to see you.” Buffy didn’t know what to do and she almost pulled away, but she reigned in her emotions enough to give him a small squeeze back. Since she had known him, he had maintained a courteous distance from her, only touching her when he absolutely had to. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I’m really glad you’ re back. Why don’t you come in, it’s cold out here?” He let her go and followed her into the house. “It really is. The weather lately is just not natural. I came to California for the sun.” For the first time since he arrived, she gazed at him fully and gasped. His jaw was bruised and both of his eyes looked blackened. It dawned on her that he may have been there that night. Riley might have been the one that fought her and that pissed her off and made her even more leery. “What-“ He saw the way she was staring at him and realized that he was still bruised. “Oh, I should have prepared you over the phone. My grandfather had a horse corralled that broke free and we had to go chase it. I got a limb in the face.” “Are you okay?” Part of her wanted to believe it and another part wondered if he really meant that he got HER limb in his face. “Yeah.” Riley nodded and peered around the room. It was warm and inviting, decorated with just the amount of art and personal belongings to make it homey. Giving her his full attention again, he narrowed his eyes as he recalled her arm. “How about you? You told me you got cut.” “Oh, it’s fine.” She shrugged and indicated his coat, hoping to change the subject. “Want me to hang your coat up?” “Sure.” He put the bag down in the floor, not catching the weary gaze that Buffy cast at it, and peeled his coat off. Buffy glanced at his arms. Even though he was a liar and was probably only feigning interest to ‘recruit’ her, he still had really good arms. Swearing under her breath, she quickly draped his jacket over a hook and led him toward the living room. “Do you want something to drink?” “No, thanks.” He lifted the bag again and followed her, eyeing her tiny frame. “You know, for someone who doesn’t feel well, you certainly look great. Some people are just born with it.” “It’s Maybelline.” She sat on the sofa and swallowed, trying to push away the scratchiness in the back of her throat. “Well, maybe you should be their spokesmodel.” He sat beside her and opened the bag. “I rented a couple movies and brought you some bottled water. People don’t realize how many harmful contaminants there are in tap water. This is better if you have a sore throat.” “Thank you.” Buffy took the water and movies he offered and almost burst out laughing when she saw the titles. If she didn’t know what he was up to, she probably wouldn’t have connected the dots, but since she did, the laugh would have been on him if she had dared giggle. “G.I. Jane and Fright Night? How did you happen to pick these?” Riley licked his lips and took a deep breath. The plan was to gauge her reaction to the military film, see how she felt about women in the armed forces and then watch her react to a scary movie. Most girls would be quivering messes and leap into a guy’s arms, which he wouldn’t mind at all, but this was strictly a test. “Well, nothing will make a girl feel better than a movie about woman power and most girls like Demi Moore. The scary one is there because I’m a guy and had to even it out.” “You’re very sweet.” “I’m also sorry you’re sick.” Riley reached into the bag again and plucked a fuzzy teddy bear from the bottom. The bear had nothing to do with the test. It was there because he honestly felt bad for what he would be introducing into her life in the days to come. “See? He’s sick too.” Buffy really smiled at him as she took the bear. It was sitting upright, wearing a red and white striped gown and had a little nightcap on. One paw was clutching a box of tissue and the other paw was rubbing his button nose. “It’s adorable. Thank you!” “Feel better?” Riley watched her cradle the bear in her lap and berated himself again for allowing this to happen. She was a girl, frilly and perfect. From the top of her silky hair, straight to the bottom of her tiny feet, she was a girl and it was wrong to pull her into his world. Every fiber in his being wanted her to say that women fighting in battle was wrong and be terrified at the demons in the film. If that happened, he would have to tell his commanding officer that the recruit had an aversion to protocol and could not be a sound investment. “Surprisingly enough, I feel great now.” She replied, and looked over at him in time to see an expression on his face that resembled guilt and apprehension. The look faded when he realized she was watching him and he nodded. “Didn’t I tell you I had just the thing for the sniffles?” Before Buffy could reply, she heard her mother coming down the stairs and glanced at Riley apologetically. “My mom’s here.” Riley had expected as much when he saw her car in the drive. It was actually perfect because now he would get a chance to meet her and see for himself that she was as normal as her daughter, something that the Initiative had to verify visually. “That’s fine.” Joyce walked into the room slowly and glanced at the boy on the sofa. He was certainly handsome and exactly the type of boy that she had pictured Buffy with. Broad shouldered and fit, his presence dominated the small living room. As soon as he saw her, he stood and extended his hand. “Hello, Mrs. Summers. I’m Riley Finn.” Joyce smiled up at him, loathing herself for finding him attractive. She had wanted to desperately dislike him the moment she laid eyes on him. “Hello, Riley. You can call me Joyce. Please, sit down.” Riley complied and folded his hands in his lap as the woman took a seat across from him. This would be the part where she grilled him on what his major was and what he planned to do with his life. The few dates he had actually had were all the same in this respect. Joyce cleared her throat and spoke, ignoring Buffy’s nods toward the door. “So, Riley, what’s your major?” Grinning, he replied, “I’m majoring in Psychology. It’s really interesting and the courses are a constant challenge.” “Do you want to be a psychologist?” Joyce asked. “At first I did, but I became a teaching assistant last year and really enjoy that. I may be a Professor instead.” Riley chuckled and leaned back against the sofa. “I know the pay is a lot less but I think it would be more rewarding.” “Are you the assistant in Buffy’s class?” Shifting in her seat, Joyce got comfortable, ready to keep him talking until she cracked him and he confessed his ill intentions. “Yes, I am.” Figuring she may as well crack Buffy while she was at it, Joyce nodded. “And how is my daughter doing in that class?” “Mom!” Buffy’s mouth flew open and she shook her head. “I can’t believe you would ask that.” “It’s okay.” Riley held his hand up. “She’s actually got one of the highest grades in the class right now. That could change though, if she doesn’t write a paper as good as her last one.” He turned toward Buffy and asked, “How is it going anyway?” “It’s fine. I’m almost finished. And mom, Riley and I are going to watch a movie. Didn’t you have stuff to sew tonight for that Christmas pageant?” Joyce reluctantly took the hint and nodded. “Actually, yes I do. I’ll just be upstairs ... with the door open.” She directed that final statement at Riley with a pointed glare. “And we’ll be here. Watching movies.” Riley squirmed a little as the woman stood. “It was nice to meet you.” “Likewise, I’m sure.” She turned on her heel and made her way out of the room and up the stairs. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Riley. She’s very over protective.” “She should be.” Riley shrugged and pointed at the movies on the table. “Which one do you want to watch first?” “G.I. Jane. I haven’t seen that one.” Standing up, Buffy grabbed the movie, slid it into the VCR, and then motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen. She pulled a soda for him from the refrigerator and got them both glasses of ice. They made small talk while she waited for a bag of microwave popcorn to pop and then made their way back into the living room. She took a bottle of water and opened it, pouring it over the ice. “Thanks again for the water.” “My pleasure.” Riley settled next to her on the sofa as the coming attractions started. She shifted a little, handing him the popcorn and he caught of whiff of her shampoo. It smelled like a garden, floral and rich, and just enticing enough to make you want to lean closer for a better whiff. He watched her profile in the light from the television, trying to picture her dirty and sweaty. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t imagine her wearing military fatigues. He stared at her dainty hand around her glass, taking in her painted nails, and wondered how she would adjust to the non-color policy. No jewelry, no make-up and absolutely nothing that could be considered a luxury was permitted as soon as you suited up. The movie depicted a woman, Jane, who was permitted to train with the Navy Seals after a female Senator pulled a few strings. The bulk of the plot followed Jane as she underwent horrific training at the hands of the Master Chief, who wanted her to be a casualty to the sixty percent drop out rate. Buffy was vocal about her displeasure that Jane wasn’t treated as an equal even though she had proven time and again that she was. When Jane kept going, even in the face of adversity, Buffy cheered her on, saying that a woman should be allowed to do anything. Several times she said, 'If I was in her shoes I would-" and finished the sentence by telling how she would handle it. Riley listened intently, his training taking over as he judged her reactions. It didn’t surprise him at all when Buffy freaked out over Demi Moore shaving her head but what did surprise him was her reaction to the ending. After a climax that involved Jane being beaten by several of the men, struggling to survive and eventually getting a small gift from the Master Chief, Buffy tossed her hands in the air and said, “Well, that was absolutely predictable.” “What was?” Buffy sighed and clicked rewind on the remote control. “Oh, just that they would have to spoil her moment by having that guy give her a book. She didn’ t need that book to know that she was a hero.” Riley thought about that and said, “Well, maybe she did. Maybe she wouldn’t have felt satisfied without his nod of approval.” “That’s not what being a true hero is all about. She didn’t need to know what he thought. That was stupid. Real heroism comes from inside, when you and you alone know what you’re doing to make a difference. Like Fright Night, for example. They go and kick demon ass just because it needs to be done. Not because they’ll get any attention for it.” “Don’t you think it’s more rewarding to get attention?” Buffy chewed her lower lip for a second and then shook her head. “If you do something just for the payoff then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. A true hero is selfless.” Riley nodded at her, watching as she ejected the movie, and put the next one in. This time, he didn’t pay any attention to her reactions to the film and enjoyed her company instead. As far as he was concerned, he had gotten what he came for. She had passed the test based on her reaction to one film and, in his opinion, would not let her gender factor into her ability to be a team player. He also felt, based on what she had said, that she would be content to serve under a veil of discretion and not seek acclaim for her exploits and endeavors. His mother would be so proud. __ /// Buffy tossed and turned, the mask on her face cutting into her cheeks. She wondered how she was still alive and tried to pull her hands up to yank the contraption off, but she was tied up again. Spike appeared over her suddenly, staring down at her. Her pleas were muffled and he cocked his head to one side and unsnapped the fasteners on the mask. “What was that you said, luv?” Buffy gasped for air and sucked it into her lungs greedily. “I said to let me go.” He shook his head and hopped up onto the table. Sitting beside her, he twirled a scarlet rose in his fingertips and sighed. “I don’t think so. I can’t help but think that you aren’t listening to me.” “Yes I am!” She cried, flinging her head back against the metal table. “I know we’re on a theme here. Now you have ten days.” He nodded and turned toward her. “And you aren’t doing anything, are you?” "I’m trying to save you.” “I told you how to save me!” “You gave me a cryptic message, Spike. Something about finding roses! I found one, it’s in your hand!” Spike crumpled the rose he was holding and leaped off the edge of the table. “You haven’t even looked for them. Don’t you understand that once you find the twelve roses, you’ll be where I am!” “I give up!” Buffy shouted, trying unsuccessfully to kick her feet in frustration. “This is ridiculous!” “Fine, you need me to be more specific? You’ll find me by going to the ceme- “ /// __ “Buffy? Buffy, honey? Wake up.” Joyce shook her several times, trying to pull her from whatever it was that was making her tremble so much. “Mom?” Buffy sat up quickly and glanced around her surroundings. She was in the living room, lying on the sofa. The bear that Riley had given her was in her lap and their glasses were still on the coffee table, but he was no where to be seen. “Where’s Riley?” “You fell asleep and he decided to go.” With a frown, Joyce tilted Buffy’s face up and stared at her intently. “I’m worried about you and about this whole situation.” “Don’t be. I’m not.” Buffy hugged her quickly and said goodnight, promising to clean the mess the next day. Alone in her room, Buffy changed clothes fast, slipping into solid black and tying her sneakers. She tossed a few weapons into her bag and threw it over her shoulder before she slipped through her bedroom window and dropped into the front yard. It was time to find the roses. __

Chapter #3 - 3

Part Seven Buffy decided to go to the cemetery nearest the campus since that had been the one she had frequented the most in recent months. The thought of the walk exhausted her, so she swiped her mother’s keys and drove the five miles, not worrying about her unlicensed status. When she arrived, she parked at a convenience store that was closed and scaled the fence easily, dropping to the other side with a slight thud. She began to make her way through the headstones, expecting to find a floral arrangement made of roses somewhere that held all the answers. Whatever the answers were. For nearly an hour, she scanned the area, hoping to find something, anything, which would indicate that she was in the right place. When she heard the church bells in town ring out that it was midnight, she shivered and gave up hope. Maybe going home and falling asleep would cause Spike to visit her dreams again and actually tell her something worthwhile. As the clock chimed the twelfth and final time, she paused. Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, a name etched on a headstone. Abigail Rose With a small gasp, she walked toward the headstone, a large piece of decrepit marble with roses carved all over it. The one next to is bore the name, Samuel Rose and the one beside it said, Frances Rose. Buffy kept count and walked down the line. As suspected, there were twelve in a row. “Okay, Spike. I found the twelve Roses so now what?” Glancing around the area closest to the Rose plots, Buffy noticed a crypt, small and just as drab as all the others. However, this one had a small red light on the top of it. It wasn’t on but it was there. Hefting her bag further up on her shoulder, she walked slowly toward it. Trying the handle, she sighed when she found it to be locked and turned, ready to find a rock to break through the window with. What she saw shocked her. The twelfth Rose headstone was glowing at the base of the marble, a small red light illuminating just bright enough to cast the grass in a pinkish hue. It had not been shining until she tried the handle. Buffy dropped to her knees beside it and pulled the grass back. A little red button was blinking, almost completely covered by dirt and grass seed. Using a stake she had shoved up her jacket sleeve, she dug around it and exposed the button completely. Taking a deep breath, she pressed it and expected to see commandos pop out of the ground all over the place. She heard a light click as the door behind her unlocked. Still kneeling, Buffy turned and stared at it, wondering if it would set off a silent alarm. She had no idea how advanced the organization was or what was inside and it made her tremble a little as she recalled being strapped down on the hospital stretcher and- Rolling her eyes, she whispered, “You’re the Slayer! What are you so scared of? Just go in, check it out and leave. Is that so hard?” She pulled a flashlight out of her bag and shoved extra batteries in the pocket of her coat. When she stood, she kicked the grass seed and dirt back over the tiny button and walked cautiously toward the door. Using the toe of her sneaker, she pushed it open and shined her light through. Nothing seemed amiss and she stepped inside, bracing the door enough to keep it from shutting with the stake she had. The windows were stained and prevented anyone from seeing inside. As she scanned the area, she could see why. There were no coffins here. A burlap sack sat in one corner, half full of something she wasn’t interested in seeing and there was a riding lawn mower parked in the middle of the floor. “Great. I broke into the tool shed. I came to kill the weed-wacker.” She coughed, the dust aggravating her congestion and slammed her hand against her chest. Steadying the flashlight against the lawnmower's hood, she opened her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. As she brought it to her lips, something scurried above her and fell onto her shoulder, causing her to drop the bottle. She didn’t scream, years of practice had pretty much deadened that reflex. Instead, Buffy grabbed it, flinging it across the room. The rat glared at her, looking hurt, before it vanished behind the sack. Snarling her lip in disgust, she started to turn and leave, then cocked her head. She could hear her water. It was pouring out of the bottle and dropping into something under the building. Pressing her stomach to the ground, she lay flat beside the mower and shined her light. “A-ha!” Directly beneath the shiny green contraption was a sewer grate. She pulled herself to her knees, debating how to move the lawnmower. If she took the time to push it through the doors, she would make a ton of noise and make it obvious to anyone who happened by that someone had tampered with the area. Stretching her arms over her head, she stood and glanced skyward. “I’ve been really good, Lord. Well, not good in the classic sense, maybe, because I know that one night stand with Parker was a big rule book no-no, but I’ve been punished. Let me have a good old shot of Slayer strength here. Please, let one thing go right.” Leaning against the front of the mower, she gritted her teeth, straining to move it aside just enough to let her fit through. When it only moved a few inches, she swore a little and moved around it, gripping it right above the tire. Buffy pulled with all her strength, her feet slipping on the ground and her arms protesting the weight. Finally, she worked it aside enough to shimmy though and stood, stretching and trying to work out the kinks. “I am never doing that again. Oww.” Buffy grabbed her water bottle and pulled it to her lips, relishing the few remaining drops before she tossed it and tugged the grate open. Hanging upside down, she poked her head through and scanned the tunnel. It was definitely one of the Initiative’s tunnels and not sewage. There was no water, except what had spilled out of her bottle. It was also completely dark; no lights were on except for her flashlight. She pulled back up and grabbed a rope from her bag. Knotting one end securely around the lawnmower, she dropped the other one inside. Just in case she needed to make a swift getaway; she’d be able to climb. Buffy shoved her arms through her backpack and grabbed the grate, pulling it back over the hole as she lowered herself. One end wouldn’t go down because of the rope but that was as the best she could do and it was concealed by the lawnmower on that side anyway, just in case a gatekeeper made rounds and checked inside the shed. Trying to remember what Willow had said about the Initiative digging up the road a few miles from the campus, she decided to go east, toward school ground and see what happened. Several flights of stairs led her further and further underground, until the air was so cold that she could see her breath in front of her face. It felt like she had walked forever before she came to a juncture. Killing her light, she closed her eyes, trying to reach out with her senses for anything demonic. Usually, the hair on the back of her neck would stand up when something was near. Feeling nothing, she resorted to Eeny-Meenie-Miney-Moe and chose right. After walking through more tunnel that looked exactly the same, she groaned and checked her watch. “How can it already be two am?” Picking up the pace, she made her way to another juncture and felt an odd sense of dread. Her flashlight flickered and shut off and she dug for more batteries, hoping against hope that she hadn’t gone in a circle. It took her a second to realize that the corridor to her left was fully illuminated. She fumbled with her batteries, changing them quickly and pocketing the old ones. Something clanked down that path and she froze. If there was something in the tunnel with her, she had no place to hide and would be forced to confront it head on. She could make out faint voices and put a hand to her mouth, trying to decide what to do. There was another clank and something roared, loud and fiercely, almost making her cry out from the pain in her ears. She dared a peek around the opening and saw a large pulsating glob chained to a wall. Directly above it, there was an opening covered with bars that someone, a someone with human hands, was dropping food through. The thing screamed again, grabbing for the bloody scraps and Buffy heard a man say, “If you don’t knock it off, we’ll just let you starve.” “Nooo!” The demon squealed, tugging against the chains as it buried what appeared to be a face into something that looked like a ribcage. As soon as it leaned forward, Buffy got a view of the rest of the tunnel. All the way down the narrow area, there were demons changed to the walls. Some looked half dead, not responding to the food, and some were leaping against their chains angrily. Others were eating noisily, sloppily, their bodies making sucking sounds as they digested their meals. Cringing when the thing closest to her bit the ribcage in two, she dared dart past that opening toward the next one. The squishy demon stopped what it was doing and bellowed, “What that? What that?” Buffy pressed herself against the wall, fully expecting to be caught, and breathed a sigh of relief when a human voice shouted. “I said knock it off!” The next tunnel wasn’t lit, save for a little light filtering through the overhead openings. She made her way slowly, carefully, wondering if any of the demons had ever gotten loose. Even if she was tiny, she’d make a great appetizer for a starving demon. Staying firm against the wall, she kept out of the light, not really knowing what she was searching for. “I don’t care.” Someone shouted and Buffy saw a shadow move across one of the patches of light above her. “Riley, you just said that it is your opinion that she is a good candidate.” “I know what I said, but you don’t understand. Buffy is small. Way smaller than what the minimum requirements are and she’s a girl, ma. She shouldn’t be having to do this.” Riley’s voice was strong and Buffy grinned, proud of herself for getting here and eavesdropping. “We’ve already discussed this, Riley.” Professor Walsh slammed Buffy’s folder onto her desk and thumbed through it. “Now, she’s got a rather colorful background, which I have already begun erasing, so that won't be an obstacle. By the time she becomes fully functional in the ranks, she will have a pristine police record.” Buffy perked and made a ‘yes’ motion with her hand, then grew calm as she listened to Walsh continue. “I’ll also see to it that the computers recognize her as one of us and keep her grade point average up. There will be nothing to indicate that she is doing anything abnormal and even if she becomes overwhelmed, she’ll never have below a 3.6 G.P.A.” The Slayer couldn’t stop the little dance that erupted from her body. This was just too amazing. If only the council could give benefits like this, maybe she wouldn’t have fired them. She realized what she was doing after several seconds and stopped, feeling like a fool, but the smile remained on her face. Riley spoke again, “I just don’t like it. It makes absolutely no sense.” “It makes perfect sense, son. You’re in love with her and I want you to be happy. You’re always telling me that you can’t have a normal relationship with a normal girl and I’ve never seen anyone with as much potential to succeed as Buffy Summers. You saw her fight the other night. I’d be willing to bet she has a third degree blackbelt. The solution is perfect.” “I don’t want her here because I’m in love with her mother. I want her here because she wants to be here and can get excited about our goal.” Riley spoke hatefully, cruelly, but it didn’t soften the way his admission affected Buffy. It felt like someone had punched her right in the chest and she had to prop herself against the wall. –He’s in love with me? He really wasn’t faking about being concerned about me. Shit. Oh shit. And he *was* there! Shit.-- “Riley, if she comes down and doesn’t like it, we’ll simply zap her memory and send her back home.” Buffy narrowed her eyes. There would definitely be no memory zapping happening anytime around her. That was so b-rated movie anyway. Who in their right mind would zap a memory besides Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones? –Note to self,- she thought. –Find and destroy memory zapping device.— “Don’t make it too hard on her. She’s been sick.” Riley said sadly, clearly giving in. “I’m willing to forfeit some of the more arduous tasks that a new recruit must complete. But for the most part, I’m going to test her the exact same way.” “I hate this!” Riley shouted. “I have work to do with Hostile Seventeen. You know his chip will be diffusing on the eighteenth?” “I know.” “I think he’s rather fascinating. He isn’t like other vampires and I intend to find out why.” Walsh stood and picked up a file labeled ‘seventeen’. “You can always install a new chip if you don’t get your answers by then.” “Certainly not.” Walsh replied, staring at him like he had hatched a vampire through his forehead. “I don’t break protocol just because I get curious. You know better than that.” "You're breaking protocol to let Buffy in." "Don't you dare-!" “Fine, whatever.” “Make sure you lock my office when you leave.” Maggie instructed angrily. “I’m leaving now.” His responses had grown clipped and lacked inflection. Letting his mother win had always been the only way to handle a situation and this wasn’t going to be the exception. He would just have to see to it that Buffy's needs were met, no matter what the cost. Buffy listened to the sounds of a door shutting and smiled. There was a way to escape in Walsh’s office. Maybe it wouldn’t be that hard to get Spike and drop him through the bars. Together, they could make a mad dash to safety and Willow could figure out what the new chip meant and how to do it. Further down the corridor, another light blinked on and Buffy silently moved toward it. She was almost directly under it when she heard Spike shout, “Oh, Bloody hell! It’s you again! Didn’t you get enough last time? I was sleeping.” “I figured you’d be used to keeping the vampire’s hours by now.” Walsh replied. “Well who could know what time it is cooped up in this hell-hole?” He crossed his arms and slumped in the chair across from the woman. Parallel to him, a feet feet below, Buffy was staring upward, willing him to keep talking so she could hear that he was okay. Walsh spoke again, saying, “How old are you?” “Eight hundred and eighty two.” Spike replied, matter of factly. “I don’t believe you. Vampires who are that old begin to physically change.” “Well, my dick got a lot bigger over the years.” Maggie clucked her tongue and repeated her question. “How old are you?” “I just gave you the answer in dog years. You treat me like a dog. You figure it up.” He replied. Buffy smiled and closed her eyes, picturing what he must be doing. She imagined he would be twirling something in his fingertips, scowling at Walsh and trying his best to intimidate her. “Tell me in human years.” “Why do you want to know?” “Do I need to get the box again?” “Oh, sod it all! I’m one hundred and twenty-six. What’s the matter, are you people to daft to do the math?” Spike shouted, grinding the heel of his boot into the floor. Playing twenty questions had gotten old the first night he had played and now he wanted to sleep. Sleeping was the only thing that made it bearable. “Do you remember who sired you?” “Oh, no. I repressed it because he’s the biggest arse who ever nanced about.” “Is he still alive?” Maggie asked, putting a tape recorder next to the vampire. “To my knowledge, he has not been alive for over two hundred years.” "Then how did he sire you?" "He'd have to be dead to sire me, you ninny!" Maggie rubbed her forehead. “I don’t enjoy talking in circles with you.” “Then stop chasing your tail. I have no interest in telling you about me because as soon as I do, you will kill me.” “To my knowledge, you have not been alive for one hundred and twenty six years. I can’t kill what’s already dead.” Replied Maggie, not bothering to hide her smile as the man’s face contorted with rage. “Oh, that’s fucking brilliant. I’ll teach you to mock me!” He grabbed her tape recorder and tossed it. It slid through the bars on the floor and crashed a few feet from Buffy. “What about that then?” Maggie didn’t stop smiling and watched as one of the guards stepped forward and hit Spike hard against the side of the head. Spike howled out, pain mingled with fury and turned, already imagining the sound of the guard’s neck popping. As soon as he reached for the man, something triggered in his head and it felt like his scalp would blow off. Buffy dropped to her knees in the tunnel as she heard his screams turn to broken pleas and apologies. Clapping her hands over her ears, she shook her head, tears streaming down her face and she whispered the same thing over and over. “Hold on, Spike. Hold on. Hold on, Spike. Hold on. Hold on, Spike. Hold on. Hold on, Spike. Hold on.” It was some time later before she realized the room above her had gone dark and had been that way for a while. She stood slowly, absently brushing the tears off and looked at the broken tape recorder. Buffy debated taking the tape, then figured if Maggie sent someone to retrieve it, she would wonder how it wound up missing. Moving solemnly and not really caring if she got caught at that point, she walked past the opening of the demon tunnel. The obese demon glared at her, it’s pulpy eye glistening as it blinked. “What that? What that?” By the time she navigated the tunnels and found her rope, she was sobbing again, the pitiful sounds bouncing off the walls. She had never felt more alone or more desperate to end Spike's pain. As she pulled herself up and pushed the grate aside, Buffy the Vampire Slayer made a vow to herself. She was going to take Maggie Walsh’s son away from her and make her hurt as much as Spike had hurt. By the time she finished, Riley would be eating out of the palm of her hand and would help her go against the Initiative. He was already taken with her, apparently he thought he was in love with her, so how hard could it be? Gaining an ally on the inside, one who knew the ropes, would give her an edge. If she knew Riley at all, and she felt like she did, he would protect her at all costs and see to it that she was happy. It was his way. No matter what she had to do, she would see to it the Maggie’s whole organization crumbled and fell. Buffy would be the last recruit the Initiative ever saw. Sunnydale was only big enough for one demon hunter. __ Xander flipped the light on and glared at Anya, who was straddling his legs. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he watched her peel her shirt over her head and said, “How did you get in here?” “I’ll never tell.” “What do you want?” “I want to screw. Wasn’t that made apparent by my exposed boobs?” Anya wriggled her hips and beamed at him, holding her hands up. “And look, I don’ t have a screwdriver.” Xander looked at the clock and flopped his head back against the pillow. He had been having an absolutely wonderful dream where he was Keanu Reeves in Speed and Sandra Bullock was driving the bus with no clothes on. “It’s almost four in the morning!” “Your boner can slam into my soggy, er …” Trying not to appear obvious, she glanced at the words she had scrawled in the palm of her hand. “beef curtains.” “Beef curtains?” “Would you prefer beaver? Aren’t you excited? This is a booty call!” Xander sat up and pulled her hand around, staring at it intently. “I see you mastered the ‘B’ section of the slang book.” “Does that arouse you? Wanna bang me? Boink me? Bash me with the bell end of your big one until you blow your wad?” “No, pretty much all I want to do is sleep.” Xander let go of her hand and laid back on the bed again. He didn’t know what he was going to do. Between the things she blurted out and her insatiable appetite, she was going to be the death of him. It was a toss up, die from Anya induced humiliation or die from a sexually induced heart attack. At this point, he was leaning toward humiliation as being the less painful alternative. “I’m sleepy. Tired. Exhausted. Broken down and put away.” Anya poked her lower lip out and said, “That’s fine. I can give you a blow job.” He gripped the sheets as she wrenched his boxers down and began to use her mouth in ways he couldn’t begin to resist. His eyes rolled back in his head as she slowed to a stop, giggling at his frustration. Moaning, he gripped her and rolled, pinning her under his body, “You win.” “That’s a good boy. Now I’m going to slap your ass and call you my bitch while we bounce the bed.” Anya hit him hard as he entered her and threw her head against the pillow. “That’s it, you bastard.” Xander almost went completely soft as soon as she said it. “Bastard?” “Doesn’t that mean big hairy animal?” “No, I think that’s a bear and it’s still not endearing.” Xander shook his head, intent on finishing so she would let him sleep. “Let’s play the quiet game.” For several seconds, she was completely quiet and nothing could be heard except for their heavy breathing. Xander used that to his advantage and concentrated hard, forcing himself to come as fast as he could. He rolled to his back and Anya nestled into the crook of his arm. “This is better than fornicating.” “God help us all.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Eight Buffy was staggering around the kitchen the next day, half asleep and trying to locate a cup for her coffee, when the doorbell rang. Not caring about the fact that she was wearing a pair of men’s boxer shorts and a baggy tank top, she stumbled to the door and pulled it open. A woman wearing a suit stood with her back toward the door. “Yeah?” Maggie Walsh turned and smiled at her, glancing her up and down. “Hello, Buffy. That’s quite an outfit.” “Professor Walsh?” It had taken all of Buffy’s self-control not to reach out and strangle her visitor the second she saw her face. Instead of acting annoyed, she acted half asleep and rubbed her eyes groggily. “God, what time is it?” “It’s after noon and don’t rub your eyes like that, hon. You can damage your corneas.” Maggie motioned toward the door and said, “May I come in?” Playing it casually, Buffy smiled and moved aside. “If you’re here to complain to my mom about my grade, she just left for work.” “Quite the contrary. I’m here to commend you for your grade and let you know that I think you have what it takes to succeed in other areas.” Maggie spoke quickly, feeling pride that she was about to make the young girl in front of her a better person. “How would you like to get dressed and go for a ride with me?” “You’re kidding?” Buffy forced her grin to remain in place and shook her head. Surely no one, even a hateful bitch like Walsh, would be that obvious. “I’m actually not kidding. You don’t have to wear anything fancy or worry about your clothing. We’ll take care of that.” Maggie put her hand on Buffy’ s arm and said, “Your life is about to change, sweetheart. Riley is going to be there and so will several other people you know.” “Riley?” Buffy pretended to be really excited by the prospect of seeing him and nodded. “Riley told my mom I had one of the highest grades in class. Is this a party?” “It is.” Maggie lied easily, happy to see that the girl seemed to be as interested in her son and he was in her. “Now, why don’t you run get dressed and I’ll wait for you down here.” “Make yourself at home.” Buffy beamed at the woman and started to walk away before she turned and added, “You know, I always heard that UC Sunnydale was good, but a teacher who throws parties and makes house calls just defies logic.” Buffy left her and jogged up the stairs two at a time, shaking nervously. She had expected that Riley would be the one to bring her into the fold, not Walsh, who made her stomach ache. She snatched her phone up and dialed Giles ’s house while she shoved her legs through a pair of jeans. As soon as he answered, she said, “Giles! Oh my god, you’re there. Listen to me! Professor Walsh is here and she asked me to go somewhere with her. She claims it’s a party or something but I know better.” “Don’t go anywhere!” Giles shouted, shutting off the stove and pulling his tea kettle to one side. “Do you understand me? Stay there and I’m on my way.” “I have to do this, Giles. Now pay attention.” She yanked on a pair of boots and walked toward her closet to select a shirt. “I left some instructions on my dresser, just in case they plan on keeping me hostage or something. I found a way in last night-“ “You went out last night? Alone?” Giles shouted, slamming his palm flat down on the stove. “Ahhh, hot burner!” “Are you listening?” Buffy pulled her shirt over her head and grabbed her brush, yanking it through her hair. “It’s on my dresser but don’t try to go down there, Giles. That’s only for an emergency, like, if I’m not back by tomorrow. I have to go. I’ll call you later.” She slammed the phone down, silencing his protests and bolted down the stairs. It would be pointless to try to arm herself. If they frisked her, and they probably would, she would draw unneeded suspicion by having a weapon. She found the Professor glancing at various photos of her family and cleared her throat. Maggie turned and glanced at Buffy, shocked … not for the first time, at how delicately pretty she was. Even now, devoid of make-up and wearing casual clothing, the girl was breathtaking. “Ahh, you look wonderful.” “Are you ready?” Buffy asked anxiously, aching to get out before Giles showed up. “I was curious about this photo.” Lifting one of the pictures, Walsh held it up. It showed a young girl with brown hair dressed in a Karate suit. “Is this you?” “Oh, yeah.” Grinning, Buffy stepped forward and took the photo of her cousin, loving the fact that she was about to lie and tell the woman what she wanted to hear. “I’m a third degree blackbelt in karate and have studied other areas of martial arts my entire life.” Maggie gasped and raised an eyebrow, marveling at how perfect it all was. “Really? Well, that’s just amazing.” Buffy put the photo back on the table and led Walsh out the door. As soon as she had strapped herself in the seat, the woman started the car and pulled away from the curb. Daring a glance back at her house, Buffy hoped that she would live to see it again. Then she faced forward, resolved to do just that. __ Riley paced back and forth in front of Lowell house, waiting for Maggie to arrive. His mother had insisted that she be the one to escort Buffy and see for herself that the recruit was a regular girl and wasn’t spending her time in a demonic cocoon or something. He had never gotten used to what the night would bring or what seemingly natural occurrences simply were not. There had been times when he was convinced that someone was absolutely normal, then he would glance again and see ridges and fangs where the human face had been. He had actually seen worse than run of the mill vampires and he didn't want Buffy to see that stuff. He wanted her to see movies and concerts and school ... and him. It took a lot of time to get used to the blood and gore aspect of it, which is what he feared for Buffy. What if she couldn’t handle it and had to have her memory erased? It wasn’t fool proof, his father could attest to that. What was supposed to erase his memory of the demons had wound up costing him his memory of how to be a human and function. Frowning, Riley recalled the final moments before his father had been led toward the lab. He had gripped his shoulders and whispered, “Never forget what you just saw and don’t you let her make you proud of what you do.” “I hear you, dad.” Riley shook his head as the car came into view. There was no way he was proud of what he was doing and he had never forgotten what he had seen. Buffy waved at him from the passenger seat and he opened her door, offering his hand to help her out. She stepped up on the curb and into his arms, hugging him lightly. “I’m sorry about falling asleep last night. Did it make you mad?” “Nah, it’s fine.” He smiled down at her, letting his thumb brush across her cheek. “You look like you feel a lot better.” “I feel great.” She stepped away when Maggie joined them. “So, what are we doing?” “You didn’t tell her?” Riley asked, glaring at Walsh. “I thought you were going to tell her. She can’t be expected to just go in.” “I think that seeing it would be better than hearing about it. She can-“ Buffy held up a hand and cleared her throat. “The she in question is getting a little wigged here, so let’s get on with it.” Riley took the hand she had held up and started toward the house, leveling his mother with an icy glare, which she ignored. He had assumed that Buffy would be told something, anything at all, to make it easier. Leading the way through the various rooms, he pulled a tag from around his neck and slid it down a clearance strip beside a door in the back of the house. He was very aware of the fact that Buffy was eyeing every move he made, trusting him completely. Sighing, he turned and stared down at her. “You’re about to see something that will-“ “Riley!” Maggie snapped as the door opened. “Come on.” Buffy couldn’t have hid her anxiety if she had to and stood outside when they both stepped in. Her mind kept telling her feet to move but they seemed to have a will of their own. Knowing she had to say something, she stammered, “Y-You guys are freaking me out. Why is there an elevator in your house?” Riley stepped out of the elevator and stared at her. “Buffy, I’ll explain it all to you as soon as we get downstairs. I promise you that it’s going to be okay. And,” he pinned his gaze on his mother so she could make no mistake about the next thing he said. “I would die before I would let anything happen to you.” Buffy let him lead her through the doorway and watched as a green ray of some kind passed over them. A voice spoke and said, “Retinal scan confirmed on two of three passengers. Clearance requested for non-scanning entity.” Riley leaned forward and spoke into a silver microphone on the wall. “Riley Finn.” The computerized voice spoke again. “Special Agent Finn, confirmed. Welcome back.” The doors shut and Buffy swallowed hard, wondering if she would be able to do it. Spike would see her and give her away. Worse yet, some vampire would see her and call her a Slayer. Giles was right, they hadn’t planned this out. She was forced to fly by the seat of her pants and, having done that once or twice … literally, it wasn’t much fun. –You’re the Slayer! Pull it together.-- Maggie put an arm around Buffy when she heard her heavy breathing and squeezed her reassuringly. “It’s okay, Buffy.” “It was you, wasn’t it?” Asked Buffy, feeling like she needed to provide a reason for her unbridled panic. No matter how hard she tried not to be … she was terrified. What if she got confused about all the lies she would have to tell? “You people are the ones who shot me with something in the sewers and then tried to poison me.” Riley stared over her head and nodded at Walsh, who nodded back. Riley took a deep breath and said, “Yes. Our organization was responsible for the ordeal you went through and we apologize for that.” “Organization? We? Suddenly you’re an institution?” Buffy cried, yanking her hand of out his. “Who are you? What are you?” Maggie reached out and stopped the elevator, pausing it halfway down into the facilities. “Buffy, you need to calm down.” “You kidnap me again and you expect me to be calm?” She leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Not all of it was an act. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. Part of it was the fact that she would see Spike and he would see her interacting with these people and think that she was against him. Some of it was the fact that they had weapons she had never seen and a small portion of her anxiety was caused by who she was. A Slayer, trained in the most archaic ways known to man, who was physically stronger than a man three times her size … but still just a girl. “You were with a vampire.” Riley blurted, trying his best to soothe her with the truth. “Vampires are real.” Maggie nodded in agreement. “So are many other things that you wouldn’t believe and we saw you fight and thought you might want to help out with our mission.” Buffy pushed her hair back, trying to decide how she should react to that comment. If she pretended that she didn’t know what demons were all about, then she’d be forced to act scared all day and be a girly-girl; which could make her fail the tests. On the other hand, if she didn’t pretend, she would have to offer an explanation as to why she was so strong and wasn’t shocked at the demons on display. Her answer came when Walsh saw the scar on her neck and said, “What happened to your neck?” “One of those vampires you just mentioned.” Buffy said with a shrug and lifted the front of her shirt, exposing another small scar on her abdomen. “And this one came from a fight with a Der Kindestaad and this one over here happened because I got swallowed by a mother bezoar. So yeah, demons are real.” “What are –you-, Buffy?” Riley asked quietly, turning her question around on her. Her demeanor had suddenly changed and he half expected to see her morph into something. The hair on the back of his neck began to dance upward and he watched her expectantly, almost frantically. “You’re her, aren’t you?” Maggie stared at the waif of a girl before her and took a deep breath. “All this time I thought she was a myth but here you are.” “What is she?” Riley shouted, feeling like his entire world had just deflated and the woman of his dreams had been handed a death sentence. “I’m a who.” Buffy pointed out. Something about them knowing who she was made her feel more confident. If she didn’t have to worry about her identity then she could concentrate on other things. Namely Spike. Walsh stared at her in awe and then glanced at Riley. “She’s the Slayer. I had heard rumors but I never dreamed it was real. Vampires have their mythology just like people do and I thought that it was nothing more than a tale passed down. Something sires would talk about to make their childer behave.” “A Slayer?” Running a hand through his hair, Riley loosened the top button on his shirt to keep it from choking him to death. Buffy shifted her eyes to his and said, “In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.” “Who chose you?” He asked, clearly unconvinced and very ill at ease. Shrugging, Buffy said, “I don’t know. The people who are chosen to choose the chosen one? All I know is that you people shot me when I was about to bag a vampire and then you scared the hell out of me.” “Do you always make out with vampires before you kill them?” Riley raised an eyebrow, daring her to deny it. “No.” Buffy snapped. “I was trying to coax some information about a demon out of him.” “Would you have slept with him?” “Hell no.” Buffy made a disgusted face and shook her head. “That’s sick.” Walsh rolled her eyes before Riley could reply and said, “Buffy, are you ready to see what we’re all about?” “Sure, but I don’t want to see that hospital room thing again. Ever.” She held onto a handrail as Maggie pushed the button and the elevator sprang to life. So far, so good. They didn’t seem to be terribly put off by who she was even though Professor Walsh was acting like she was the Holy Grail and couldn’t take her eyes off of her. The doors opened and Buffy gasped. The machines towered over her and she glanced upward, seeing the platform she had used to escape. From this vantage point, it was even more intimidating and high tech than it had appeared from the rafters. All around the main area were observation rooms that contained various demons. People rushed back and forth, some carrying containers and others were carrying trays of food ... if glops of bloody messes could be considered food. And oddly enough, there were military jeeps inside the underground facility that made Buffy wonder where the hell they were getting in at. Riley nudged her and took her hand again. “Are you okay?” “What? Yeah, I’m fine.” She smiled at him reassuringly and then turned her attention toward the Professor. “So, what exactly is it you want me to do?” “I have a few tests for you and if you pass, I’d like to offer you a job.” “A job?” “Here with us. Helping us put an end to human suffering at the hands of demons.” Buffy pretended to really think about that and then glanced up at Riley. “You work here?” “Yes, I do. I’ll see to it that you get to work with me as much as possible. I’m pretty much in charge of who goes where.” Nodding, Buffy took a deep breath, scanning the area for Spike and gritting her teeth when she didn’t see him. “Where do I sign up?” Beaming, Maggie motioned for Buffy to follow her into an office. “I was hoping you would say yes and took it upon myself to purchase you some training clothes.” She lifted a bag and put it in the girl’s outstretched arms and smiled. “I hope I got the sizes right.” “I’m sure you did.” “I’m not going to lie to you, Buffy.” Maggie stepped closer and grew serious. “What you are about to be subjected to is going to make today go down in history as one of the hardest days of your life.” Buffy shrugged, not allowing the woman the satisfaction of intimidating her. “You know, I think I can take it.” “I certainly hope so. You can change in here and we’ll be outside.” Professor Walsh nodded at Riley, who patted Buffy on the back, and they walked out of the room. As soon as the door was closed, Maggie grabbed his arm and said, “Oh, son. I can not believe our luck. A Slayer! Here in the group.” “Why didn’t you ever tell me that there were Slayers?” Riley asked, nodding at several men who passed. “Chosen ones. Chosen girls. Chosen Buffy!” “Like I told her, I didn’t believe it. Your father claimed to have met one once. He apparently saw her fighting in Iowa before we moved out here. She saved his life and he heard the vampires calling her a Slayer. And then there were several instances here, I would encounter a vampire who would ask me if I was working for the Slayer.” She shook her head, trying to digest the possibilities. “Riley, you saw her fight. She was like a machine. That thing in the tunnels-“ “Absolutely not. Buffy is not to go near that thing.” Riley growled, turning to glare down at her. “I mean it. I don’t care if she is a fucking real life pink ranger, she is not going to do that.” Maggie’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare use that word in my presence!” The door opened suddenly and Buffy stepped out. The athletic clothing that the Professor had chosen fit perfectly. A jog bra under a tight black tank top that showed a portion of her stomach and black spandex bicycle shorts. There was also a pair of what appeared to be mountain climbing shoes that had taken Buffy forever to lace and tie. Riley’s eyes almost bulged out of his head when he saw her. The disagreement with his mother was forgotten as he let his gaze wash over her firm stomach and slim hips, then back up toward the cleavage at the top of the tank top. “I’d say it fit.” Buffy nodded and stepped out into the main floor again, feeling embarrassed. “I’d say so. Does everyone have to wear this stuff?” “No, thank God.” Riley chuckled. “I don’t think I have the chest for it.” Maggie had not really thought about how sexy the outfit would be when she purchased it. That certainly would pose a problem with the boys there that day. Odds are nothing would get done. It couldn’t be helped though. “We’ll start on a bike. It’s stationary and it simulates going uphill. It will gradually become steeper and you have to pedal it without leaving the seat one time.” Glancing around at the men who paused to stare at her, Buffy could only nod. Maybe it was part of the training to make her stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe they had to leave her pretty exposed in order to add pressure and see how she handled it. She was still analyzing the reasoning behind it when she climbed onto a bike with a horribly hard seat and let Maggie attach several sticky things to her chest and back, then snap cables in place. “What’s this for?” “It’s an EKG. We’re going to monitor your heart rate while you exercise.” Maggie flipped the switch on the machine and brought it closer to her. “Just keep pedaling and don’t stop. By the time the test is finished, the bike will be in a wheelie position and will let itself back down. You can start now.” Taking a deep breath, Buffy began to pedal. It was smooth and proved to be no problem. She glanced in the corner at Riley, who was sitting behind a computer screen, watching her progress and said, “So, how long does this test last?” “Until your heart rate speeds up enough for the next test. You have to be really pumped and tired.” He grinned at her. “Because if you’re not miserable when you climb the rocks then we have no fun.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” Riding bikes and rock climbing? Buffy had to force herself not to laugh. How could this possibly train anyone for fighting demons? The bike moved upward a little and she sighed. It would probably be ages before they would decide she was ‘tired’ enough for her next test. __ Almost an hour later, the bike was tilted to the maximum incline and Buffy was still pedaling away. Walsh stared from the screen, to the recruit and then back at the screen again. “Increase the weight on the pedals.” “It is.” Riley said, turning the knob again just to make sure. “It’s been all the way for fifteen minutes. “This is uncanny. She’s not even sweating.” Buffy cleared her throat and glanced their way. “I don’t sweat. If you’re waiting for me to let go or faint from lack of oxygen, it’s not going to happen.” “Does the heat in the room not bother you?” Maggie asked. At the thirty minute mark, she had turned the heat up, trying to make Buffy as uncomfortable as possible. “Not really.” Shifting slightly, she readjusted her hands and pedaled a little faster. The muscles in her legs were stretched tight and her back and arms were starting to ache from keeping herself upright, but she was fine. “Should we just move on to the rocks?” Riley shook his head and pointed at the screen. “She’s been holding steady the whole time. She beat Forest’s record ten minutes ago.” “I’ll beat it by an hour if it’ll help.” Buffy smiled at the two, enjoying the fact that she was apparently doing well. “Shut it down.” Maggie nodded and watched as Riley moved the lever to lower the bike. As soon as it was grounded, she walked out and unstrapped the cords from the EKG. “Good job. We’re going to have you climb now, because if your legs are weak then now is when it will show.” “That’s fine.” Buffy stepped off the bike, not letting herself groan as her ass shifted back into place and tried to push the bicycle seat indentations out. “Have you ever climbed before?” “Rocks? A couple of times. Not massive-fall-and-die climbing. But I have climbed to save my ass a time or two.” Nodding, Maggie walked through a set of doors on one side of the room and pointed at a huge wall. There were several different colored pegs sticking out at various angles and one side protruded more than the other side. “You’ ll start out on the beginner’s side here and if you make it up quickly and without incident, you’ll move to the middle. You’ll find the middle to be quite difficult but if you make that one, you’ll move to the expert area. I have to tell you that of all the boys here, Riley is the only one who has scaled the expert wall and never fallen.” “Ohhh, fun.” Buffy smiled as Riley secured a harness around her waist and tied one end of a rope into a knot. The other side connected to a harness around his own waist and he tugged that, making sure it was secure. “Are you going to keep me from getting killed?” “I won’t let you fall.” He glanced up and pointed at the top of the wall. “When you begin to climb, a clock will start counting and when you get to the top, you have to hit that red button to stop it.” “Gotcha.” Buffy wriggled a little, trying to get the harness comfortable and then paused when several boys walked into the room and sat down. “An audience?” “Don’t worry about them.” Riley watched his mother walk toward them, telling them that they were to remain quiet. “Most of them are just curious about why a girl is here.” “I guess I should show them then, huh?” “You ready?” Buffy’s reply was a nod and she moved toward the wall. Lacing her fingers together, she cracked her knuckles and dared a peek behind her. Several of the boys were laughing and whispering to one another. Facing forward, she grabbed one of the pegs and began to climb. She had expected Riley to talk to her as she climbed, but he was silent and she didn’t want to glance down to see what he was doing. Her feet and hands moved fast, finding foot and handholds and she was at the top before she knew it and hit the buzzer. The clock stopped and she glanced at it. One minute and twelve seconds. Riley held the rope tight and said, “You can let go.” Buffy complied and let herself drop, suspended by Riley’s rope. She landed a few feet in front of him and said, “Now what?” Riley untied the knot and nodded toward the second rope, the one in the middle of the wall. “This one’s a little harder. Right at the top you’ll really have to stretch because of how small you are. It’s best if you just keep going, no matter how intimidating it looks.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Nine When the knot was secured, she turned and faced the wall again. The minute she began to climb, she heard the clock begin to tick. At the halfway mark, she had to struggle with the spacing and pull herself up with only one handhold that she could reach. Having both hands together threw her balance off but she quickly tossed one leg out, hooking her toes in a groove and shoving upward. Her thigh muscles began to protest and she sighed when she reached the top and hit the red button. The clock stopped at one minute and forty-five seconds and two of the boys seated in the room applauded her. Riley untied the rope when he had helped her down and motioned at the third wall, ignoring the chatter around them. “You okay with this?” “Fine.” Buffy stared out at the boys that had gathered and then at Riley. “Let’s get it done before they make me nervous.” “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?” Holding up two fingers, she smiled. “Scouts honor.” “Why don’t I believe you?” With a shrug, she waited for him to knot the rope again and turned toward the wall. She stared up at it, trying to decide the best way to go about it. Almost at the top, it jutted out about five feet. Five feet that she would have to be horizontal to hang on to. Massaging her fingertips on her thighs, she chewed her lower lip. “Do a lot of people fall?” “Yeah.” Riley moved closer to her and laid his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to do it. None of them made it.” “I’m gonna make it.” Buffy grabbed the wall and hoisted herself upward. “Don’t worry about the clock. It took me almost ten minutes to make it. Judge your moves carefully because it can be confusing. And tricky, Buffy. Tricky.” Stepping back, Riley watched the curve of her ass and the way her calf muscles danced as she moved and wondered if she could be more perfect. Everything about her was beautiful. Each step higher seemed to increase her confidence and she didn’t slow once, which made her even more intriguing. The bottom part was as simple as the one before and Buffy moved faster over it than she previously had, intent on making good time. Instead of trying to pick and choose her moves, she simply climbed, letting her body mold to the wall. A few feet from the rough part, she paused and glanced up, trying to decide the best way. She could dangle from her hands and just try to use the monkey bar technique or she could attempt to keep herself close and let her legs take some of her weight. Reaching for a blue peg, she latched onto the bottom part and pulled. The peg came loose and she almost fell away from the wall, her toehold keeping her in place. She let it fall and shook her head, figuring that this was the tricky thing Riley had mentioned. Using her free hand, she reached for a red peg, deciding to test the weight from here on out. When she couldn’t reach it, she let herself dangle from one arm, using her momentum to swing back and forth. She caught another toehold and pulled herself sideways, inching up enough to grab the red peg. Professor Walsh watched her with equal parts shock and amazement as she went horizontal and used only one arm to support her weight and lift her high enough to make it over the top. The hardest part of the third climb was the protruding areas and Buffy flew across it, making it look easy. Once she made it past the jagged edges, she was home free. “Damn, she’s good.” Forest shook his head when Buffy hit the buzzer and the clock stopped at three minutes and fifty-four seconds. “I have never seen anything like that.” Buffy stood on top of the rocks and waited for the go ahead from Riley before she stepped off. He let her drop quickly and slowed her down before she hit the ground. She giggled when he caught her around the waist and said, “Coming down is a lot better.” A man named Michael that Riley didn’t like at all shouted, “Hey Riley, your girlfriend’s better than you are!” “Oh please! He was probably pulling her up and she was just making it look real.” Another one shouted, pointing at Buffy. “Look how little she is. There’s no way she actually made that climb.” Maggie glared at the boy and he shut his mouth so fast it made a hollow pop. She stalked onto the mat in front of the wall and smiled. “Buffy, that was amazing. I’ve never seen anyone go up that fast.” Buffy grinned and pulled her harness off, handing it to Riley. “I guess it helped that I had a rope around me. I wasn’t afraid of falling.” “Do you think you could do that well if you didn’t have the rope?” Maggie asked causally. With a small shrug, Buffy nodded. “Sure.” “No!” Riley tossed the harness into the floor and stalked toward his mother. “Absolutely not. She climbed all three walls without any problem. You know she can do it now let's move on.” “And you know that the recruits always climb the wall once without the rope.” Walsh snapped. Riley put his hands on his hips and pointed at Buffy. “Absolutely not. Look at her and tell me honestly that you think she can do it.” "Excuse me?" Buffy swallowed hard and peered up the wall again. If Giles had been there, he would have slapped her for even thinking of saying yes, but he wasn’t there and she had to pass the tests. “If other people do it, I’ll do it.” “Buffy, it’s a thirty foot drop from the top and the climb down can be worse than the climb up.” Riley said, grabbing her by the arm when she walked toward the wall. "I said no. Tell her you don't want to do it." “She can climb the middle.” Walsh said, as though she was doing her a favor. “What do they climb?” Buffy pointed at the boys in the chairs who were watching. “They climb the last wall they made it up.” “Then I’ll climb here.” Pointing at the third wall, Buffy leaned against it and stretched her muscles. Bending at the knees, she squatted and then rose again, pushing her arms over her head. “You’ll climb the beginner wall and you’ll do it with a net under you.” Riley turned and shouted for Forest to get the net. Several of the boys laughed, calling out that the net was still in the box since –they- never had to use it. Buffy reddened and narrowed her eyes at Riley. “You don’t tell me what to do and don’t you dare make special arrangements for me. I can do this and I don’t need a baby-sitter.” Riley watched her start to climb and caught her around the waist, pulling her off the wall. He sat her on her feet and turned her to face him. “Let’s get something clear right now. If you make it into the Initiative then I will be the one telling you what to do, where to go, and how to handle it. I take orders from Walsh and you'll be taking orders from me. You will respect that, Buffy.” “And you will respect me.” Buffy fired back. “I haven’t made it in yet so you don’t make the decisions for me. I’ll do it just like anyone else does it and if you try to hold me back then I won’t join. I may be a woman, but I am not helpless and I don’t need some guy thinking that just because he’s bigger, he’s better.” Michael shouted out, "Day-and! She told him, didn't she?" "Hey Riley, does she tell you what to do all the time?" Another boy shouted, his words almost drowned out by the laughter around him. Forest stood beside the supply closet and said, “Do I get the net or not?” “No.” Professor Walsh held up her hand and motioned for him to go back to his seat. “If she wants to climb, she climbs and that’s that.” “Thank you!” Buffy said angrily and turned toward the wall again. Riley crossed his arms over his chest and watched as she began to pull herself along, his heart pounding wildly. Maggie went back across the room and said something about him joining them, but he stayed close to the wall, moving as she moved so he could catch her if she fell. Buffy forced herself to remain calm and tried to think of it as an adventure. Not only would she prove herself to the people in the room, she would take great satisfaction in the fact that none of them could claim to have gone up the expert wall with a rope, much less without. Telling herself that she would be fine, she climbed steadily and reached the halfway point in no time. It got rough when she came to the same place as she had before, where the handgrip had come out into her palm. She dangled again and tried to toss her leg up, but her lower extremities protested, causing her to groan at the pain. She glanced to her right and grabbed a green prong, easing herself to the other side of the toughest part. It looked even worse from that side and she shook her head, not daring to look down. Someone chuckled and she eased forward, her fingertips going into a groove in the rock as she inched upward, taking her time. Buffy estimated that she was almost completely upside down. The stress on her fingers and toes was almost unbearably painful. She kept trying to reach a yellow grip to no avail and finally gritted her teeth and lunged, silently praying that it wasn’t a faulty one again. It held her up and she let go with her toes, relying on just her arms to pull her over the face of the rocks and her legs to keep her balanced while she did so. Riley shook his head when she vanished over the top and hit the buzzer. He waited for several seconds and then she appeared again, making her way back down. He moved side to side, holding his arms up and motioning, even though she couldn’t see him. Effortlessly, she lowered herself and within seconds of the ringing buzzer, he had his hands around her waist and was helping her down. “That was incredibly stupid.” He growled, lowering her and dropping her to her feet roughly. "Well, HotShot, blame whoever invented the test. Not me." She fired back, rubbing her hands together. Riley glared at her for a second and then turned toward the others. “If you’ re all satisfied that she can climb without my help then we have other things to do.” All of the boys simply stared and nodded, none daring to speak again. Walsh joined them and took Buffy’s hands into hers, staring at her fingertips. “Are your hands sore?” “Just a little.” Buffy replied; trying not to notice the way Riley was watching her again. “Am I done?” “Not even close.” Gesturing for Buffy to follow, Walsh moved through a side door and indicated a large aquarium. From bottom to top, it looked twenty feet tall and when Buffy stepped closer, she could see that it was deeper than just the ground level. Several fish swam by the glass, and the bottom area was thick with reeds and branches. “Wow. That’s even more impressive than the tanks at Sea World.” “We’re quite proud of our utilities. We feed the carnivorous demons fish that we tend ourselves and we use various animal blood for the vampires. No human lives are ever endangered to sustain our Hostiles.” Maggie smiled and stared around the room, trying to see what Buffy must be seeing for the first time. “Can you swim?” “Like a fish.” “Good, good.” Leading the way toward a ladder, Walsh patted the side of the tank. “Buffy, this test will show us your ability to handle yourself in cold water. It simulates the ocean and I want you to just jump right in and swim for a while.” “The ocean, huh?” Putting her face to the glass, she peered through the water skeptically. “Are there sharks in it?” Walsh laughed and shook her head no. “No. We don’t deal in sharks or anything else like that here.” “But, there will be something in the water? Something demonic?” Buffy turned to face her and noticed that Riley had joined the boys from the other room and didn’t appear interested in what she was doing anymore. It stung and she was tempted to go and ask him why he was so mad at her for doing what she was supposed to do. “Buffy, if I tell you what to expect then you have an unfair advantage.” Maggie replied apologetically. Riley glanced toward them and narrowed his eyes, wondering what they were talking about. He excused himself and walked the short distance. “Is there something wrong?” “No.” Maggie shook her head and nodded at the ladder. “I was just telling her a little about the test.” “So, I just jump in and swim?” Buffy asked, stepping up on the ladder. “Back and forth. I want you to start and one side and swim to the other, then go under do a lap there. Alternate every time. One lap above water and one lap below.” With a nod, Walsh waved her up the ladder and turned to join the others. Buffy wanted Riley to say something to her, but he only glanced her way and followed Maggie to the row of benches in the back of the room. Annoyed, she climbed to the top and scanned the area. On one side, there was a small waterfall, trickling water over brown rocks. One corner had steps that led out onto smooth, flat stones and she wondered what exactly lived in the tank that could climb out onto the dry area. From the top, she could see another pane of glass and another tank directly across from the one she was about to jump in. Several boys in trunks were swimming around and she squinted, trying to see what they were doing. Walsh cleared her throat and raised her voice a little, “Buffy, are you okay?” “What?” Buffy jumped a little and glanced down, shocked again at how far up she was. “I was just wondering if I’m supposed to wear these shoes.” “Yes.” Riley replied and checked his watch. “We’re ready when you are.” Gulping air, she dropped in and almost screamed at how cold it was. It felt like her body was being assaulted by a thousand tiny needles. Well aware of the fact that they could see her every move through the glass, she began to swim. Doing as instructed, she swam one time across the top of the water and then kicked off, diving deeper to swim the next. It was impossible to keep her eyes open underwater, therefore, she made it a point to scan the surface every time she swam a top lap. Back and forth, she paddled her arms and legs, feeling like a sitting duck. There was no doubt in her mind that something was going to happen so it came as no surprise when she felt the water shift a little and something caused a ripple to build from the bottom up. Off to her right, she saw water bubbles and stopped swimming, pausing to tread water instead. She was directly in the middle of the water, not pinned in a corner and not willing to move until she could figure out what it was. “She’s going to freak out.” Forest shook his head and smiled up at Riley. “She knows it’s in there and she’s going to faint or something.” “Nonsense.” Maggie said, watching as the Helathon demon began to swim under Buffy. It had the body of a large eel, easily twelve feet long with four tentacles that stretched out, giving it a span of about twenty feet when fully opened. It also had a brain larger than any sea dwelling creature she had ever seen so she had kept it, training it to aid in the recruiting process. It knew exactly what to do and even if it did become aggressive, it was unable to harm a human being. Buffy didn't know that though and this was the perfect way to see how she handled a demon in it’s element. It was easy to stake a vampire. Anyone could do it. Wrestling around with something in the water though was something entirely different. Riley felt guilty for not telling her that the demon, affectionately dubbed ‘Helix’, couldn’t hurt her. His anger over her making him look like a fool and risking her life was beginning to abate and he took a few steps toward the tank. “Maybe I should go up and stand on the-“ “Absolutely not.” Walsh pointed at the spot beside her. “We don’t get involved. Helix knows what to do and he’ll do it.” Buffy wiggled in a full circle, eyeing the water cautiously. She could feel fish brushing against her skin and was about to go under and start laps again, when something wrapped around her ankle and yanked. Pain seared through her hip, making her wonder if whatever it was had dislocated it, then it let go and she swam upward and the cramp vanished. Taking a deep breath, she dove back under and forced her eyes open. It stung but she could make out a shape in one corner and swam toward it. “My god!” Exclaimed Michael, pointing as though no one else could see what he was seeing. “She’s going down to it!” Maggie stood up and moved closer to the tank, gasping when Buffy pressed Helix against the glass and tried to get her arms around his chest. One tentacle came around the girl’s waist and the demon moved her upward, toward air. “Helix is forcing her to breathe.” Riley shook his head beside her and said, “This isn’t right. He’s fighting her off and it’s supposed to be the other way around.” Buffy took a gulp of air and gripped the tentacle around her waist, hanging onto it as she swam for the stairs and the flat stone. Once she had it out of water, she could see how to kill it. The demon struggled against her, pulling one way while she pulled another and then it yanked her under, unwrapping itself and pushing her away. It swam fast, moving back toward it’ s habitat and she followed, disappearing into the thing’s lair. “Get in there!” Walsh screamed at Riley when a big red bubble came from the bottom. “She’s bleeding.” Riley ran up the ladder as fast as he could and jumped into the pool. He propelled himself quickly, slicing through the water and ducked into the cave where Helix lived. He couldn’t see well, but he did see a flash of white skin and grabbed it, pulling Buffy out with him. By the time they made it to the top of the water, the froth on the edges was red with blood and he pushed her onto the stone quickly, checking every inch of her exposed flesh for the bite. She turned onto her side and coughed, then sat up quickly. “Riley, what are you doing?” “You’re bleeding.” He lifted her leg and felt her hip, trying to see if the gash was hidden under her shorts. “I’m not bleeding.” Buffy pulled her leg out of his grip and stood up, glancing at the water. Something surfaced a few feet from them and she pointed, “That thing is though.” “Helix!” Riley shouted, grabbing a net from the sidewall. He pulled the demon to the steps and lifted an eyelid before he stood again and opened a small door, lifting a phone. “I need the paramedic at Helix’s tank. Now!” Buffy watched him cradle the demon’s head and then glanced up in time to see Walsh and several of the men hurrying toward them. Forest glared at Buffy and shouted, “What the hell was that? What did you do to him?” “Stabbed him in the head with a rock.” Buffy replied, glancing back down at Riley, who was applying pressure to the demon’s wound. “Wasn’t that what I was supposed to do? Kill it?” “No.” Riley shook his head and motioned for Forest to take over. As soon as the boy was in position, Riley stood and rubbed his forehead. “This isn’t going to work, Buffy. You’re a Slayer. That means you kill and we don’t do that here.” Buffy almost snorted her nose and asked where the chip that was killing Spike came from. Instead she said, “How was I supposed to know what to do? You put me in there with it and it attacked me. For all I knew, it was going to kill me.” “You should know better!” Riley shouted. “How should I know better? It’s been my experience that demons kill you if you don't kill them first.” “You should know better because I already told you that nothing was going to happen to you.” He yelled. Maggie moved between them and handed Buffy a towel. “Michael will show you where the shower is. Your clothing is already there.” “So that’s it?” Buffy stared at her, shivering as the water droplets rolled down her legs. She glanced at the faces on the people who had come up on top of the tank and then lowered her eyes, dreading the inevitable. “I failed?” “Yes.” Riley said, looking at her like she had just asked the craziest thing in the world. “No.” Maggie said at the same time. "What do you mean no?" Riley grabbed a towel off of a peg and wiped his head furiously. "She's not going to fit in. You saw the way she challenged my authority and now this. Haven't you seen enough?" "Yes, I've seen enough. I think I can safely assume that she has proven her ability without the obstacle course. Unless of course, you want to fight her, Riley." Professor Walsh waited for him to reply and when he simply shook his head no, she stretched her hand out toward Buffy. "Buffy Summers, welcome to the Initiative." "I passed?" Buffy squealed, a large smile replacing her frown as she shook Walsh's hand. "I passed!" Michael stepped forward and extended his hand, "I'm Mike. It's nice to meet you, Buffy. If you'll follow me, I'll show you where the shower is." Riley stared at their clasped hands and stepped forward, pulling Buffy his way. "I'll show her." Professor Walsh smiled as Riley wrapped another towel around Buffy and led her toward the back exit. It was obvious to anyone with eyes how taken he was and she was compelled to encourage the two of them. Turning her attention back toward Helix, she realized the full magnitude of what they now possessed. This girl, this adorable girl, was a lethal weapon ... able to kill with her bare hands. Buffy would be able to ingratiate herself into most any situation. Even go undercover. Maggie shook that thought out of her head. It would be a long time before she would trust just anyone to do the hard stuff. After all, she didn't trust her own son to do it and she had known him over twenty years. She would bide her time and see how the Slayer handled herself. After all, the Initiative was for life.

Chapter #4 - 4

Part Ten Riley instructed her to use the shower in Professor Walsh's office and pointed at her clothing, which was still stacked neatly in a chair. She turned to thank him, but he was already gone and she sighed angrily, tired of his attitude. Glancing at the desk and the paperwork there, she contemplated rifling through it as she gathered her clothing in her hands. Something ticked in one corner of the room and she saw a video camera mounted high on the wall and quickly moved to the door that said 'Restroom' instead. Once inside, she peeled her wet clothing off and started the water, getting it as hot as she could stand. Every muscle in her body ached and she leaned her head against the wall, wondering if she had done the right thing. Giles would kill her when he found out that she had revealed herself and she couldn't blame him. Actually, considering the pain in her back, she would probably encourage him to put her out of her misery. The hot water warmed her and she was reminded of the night Spike was taken and how cold she had been when Giles put her in the tub. A sob caught in the back of her throat; a sob born of relief that she was inside the Initiative, the ache in her bones and the fact that she had only scaled one small obstacle of who knew how many. She was here, possibly only a few feet from Spike, but she was still helpless to do anything for him. She rinsed the soap from her hair and allowed herself to break down, something that she had wanted to do all day. When she had bathed and pulled herself together, she stepped out and wiped steam off the mirror to check her reflection. Swollen, red eyes stared back at her from a face that looked like a stranger's and she dried off quickly, dressing in the clothing she had worn that morning. Realizing that she had left her shoes in the other room, she opened the door and sat in a chair to pull them on. Riley knocked lightly and poked his head in. He had been instructed to retrieve her and bring her to the conference room for the 'talk'. As soon as he saw her, his greeting died on his lips and he shut the door behind him. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." She zipped her boot and leaned to get the other one, hissing when her leg muscle tightened. Riley kneeled beside her and handed her the shoe, watching her closely. "You 're crying." Buffy didn't look at him as she shoved her foot into her boot. She refused to admit to him that her body felt like it had been run over and there was no way she could tell him that she was worried about Spike and really wanted to see him. "I said I'm fine." "But you're not." He reached up and brushed a tear off her face, holding it up so she could see it the small wet spot on his thumb. Her mind raced, looking for a tangible lie, and she finally spoke in a small voice. "I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to kill that thing. I just wanted to do a good job and now you're mad at me." "I'm not mad." "You yelled at me and you-" "Buffy," Riley took a deep breath and pulled her hands into his, still kneeling in front of her. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I don't want you to think that I'm not proud of how well you did today. I am proud and I am happy that you'll be working with us, but I'm worried about you." "I can take care of myself." She glanced at their hands, noticing the way hers were completely hidden in his and realized how powerful his need to protect her was. Her eyes met his and held, and she licked her lower lip, wondering what to say. "I know you can." Riley's gaze was drawn to her mouth and he mimicked her, licking his own lips. "But that doesn't mean that I can just shut off the part of me that wants to pull you in my arms and not let go." Willing herself to play along, Buffy pulled one of her hands free and ran it down his face. "Riley, I'm still just a girl and I have a part of me that wants to fall in your arms and not let go too." Riley swallowed hard and moved closer, letting his arms go around her tiny waist. Her hair was damp and smelled like vanilla and he leaned his face against it, closing his eyes. "I really am sorry." "I am too." Buffy replied, her arms winding around his neck. His shoulders were broad and she pressed her face against his neck, inhaling deeply. Whatever cologne he was wearing smelled fresh, spicy and really, really good. She squeezed a little tighter and felt him shudder slightly. "You're shaking." "You make me nervous." He replied and pulled back slightly. "The Buffy puzzle has turned out to be quite challenging." She smiled, leaving her arms around his neck as she met his eyes. "Well, at least now you've put it all together. You know my secret." Riley nodded slightly and then paused, "No, I don't have it all together. I' ve wondered something since I saw you for the first time." "What's that?" "If a kiss from you would steal my breath." Before Buffy could reply, he lowered his lips to hers and pressed lightly. Her heart pounded against her chest and her fingertips moved to the back of his hair, instinctively combing through it. When he felt her reciprocate, he relaxed against her and pulled her closer, his tongue slipping past her lips and seeking her own. Her mouth tingled and she could feel her face flushing as she let her body react the way it wanted to, deepening the kiss and taking comfort in the strong arms around her. "It did." Riley mumbled, as he broke the kiss. A knock at the door caused him to pull back and stand. Walsh stuck her head around the corner and said, "Buffy, we have some paperwork for you to go over if you're ready." Nodding, Buffy stood and grabbed her coat. Riley caught her before she walked past him and whispered, "Buffy, it stole my heart too." Buffy blushed and grinned up at him before she joined Walsh at the door. Maggie looked at her closely and narrowed her eyes. "Are you-?" "I've never been better." Buffy interrupted, glancing back at Riley. "I'm great." __ Giles paced back and forth in the Summers' kitchen, glaring at his watch every few minutes. He had arrived thirty minutes after Buffy had called and informed him of her visitor and he had not left since then. Almost eight hours had passed and he was tempted to yank the instructions Buffy had left from his pocket and march underground to find her. Willow, who was taking a break from the laptop, massaged her neck and watched him change direction. "Giles, you are making me incredibly nervous." "Why aren't you on the computer?" He snapped angrily. "Is this the way you help? Sitting here watching me?" Willow gasped and started to stand, but Giles strode toward her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I apologize, Willow. I didn't sleep well and haven't had my tea today. You have done a remarkable job with the Initiative's programs." "It's okay and thank you." She sat back at the table and used her foot to push the chair across from her out for him. "Why don't you sit down?" Nodding absently, Giles sat down and sighed, leaning his head against the cool wood. "I just don't understand why she would be so capricious. She knows better than this." "It had to happen sooner or later, Giles." Willow said softly. "She can take care of herself." He sat up slowly and exhaled loudly. "I hardly think that we can pretend to know how well she can take care of herself surrounded by guns and an army, Willow. We have only seen the Slayer in her own element, not theirs." "She got away once. She can do it again if she has to." Willow rubbed her head, frowning at the headache she was developing and moved toward the stove. "Do you know where Mrs. Summers keeps the tea? I'm going to set up an IV drip for you." It took Giles a couple of seconds to make sense of what she said and he chuckled, shaking his head apologetically. Before he could answer, the front door opened and closed, then Buffy appeared in the kitchen doorway. Giles jumped to his feet and pulled her into a rough hug. "Buffy, are you trying to kill me? I've been worried sick." Buffy groaned as he pressed against her aching muscles and pulled away. "I'm sorry. I would have called, but the opportunity didn't arrive until I was free to go and I just left." Willow watched as Buffy slumped into a chair and quickly grabbed a soda for her from the refrigerator. As she sat the can down in front of her, she said, "You look like hell." "I've been there. All day." Buffy drank deeply and wiped her mouth before she told them about the Initiative's recruitment process. The story of climbing walls, riding bikes and then swimming with a thing called 'Helix' left them staring at her with wide eyes. "Good Lord! They have a Helathon demon in captivity? That's positively unheard of." Giles pulled his glasses off and then shoved them back on without cleaning them. "Are you certain it was a Helathon?" "I said that they called it Helix. I don't know what a Heffalump demon is." Buffy finished off her coke and stood to grab another. "Helathon." Giles corrected. "If it looks like you said then that's what it has to be. How did they react to your killing it?" "I'm a Slayer. They knew that when they threw me in there with it." Buffy shrugged and then her eyes widened when she realized what she had said. It had been her plan to keep it a secret that they knew about her Slayerhood. "You told them?" Giles shouted, pinning her with his best icy glare. "You let an entire militia know that the Slayer exists and you are she?" "I didn't know what else to do, Giles. I didn't want to have to pretend to be terrified all day. I think that being a Slayer actually got me in because Walsh seemed pretty damn impressed." Buffy moved toward a cabinet and took out three Excedrin PM pills. "I'm going to take these and go to bed." "Shouldn't we discuss everything? What did they tell you?" Willow asked, watching as Buffy swallowed the pills and took another swig of soda. "I mean, we need to be kept up to date." Rolling her eyes a little, Buffy sat down across from Giles and said, "There 's nothing else to tell. After I made it in and got a shower, they took me to this little room and made me read these pamphlets and watch some really poorly shot videos. Think Blair Witch Project meets Technicolor. Then I had to get my eyes scanned and a voice sample for their security system and I gave fingerprints and got a pass and code. I can't use it for seven days, I guess they have to feel me out, but that's it." "And are you allowed to tell anyone?" "Nope." Buffy shrugged a little and tossed her can across the room and straight into the trash. "It's just like being a Slayer. It's a big secret. But with the Initiative, if they catch you blabbing about it, you actually get punished and stuff." "Well, perhaps I never had you completely convinced of how mad it would make me if you told." Giles said, making sure his tone packed the bite he was aiming for. "If I were still your watcher, you would be punished severely for this." "How?" Buffy grinned a little as she asked. "Severely." He replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Willow giggled a little and then composed herself. "Well, at least you're in and it didn't hurt you too much." "That can't be it though. It's too easy. Surely you've only completed one aspect of the recruitment." Giles gazed at Buffy closely. "Did they test your motor skills, reading skills or anything psychological?" "I can read. I can write, walk, and talk so my motor skills are fine. And Professor Walsh tests us daily on all things psychological." Giles shook his head. "No, that doesn't make sense. It's obvious to me that these people chose you for a reason." "Riley has a crush on me. Walsh wants to make him happy." Buffy replied with an indifferent shrug. "What do I care as long as I'm in?" "And what about Riley?" Willow questioned, wondering why she seemed so distant and cavalier. "What about him? He was there the whole time. I don't think he wanted me in at first, but I'm sure he does now." Buffy smiled a little and cocked an eyebrow playfully. "Very sure." "Oh." Willow looked confused for a second and then gasped. "OH!" "You've slept with a commando?" Giles blurted, then reddened. "Of all the irresponsible and careless things you could have done . that's absolutely appalling, Buffy. You can't use that for leverage!" "You went all the way?" Willow squeaked, her mouth hanging open at the thought. "Wow." "No!" Buffy looked scandalized and shook her head. "But I plan on making him think I would. I get the impression he's not thrilled with the way his mommy handles things and I figure that if he thinks he has a chance with me, he'll go against her and help me out." "That's your plan!?" Giles leaned forward and wagged a finger at her when she nodded. "You're planning to play a very dangerous game then, Buffy. Family ties are a lot stronger than you seem to understand and a boy will do just about anything for his mother." "Maybe in England. This is America, Giles. A boy will do anything for a piece of ass." "Now, that's just crude!" Giles pulled off his glasses and wiped them clean, hoping the girls didn't notice the renewed redness he felt in his face. "But it doesn't lack truth." Buffy stood up and stretched. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go soak in the tub and then sleep for a year." Giles stood and caught her arm before she could leave the room. "I want you to be careful, Buffy. I'm not going to pretend to be behind you on this because I don't think it's worth it. You've compromised your safety by exposing who you are and I feel that you're overestimating your effect on this boy." "Trust me, I know my own effecting value." "I have the impression that you believe yourself to be infallible and that's not the case." Giles tightened his grip and shook her lightly for emphasis. "Just because someone likes you doesn't mean they won't disappoint you when it comes down to it." "You don't have to worry about me." Buffy put her hand on his and squeezed affectionately. "I know what I have to do and I'll do it, Giles. As soon as I get Spike out, I'll quit." "I don't think it will be that easy." "Easy?" Buffy scoffed. "Since when have I ever let that word into my vocabulary?" "Easy has many definitions. See that you don't let easy become you." Giles let her go and turned back toward the table to lift his coat off the chair. "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, watching his movements intently. "When someone compromises themselves for a cause, any cause, the outcome is never the intended one. Keep that in mind." With that, he walked past her and out the front door. Buffy shook her head angrily and looked at Willow, who was staring at the flower arrangement in the middle of the table. "What did that mean?" "I think it was his way of saying that your plan to entice Riley onto your side is wrong." "Why is it wrong?" "You'll find out soon enough, I suppose." Willow got to her feet and paused beside Buffy. "I hope you know what you're doing and I believe in you, but I don't like this." "I keep hearing that." "Keep it in mind." "If I keep all this stuff in mind, my head will explode." "I think it already has." __ /// Buffy opened her eyes and saw several men in masks moving back and forth in front of the metal table. The same metal table she was usually tied to in her dreams. She moved forward, trying to see what was there and gasped when Spike came into view. His head was tilted all the way back and a large tube was down his throat. "What are you doing to him?" She screamed, trying to knock the people aside so she could move closer. Someone tapped her on the back and she turned to see Spike standing behind her. "Things are never what they seem." "What?" She reached for him, but he sidestepped and pointed at the table. Glancing at it again, she saw another vampire tied to it, not Spike. "I thought it was you." "Follow me." He smiled and nodded toward a door in the corner. Buffy followed without a second thought and he took her hand, bringing it to his mouth and kissing it softly. She closed her eyes and whispered, "You have nine days." "Give or take a couple." "What do you mean?" Buffy asked, her voice filled with panic. "Just what I said. Some things change and time runs short." Spike replied in a small voice, as he led her down a hallway that was lined with paintings. "Do you like artwork, luv?" "No." She shook her head, studying his face and trying to memorize every last detail of it. "Spike, please hold me? I-I can't just ..." "You have to listen to me." He shook his head when she stepped closer and pointed at a painting on the wall. "What do you see?" Buffy glanced at the wall and saw a little girl dressed in a frilly dress. She was sitting in a field full of grass and had several tiny flowers in her hand. "I see a happy little girl." She replied and tried to pull him into her arms. "Spike, please?" "Look again, Buffy." He forced her to face the wall. Buffy gasped and tried to look away, only to find herself held in place by Spike. The little girl was surrounded by wolves and was being eaten alive. Blood dripped off the wall and she could hear the growls and screams even though the painting was motionless. She yanked away roughly and rubbed her eyes before she looked again. The painting had gone back to the original state and she backed away. "I don't understand." "You make dreams so hard." Spike leaned against the wall, oblivious to the blood that was running just inches away from him. "Think about it. Things aren't what they seem." "I need more clues." She replied, ashamed that she was always the last to decrypt cryptic messages. Moving down the hallway, she scanned the area for anything else. Spike pulled her around and pressed his mouth to hers, lifting her off her feet and pinning her to the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and held on as his tongue plundered her mouth, seeking hers and enticing her to duel. He braced her with the lower half of his body and freed his hands to roam through her hair. Both of her arms were around his neck and she held on, as if clinging to a lifeline. It left her breathless and unable to think beyond the feel of him. She vaguely registered that no other kiss had ever felt this good. Reluctantly, he pulled away and put his hands on either side of her face. "It's not what you think, Slayer. It never is what you think." She nodded, still staring at his mouth and wishing he would kiss her again. Her knees were weak and she feared the moment that he would stand her on her own legs. There was no way she could support her weight after a kiss like that. Spike smiled at her and pecked her lightly on the lips. "I won't understand, Slayer." "What?" "I just won't and I can't help it." "Understand what?" "You'll see." /// __ Spike growled low in his throat when someone shook him, forcing him to open his eyes. "I need sleep! Sleep!! It's a simple concept really and one that you pricks should try." "You'll get plenty of sleep, eternal sleep, in a few days." Michael replied, gripping the hostile by the front of the shirt and tugging him to his feet. "Now get up. You're the last freak I have to deal with before I get to leave." "Bloody hell!" Spike slipped a little on the smooth tile and the man caught him, shoving him upright. "What exactly is it that you people get out of this?" "We get the satisfaction of seeing you squirm." "I'm not squirming." "Not yet." Spike glanced around the area, scanning the various holding pens and tests that were underway. In one corner, a vampire he recognized from Angelus's crusade began to scream and Spike cringed when he recognized Holy Water induced smoke boiling off the man. "What did he do wrong?" "He asked too many questions." Michael fired back, shoving the hostile roughly through another doorway. "Now shut up. You would think that by now, they would have invented something to keep the mutants mute. You can de-bark a dog, why can't you de-talk a vampire?" "Where are we going?" Spike had to ask, although he dreaded the answer. "Are you just hoping to piss me off?" "How could I piss you off? I'm nothing, right?" Spike glared at him, aching to hit him right in the balls. "You have a whole day of fun ahead, freak. That starts later though." Michael opened another door and pushed the hostile into a room full of people in white coats. "For now, you get to be sanitized so we can take samples." "Samples of what?" "Samples of you." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Eleven The beeping broke through the cloudy haze in her head and Buffy groaned, sitting up to find the culprit. She smacked her alarm clock, knocking it to the floor and then yanked the plug when it kept blaring. It took her several seconds to realize that the offensive sound was coming from the pager that the Initiative had given her. Tossing back her cover, she turned the lamp on and found it, squinting to make out the number. As luck would have it, the number was a four digit code and she had no idea what it meant. She dug through the pamphlets she had brought home and flipped through the signals, finally locating the one on her pager. It was the code number for quick assembly and she jumped up, tossing on the clothes closest to her. Realizing how far away she was, she snatched her mom's keys from the kitchen on her way out and prayed that Joyce would sleep late the next day. It was only after two in the morning and Buffy made it to Lowell house within thirty minutes of the initial page. She parked in the driveway and jumped out, noticing for the first time how nervous she felt. Riley met her halfway and she followed him inside, taking in all the action around her. Boys, in various states of dress, rambled left and right. Some were stepping into their shoes and heading toward the elevator and others were trying to locate other 'agents'. Riley and Buffy waited together in front of the elevator and he filled her in on what was happening. "I'm sorry to wake you up, but Walsh insisted that you be in on this so the page went to everyone. Seems that there is some kind of demon cult on the outskirts of town. They took one of the agents last night and he managed to escape and put us on red alert. These things are bad, Buffy. They have humans there that they plan on sacrificing and bringing some sort of stronger demon up from hell." Buffy nodded, still half asleep and stepped into the elevator beside him. "Any idea how many?" "He said there were over thirty that he could see and even more than that from what the others were saying." Riley leaned forward and spoke into the microphone and then focused on her again. "I'm guessing that this will be a watch and learn mission for you. I don't want you at the forefront." "I'm not here to watch, Riley." Buffy replied, leaning against the back wall. The sleeping pills she had taken were not wearing off as fast as she would have liked and her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. The doors opened before he could reply and they stepped out as one. Riley motioned for her to follow him and he led the way down into a large area with chairs and weapons lining the walls. Several of the boys turned to stare at Buffy and nudge the people beside them and it took all of her composure to keep from telling them to piss off. Machines made loud noises, demons growled and banged against walls and Buffy watched in stunned silence as more and more men joined the group. "I didn't know that there were this many soldiers." She whispered to Riley. "We prefer the term 'agents'." He replied with a small grin. "Last time I checked we were almost one hundred and fifty strong. That's just in the field. If you count the doctors, lad techs and researchers then we have almost two hundred." "That's impressive." "How many people work for a Slayer?" Riley asked, giving her his full attention and scanning her from head to toe. She looked gorgeous. He hair was a little messy, probably from sleep, and she had on an old sweatshirt and jeans, but she looked beautiful to him. "Just me. I mean, some people know, but it's better for me that not too many people get wind of it. It's like this," she motioned at everyone with her hand. "you can't just expect people to understand so you have to keep it a secret. I can't believe I told you guys who I am." "If it's any consolation, Walsh isn't telling everyone. The only people who know are the people who were there to see what happened with Helix and they aren't allowed to say a thing." Buffy really smiled, relieved that it wasn't as bad as she thought. "That's great." Riley was going to say more, but Maggie stepped up to a small podium with a microphone and began to speak. "We have problems, people. Human lives are at risk and it is up to us to see to it that every single person out there tonight is sent home safely. Agent Ruiz was taken last night and held hostage near the old drive-in theater by a league of demons. Origin unknown. He used his tazer to escape but was unable to do a search and rescue. He estimates that the numbers are in excess of fifty and they fight hand to hand and with swords. Ruiz reports that the hostiles were immobilized with the tazer, but he did not discover a way to slay the demons. You know the drill. I want at least five brought back here, unharmed, and the rest of them killed. I don't care how you do it, kill the remaining hostiles. We don 't need this trouble." She paused, allowing all the information to digest and then motioned for Buffy. "Agent Summers, please come here." Buffy bit her lower lips and stepped up onto the podium beside Walsh. Maggie draped an arm over her shoulder and stared around at the faces of the men. "This is Agent Buffy Summers. She was recruited just yesterday and it's an honor to have her here. If all of you will keep an eye on her this morning, I'm sure you will see why. She knows demons and she knows how to kill them. I suggest you all take notes and if I hear that one of you gave her a hard time, all of you will regret it. Am I clear?" "Yes, ma'am." The audience chorused. "Buffy, I have your clothes laid out in my office. You get dressed and Special Agent Finn will show you how to assemble your gear." Walsh nodded at Riley and he extended his hand, helping Buffy off the stand. "As soon as you are suited up, both of you, see me." "Yes, ma'am." Buffy nodded and followed Riley. Ten minutes later, she was zipping her vest in place and watching Riley put a gun together. Part of it had been plugged into one of several hundred outlets on the wall and he was explaining how important it was to always put it back when you weren't using it. The voltage depended on it. He pointed at the gun in front of her and told her to assemble it as fast as she could. Her movements were jerky at first, but she quickly had all the pieces in place and shoved it over her shoulder like he had done. They moved to another case and he pointed at the thigh packs on the wall, telling her that the first aid essentials would be found inside. He strapped his on and then watched Buffy try to fasten hers. It was way too big and she wound up having to loop it twice around her upper thigh, causing him to chuckle a little. Buffy arched an eyebrow. "Do you find it funny that I can't wear this stuff?" She pointed at her baggy pants, which were cinched tight with a belt and the vest that hung low on her hips. She took several steps and grabbed the crotch of the pants, which hung to her knees. "I'll be lucky to be able to walk at all." "Well, you look cute." He winked at her and turned his attention back toward the rows of lockers. "Your locker is beside mine. Come one and I'll get your combination." The combination was inside the locker on a new lock and he handed it to her, watching as she read the numbers. She looped the brass lock through the handle and fastened it before she turned back toward him to say thank you. The words died on her lips when she heard someone on the other side of the row say her name. "And Buffy Summers? What kind of name is that?" "Look at her. You can tell that she's an airhead." Another voice replied. "Did you see the way Walsh was fawning all over her? I'll lay odds she makes rank within days." "It's all because Riley likes her." Came a third voice. "I mean, what are they hoping to be? The odd couple? He's twice her size and she has the body of a ten year old boy." "I doubt she has the ass to hold up her pants." "She has nice tits." Buffy repositioned her weapon and walked around the row of lockers. Riley tried to stop her, but she brushed his hand away and cleared her throat. The boys who had been talking stood up straighter and stared down at her. She took a deep breath and said, "My name is short for Elizabeth and a name hardly makes someone an airhead. If I make rank it will be because I earned it and not because someone likes me. Size doesn't matter, unless of course your penises are as small as your brains. If you don't like my body, don't look. As for my ass, I'm sure you'll have no trouble kissing it." She turned to walk away, then paused and turned back. "And my tits thank you, but neither of them are flattered by your interest." Riley's jaw joined the rest of the jaws on the ground as she walked past him and went to look for Professor Walsh. He covered his mouth for several seconds and then turned, ignoring the men who were now offering apologies. He caught up with her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want me to report them?" "God, no." Buffy craned her neck and spotted Maggie on the other side of the room. "I don't plan on tattling every time someone yanks my chain. This is a new adjustment for them so I'm willing to cut some slack." "Okay, if that was cutting slack then what does going off on someone look like?" "Bloody." She wrinkled her nose a little and joined Professor Walsh. "You wanted to see me?" Maggie nodded and then frowned when she glanced up from her clipboard. "Oh, Buffy, we'll have to get you some clothes that fit. Those were the smallest that we had in stock. I'll go tomorrow and special order some." "That would be nice." "I want you to remain as close to Riley and Forest this evening as possible. We usually travel in threes and this will be no exception. Riley has rank in the group and will be the one to give the orders and you are to follow them with no argument. Are we clear?" "We're clear." "Very good. This is going to be a bad night, Buffy. I've seen you fight and I know you're capable though. Stay focused and get it done." Walsh patted her on the arm and then turned toward Riley. "Remember to bag and tag five. The rest must be exterminated because we don't have the space for them. Get in and get out. Bring all the civilians here for quarantine." "Whoa." Buffy held up a hand. "You bring the victims in here?" "It's a routine surveillance, Buffy. We use our facilities to check them out and make sure they aren't contaminated in any way and then we let them go. They simply think they've gone to a hospital." Walsh checked her watch and motioned at several of the groups. She raised her voice and said, "If you have already been briefed then I want to see asses and elbows people. Move." Riley pulled Buffy along beside him and then signaled for Forest, who waited at the door. "Forest, you know Agent Summers." Forest nodded and smiled at her. He had already been told that if he made one comment about the Helix incident, he would be scrubbing all the johns with a toothbrush. "Glad to have you on board." Riley pulled a map from his pocket and led them into the sewers, staring out at the sea of faces that waited for him at the bottom. Stepping into the role of leader, he spoke quickly. "Force is the only way to go, guys. We'll shoot down as many as we can and render them incapable of fighting. As soon as we get the upper hand, we'll bull ring these things and work them into a tight circle. Then we'll blast them." "Blast them?" Buffy asked Forest, leaning closer to him. "Yeah, Buff. We'll use small explosives, like grenades, that were designed especially for the Initiative. Not many demons can survive that." He pointed at the sack that hung from her belt. "You will find what you need in there. Riley will give the command and you'll pull the pins and toss." "Won't people come running to see what the noise was?" "Nope." Forest grinned and ran his hand over her gun. "See, all the weapons here are unique. You've heard of silencers, right? Well, our grenades don't go above five decibels because we have the best of the best building stuff for us." "Are they still powerful?" "Oh, hell yeah." Riley glanced at them disapprovingly and then gave the command to fall out. The group moved together down the narrow tunnel, quickly making their way out of town. Buffy could feel her adrenaline began to pump, something that rarely happened with average slays anymore, and she smiled a little. "This is exciting." "You scared?" Forest asked, checking her out in the dim light when she shook her head no. "'Cause I was scared shitless my first outing." "Forest, is that kind of talk really imperative to the conversation?" Riley adjusted his backpack and tried to readjust his leg strap while he walked. "Oh, please. Like you don't say worse." Waving a hand, Forest dismissed him and concentrated on Buffy again. "You know, I was one of the ones you fought here." Buffy glanced him up and down. "Really? You looked bigger." "Riley was the big one. Graham was the one with the now broken arm and I was the one who kept ducking and running." Riley's eyes widened and he stopped walking completely, ignoring the strap on his leg. "Buffy, I was going to tell you it was me." Buffy turned to face him and slumped a little. It wasn't a shock, because the minute she had seen his bruised face, a part of her had known. However, she had to react to it and decided to look upset. "A tree limb, huh?" "I'm sorry." He glared over her head at Forest and added, "Thank you so much, Forest. This is exactly the way I wanted her to find out." "I'm just going to go catch up with the others." Forest held his hands up and moved around Buffy. "Are we cool, Buff?" "Don't worry about it." She shrugged and started walking as well. "Hey." Riley fell in step beside her and held out a hand to slow her down. "I'm also the one who let you go. They all thought you were a demon." "That was you?" "You told me it was almost Christmas and you were only eighteen and didn't want to die. I knew right then that I couldn't keep you there. Your arm was bleeding and you were crying and it killed me. I told you that you were under the Bronze and how to get away." "It was you. In that case," Buffy stood on her tiptoes to press a small peck on his lips. "thank you." "Agent Finn!" A man's voice shouted from up ahead, echoing through the tunnel. "Damn." Riley shook his head apologetically and grabbed her arm, pulling her alongside him quickly. The other agents had halted and were staring down at something Buffy couldn' t see. From her vantage point, all she had a view of were shoulder blades and broad biceps. Forest grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the front of the group. "Let her through, assholes." "She's so little she can see through our legs." Buffy glanced at the boy who said it and nodded, "Especially since you probably have nothing dangling in my way." A low chuckle rumbled through the men and the boy who had spoken turned red and moved back into the crowd. Riley stared at her a second, then dropped to his knee beside the corpse in the sewer. It was a little girl, probably no more than eight or nine. There was a pile of small flowers beside her and she was mangled, covered in blood. Buffy gasped a little, realizing that she had seen this in her dream, and squatted on the other side of Riley. Pushing back the blond curls, she checked the girl's neck for bite marks. Riley grabbed her hand and said, "What are you doing?" "Trying to find out if a vampire killed her." "No, it wasn't vampires." Riley shook his head and glanced up at Forest. "It 's killing people now. It's gone from cats and dogs to human beings. We have to find it." "What is it?" Buffy mumbled, still staring at the body and wishing she didn' t feel responsible. It was her to job to protect people, and when this type of thing happened, she took it as a reflection on her abilities. "Something worse than a vampire, I can tell you that." Riley replied and stood, motioning for the soldiers to keep going. Buffy lifted a newspaper that was still rolled up in a plastic bag from the edge of the sewer and pulled the paper free. She opened it and laid it over the body before she stood. "It lives down here, in the sewers?" "It does." "Shouldn't be too hard to find." Forest snorted a little and then pointed left and right. "You think we haven 't already covered this place? This thing knows how to hide." "My favorite game. Hide and seek." Buffy glanced back down at the body again and readjusted her gun. "This thing is off limits to you, Buffy." Riley said, nodding at Forest to start walking. "You are not signed on for any of the sewer drills to sweep for it and I don't want to find out that you're down here alone." Buffy watched Forest round the corner and then looked up at Riley. "I'm still the Slayer." "Not on my watch." He replied firmly and pointed up the tunnel. "Now, we have things to do and this is a waste of time. We have to stay focused on the goal." "Fine." They walked in silence for ten minutes and then they joined the rest of the group, who had stopped beside a ladder. Riley pulled out his map again and nodded. One by one, the men climbed out and Forest, who was ahead of Buffy, turned and pulled her out of the manhole. He sat her on her feet and she glanced around, collecting her bearings. Riley stepped out of the hole last and shined a small light on the map. "We' re just off the interstate, about a quarter mile from the drive-in. Agent Ruiz was taken right around here so keep your guard up. Shoot anything that moves." Buffy could hear traffic whizzing somewhere off to her right and she scanned the treetops, seeing the headlights of the cars. The sewer opening was set in the middle of the woods from what she could tell and that was incredibly odd. Turning around, she could make out the remains of a large movie screen in the distance and the thin patch of trees that stood between it and them. Her Slayer senses went haywire and she closed her eyes, pinpointing exactly where the unease was originating: the clump of trees that stood between them and the theater. "We'll go straight through the woods to the drive-in." Riley told the group. "And into the trap." Buffy replied. "They know that someone got away. You think they aren't expecting this?" "They're demons. They don't think or expect anything." Said the boy who had made the comment about her height. "You think demons don't think?" Buffy exclaimed. "How much dealing have you had with demons? They think all the time and if there are as many of these things as Walsh said, then they know how to survive." "Do you have another suggestion, Agent?" The man asked. "Well, we can't see in the woods. We can't run or fight in the woods. There has to be an access road to the drive-in and if these things are aggressive, they'll come to us and save us the trouble." Buffy shrugged. "You mean, just walk out in the open?" Riley stared at her like she had suddenly grown horns. "As opposed to walking straight into their lair?" Buffy shot back. "Look, I 'm not itching to get killed tonight and if you send us through there then it's a real possibility." "Fine, let's find the road." Riley said, heading toward the left. Several of the men protested, claiming he was a 'pussy' and a 'wimp' to let a woman tell him where to go. He ignored them and pushed through several thorny bushes, exposing a gravel road. He turned right, pulling his gun into his arms as they headed toward the drive-in. Buffy pulled her own gun into her arms and pushed the safety feature off as she scanned the thick overgrown landscape on either side of the road. She walked between Riley and Forest, out in front of the other men and she was very aware of the whispering going on behind her. Halfway down the slope, she paused, noting the lack of crickets and frog sounds that she had heard since she stepped out of the sewer. Turning slowly, she scanned the woods and froze. Riley held a hand up, stopping everyone in their tracks. "What's wrong?" "They're all around us." "Are you sure?" Buffy took aim and fired a few feet from Riley's back and a demon fell through the brush, landing in a slump at his feet. She quickly tugged a long knife from her boot and sliced through the neck, severing it's head from the body. It flailed, then dried up and withered into nothing. "Beheading." At that moment, the woods erupted, spewing demons all over the place. Some carried swords, which they began to swing and the commando's rays lit up the night, striking and leaving the enemies helpless. Heads rolled, milky blue blood spewed and Buffy fought alongside the men, alternating between shooting and chopping. Soon, Buffy was covered in the vile smelling liquid that shot from the demon 's necks and she backed away a few feet to wipe her face clean. One of the demons caught her in a firm grip and she slung her head back, catching him right in the face. It howled and dropped her, causing her to land off balance and roll down a small incline, losing her gun. As soon as she slammed against the trunk of a tree and came to a stop, she was back on her feet, unarmed and in a fighter's stance. Scanning the area, she saw that the thing hadn't followed and glanced upward, dreading the climb out. That was when she heard the sobs and noticed a wooden bridge that ran across a small creek. Ducking under several branches, she came to a clearing and gasped when she saw nets suspended from the wood under the bridge and several people inside. The nets swung back and forth, about fifteen feet off the ground and she tried to see if there was anything for her to stand on. A small groan escaped her lips when it dawned on her that she would have to climb the bridge and make her way across. She opened her thigh pack, looking for something to cut the ropes with and wondered how much it would hurt the people inside to drop through. She swore quietly when all she found was a red Swiss Army knife and threw her hands in the air. Rolling her eyes, she began climbing up the side of the bridge, the knife clutched in her teeth. Riley shouted her name when she was halfway up the side and she braced herself, pulling the knife from her mouth. "Down here. I found the people." She glanced down when she heard footsteps and saw about ten of the men standing below her. "I'm going to climb across here and cut out the side of these nets. You guys try to break the falls." "Buffy, be careful." Riley stared out at the jagged rocks and shallow water and back up at her. "That's a helluva fall." "I don't plan on falling." She answered, putting her knife back in her mouth. The first net contained three people and she swung out onto it, gripping the thick ropes that held it together. She lowered herself low onto the side and sawed through the material, telling the people inside that they were going to be fine. When the opening was big enough, she motioned for a woman to come through and gripped her forearm. "Just hang onto me and I'll lower you. They'll catch you." The woman, who was a sobbing mess, complied and let Buffy pull her through the hole and then drop her. Riley caught her and motioned for the others to help her. A man moved through the hole, praying softly under his breath and gripped Buffy tightly. She smiled at him and tightened her hold on the ropes as he dangled from her arm, then slipped down to the others. The third man wouldn't allow her to help him and let himself dangle from the bottom of the net and drop on his own. Buffy nodded at Riley and motioned at the next net, further out over the water. She climbed carefully, testing the weight on the wood and then dropped onto that net, as she had done the one before. Two little girls gazed up at her with dirty faces and Buffy reached through, gently wiping away a path of tears. "You're going to be fine." "Are you an angel?" A tiny voice asked. "No." "You are to me." The little girl smiled and watched as Buffy cut through the ropes. Within minutes, the girls were lowered and Buffy was making her way toward the final net. It was larger and had several people in it. As she moved further out, almost to the middle of the bridge, she cast a glance down and cringed. Here, there was nothing but rock and debris. If she fell, it could kill her. The drop was easily forty feet from the top. She would have to count on her momentum to leap at least ten feet and land down on top of the net, since there were no handholds left to support her and bring her any closer. Taking a deep breath, she swung back and let go of the wood. The people in the net moved away when they saw her coming, causing the net to swing back and she missed the top and slid down the side. Buffy found a grip just as she was about to slide completely off and held on, suspended by one hand, almost at the bottom of the net. Her shoulder popped painfully and she yelped a little, nearly dropping her knife. Several hands moved out of the net, finding hers and pulling her back upward. Her vest was gripped, her belt was tugged and she found herself where she needed to be and quickly cut through, making an opening. Buffy closed the knife and shoved it in her pocket before she shouted, "Are you ready down there." "Yeah." Forest shouted, shivering in the waist deep water below her and glancing at the men who stood waiting with him. A woman stepped through and screamed loudly when Buffy released her. Buffy watched her, making sure the others had her and she was safe before she motioned for another. Six people were freed from that net and when the last one dropped, she moved down to the bottom and held on, waiting for the go ahead. When she got it, she let go and fell easily into the outstretched arms of the commando's. Riley carried her out of the water, not willing to let her get soaked and sat her on her feet. Several of the men clapped her on the back and she groaned. "I think my shoulder's out of place." Riley unzipped her vest and ran his hand upward, making a face when he felt the odd angle of her bone. "You're right." Forest moved behind her and gripped her firmly around the waist and the man who had made comments to her all night put his palm flat against her back. Riley gripped her arm and said, "On three." Buffy nodded and he counted off and yanked, pulling it back into place with a loud snap. She winced and rotated it, then motioned at the people. "What about them?" "We've called for transport. Teams four and five will wait here with them and the rest of us will go back the way we came." Riley still had a hand on her arm and added, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." She replied, then jumped when she heard several bangs in the distance. "Grenades?" "They had to destroy the bodies." Forest nodded and pulled a walkie-talkie from the pocket of vest. "Come in, team two, over." "Team two, responding, over" Crackled a voice through the speaker. "Were you able to obtain five hostiles, over?" "Affirmative, five hostiles tagged and on their way to the lab with team three, over." "Any further signs of activity up there, over?" "Bodies are destroyed and teams six and seven are sweeping the perimeter, sir, over." "Team one is leaving scene to file reports, check back in when the area is secured, over." Forest waited for the confirmation and pocketed the device again. "Now comes the hard part. Paperwork." "I'm terrified." Buffy laughed, following closely as they led her back toward the tunnels. She hated to admit it and she definitely wouldn't bother mentioning it to her friends, but working with a group that she didn't have to worry about or keep tabs on was a nice change. These people were strong, capable and on top of the game. They were just like her. And it was nice not to feel alone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twelve Spike crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head again. The man who had been trying to coax him out of his clothes for almost thirty minutes, threw his hands in the air and turned to Professor Walsh. “You deal with him.” “Would you please just do as you are asked?” Walsh eyed the vampire critically, sitting her clipboard on a table. “No. If you wanted me to behave then you shouldn’t have told me what you plan on doing to me.” He replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. Maggie took several steps forward and stopped a few feet away from Spike. “The sooner you get this over with, the quicker you can go back to your room.” “Well, there’s incentive. I get to go back to a four by six cell and sit there until you decide to do this again? It’s a nice offer, but I’ll pass.” Spike stuck out his chin and remained planted in one spot. “You are trying my patience. Now, take off those clothes and get in the tub!” “You’ll have to kill me first.” He declared, moving his hands away from his chest and pointing at the spot above his heart. “There, just stick wood through it. Better yet, give me some wood and let me do it myself.” “Tempting, but no.” With a sigh, Maggie pulled a chair away from a desk in the corner and sat down. She glanced at the vampire and shrugged. “I have all day.” Spike nodded and flopped on a stool beside the desk. “So do I and let’s think about it. You’re sitting here because you want to stick a probe up my ass and I’m sitting here because I don’t. Now, who do you think has less to lose and will give in first?” “It will be painless.” Spike narrowed his eyes. “Then you go first.” “Look, we need to get a sample of your skin, take your temperature and check you out. That’s why you’re here.” “That’s why I’m here? I’m saying no, so let me go.” “We need these tests on you. It’s imperative.” “Okay, scrape a piece of skin off my arm, stick a thermometer under my tongue, leave my ass alone and I’ll let you check me out.” “You don’t understand. Our equipment is designed to-“ “Get broken.” Spike interrupted. “I will tear up everything in sight if you even attempt to get me out of my pants.” “You still have to be sanitized. You’ll have to undress for that.” “Lady, my dick hasn’t seen action in weeks. I can assure you, it’s clean.” Maggie lifted her clipboard and skimmed over the Hostile’s file, taking into consideration the amount of time he had remaining. “How about we make a deal? You get into the cleaner, let them scrub you down and we’ll skip the anal probe and take samples the old fashioned way.” “How do I know you’re being serious?” He looked skeptical and pulled his jacket further around his body. Maggie held her hand out and said, “We’ll shake on it. I’m good at keeping my word. And, if you don’t take me up on it this way, I’ll just let the agents force you when they get back from their mission. I’ve got some guys here who take great pleasure in playing with the anal probe.” Spike tried to look as deadly as possible as he extended his hand. “I want my clothes back, lady.” Smiling, Walsh stood and pointed at a changing screen in one corner of the room. “Leave them back there and we’ll wash them. You’ll find a robe hanging up. Put it on and come back out here and Dr. Stein will oversee your bath.” “What, you aren’t going to scrub my back for me?” He asked, still slumped on the stool and staring up at her. It was devastating to be at the disposal of these people and even worse that he was unable to fight back with force. Even being stubborn didn’t get him the results he wanted and that was a hard pill to swallow when you were used to being on top of the game. “Sorry, I have things to do. Now, behave yourself and don’t make me have to come in here again.” Maggie smiled at the vampire and motioned at Dr. Stein. “See to it that no tests are done on him until I am present.” “Yes, ma’am.” The doctor replied, watching as Spike moved behind the screen. He lowered his voice and said, “Are we really skipping the probe?” Glancing at the screen, she nodded. There was something about this one, something she couldn’t place, and a part of her wanted to reach out and hug him instead of test him. He was different, the only way she could find out why would be to earn his trust, and there wasn’t much time. “We’ll be doing it all the old fashioned way.” “Mind if I ask why?” “Mind if I remind you that it’s not your place to question me?” There were stacks of folders on top of desks and shelves all around the room. Some were blue, some were red and some were green. Riley quickly explained that the blue ones were for the Hostiles in captivity and the observations during tests. The red ones were for the Hostiles that had no implants yet and the green ones were for field reports. The green ones were the only ones they would actually use since they were ‘agents’ and not ‘Techs’. He opened a green one and showed her the questions that she would be required to answer and let her know that he would be doing all the paperwork for this mission, but at least she would know the difference. Forest fished a thick book out of a file cabinet and handed it to her, telling her to take it home with her and study it since it contained the ‘proper’ ways to write a report. She flipped through it and sighed, causing Forest to laugh a little and go off on a tangent about writing being evil and how Riley actually enjoyed it. Threats were made and Buffy found herself giggling like crazy several times, completely relaxed around both boys. She yawned as Riley put the finishing touches on the field report. He glanced at her and she clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.” “S’ok.” He smiled and closed the binder before he passed it to Forest, who opened it for review. “Buffy, would you like to go ahead and go home? I think that’s pretty much it for this mission.” “I’m fine and if you feel like showing me around some more, I’d appreciate it. I don’t like not knowing where everything is.” “I’d love to.” Riley glanced at his watch and then stood and extended a hand toward her. “Forest, think you can cover the rest?” “I think I can handle it.” Forest put his hand on Buffy’s arm as she started to follow Riley and added, “Buffy, what you did out there tonight was amazing. I’m glad you’re on our team.” “Thank you.” Buffy’s smile was wide as they left the room and Riley pointed toward the left. “Over here we have the holding pens. When we tag a demon, we bring them here, usually unconscious, and they stay in lock down for seven days.” He nodded and led her down a brightly-lit corridor with glass walls. “And please, feel free to ask me questions. I like that you’re interested.” “Why seven days?” She asked immediately, taking him up on his offer. The more she learned, the better it would be when it came time to move through the cracks and rescue Spike. “For seven days, we pump antibiotics and disinfectant through the air in there.” He paused and pointed at an empty room. Buffy started to press her hands against the glass and he grabbed her. “It looks like glass, but it’s not. A military shield was invented during the Gulf War. No one knows it exists. Don’t ever, ever touch it.” “Why?” Buffy backed away fast, staring up and down the length of the clear substance. Riley chewed his lip for a second and then moved toward a demon that was pacing behind the glass. He lifted a bucket next to the security pass and the demon threw itself at the glass; causing it to light up with blue electricity and blow the demon backwards. “That’s why.” “Okay.” She gasped as she took it all in: the padded rooms, the extra security, the demons stalking back and forth. It was mind boggling to think that this all existed for years and she never knew. “How many rooms are there?” “In this level there are three hundred. Up there,” he pointed up at the platform that Buffy had used to escape, “we have over one hundred different rooms and cells, not to mention some other testing facilities, the infirmary and the mess hall.” “I didn’t realize how big it was.” Buffy scanned the different cells, aching to catch a glimpse of Spike. By the time they reached the end of the hallway, her heart felt like it was pounding in her ears. "So what exactly do you do to them once you catch them?” “Well, after the seven days, we get them out and put a special device in their brain.” “Why?” “Hmm.” Riley scratched the side of his face and thought for several seconds, wanting to avoid the boring medical diagnosis. “Have you seen the South Park movie?” “Sure.” “Well, you know how Cartman gets the thing in his head that shocks him everytime he swears?” He waited for her to nod and when she did, he shrugged. “There you go.” “You shock them when they cuss?” She shook her head and laughed a little. “No. It shocks them if they try to harm any living creature. It literally sends a powerful jolt straight through the nervous system and causes excruciating pain. They can feed on other demons, even kill them, but not people.” Buffy digested that. No one had even thought of letting Spike feed on other vampires. If she had known that, she would have brought him along on patrol and put him to work. “What’s the point though? Why not kill them and be done with it?” “Why should we have to kill them? If we can implant enough of them, and perfect the device, then they’ll kill each other and stop feeding on people all together. The best demons would be at the top of the food chain and the others would be extinct. Do you know how easy it would be to kill the remaining breed?” “So, the Initiative wants to mess with the food chain and change the menus?” “Exactly. We want to get people off the entrée list and get enough demons out there who are demon killers themselves.” He paused in front of a large window and pointed inside. Buffy craned her neck and saw a vampire laid out on his stomach with his head hanging off the side of gurney. Several doctors were working on him and one was using a long metal pole to poke something near his ear. “Implanting?” “How’d you guess?” He grinned and pointed at the sign above the door that read, ‘Implanting Room 3’. “You said if you could ‘perfect the device’. What’s wrong with it?” She turned away from the window and watched Riley closely, trying to make sure he told her the truth. “The life expectancy of the implant is short and the Hostile has to be kept within a ten mile radius of our main signal. If he gets out of the range, it kills him.” “How does it kill him?” “Well,” Riley pointed at the vampire on the other side of the glass again. “take a vampire for instance. When the human body dies and the demon takes over, the brain remains active. It can remember it’s life before the change, it can remember small details, everything. Walsh has a theory that the changing actually slows the body down so much that the brain doesn’t die at all, it’s like being cryogenically frozen. The implant, when it wears down, has a backup device that kills the brain completely. Even an immortal demon will die if the brain doesn’t function, it’s like beheading.” “Is it instant?” Buffy chewed her lower lip, forcing herself not to run screaming through the complex and demand to see Spike. “Sadly, no. The vampire begins to weaken as the date draws near and we can’t pinpoint why. They don’t eat, they don’t function and some become aggressive to the point that we have to stake them.” “Has anyone ever removed one?” “Yes. We did that several times and the demon, upon being freed, was about thirty times worse than an average vampire. The implants apparently damage a part of the brain and the vampire becomes unable to return to a human visage and stays in demonic form for good.” “Wow.” She mumbled, unable to coherently say anything else. This wasn’t what she had hoped for. She had wanted to stop the implant from killing Spike, but leave it there, so he couldn’t hurt anyone. If this was true, then the only option to keep him alive would be to remove it and let him go back to being what he was. Only worse. Or put a new implant in, but who knew how long he could survive with someone constantly messing with his head? “Let me show you the labs down here and find you a map. We might have to save the upstairs for later because I have to run some errands today at noon.” “That’s fi-.” Buffy checked her wrist for her watch and realized it wasn’t there. “Oh my god! What time is it?” Riley pulled out a stopwatch and said. “Almost ten a.m.” “My mother is going to kill me!” Buffy turned back the way they had come in, hurrying down the corridor of cells. “I don’t have a license, you know, I told you that. I took her car and didn’t even leave her a note.” “You want to call her?” She shook her head. There was always a chance that the telephones were tapped around the facility and there was no telling what her mother would blurt out. “No, thanks. It’s going to be much better for me to see her in person.” “We’ll cut through the back and get to Walsh’s office faster so you can change. Come on.” He grabbed her hand again, anxious to touch her as much as possible, and led her down several hallways. Buffy could see the familiar row of offices in the distance and was about to thank him when a side door opened and Walsh stepped out. “Oh, Buffy! I hear that you are to be commended for a job well done tonight. Everyone’s talking about it.” “You should have been there.” Riley beamed, brushing his thumb over the back of Buffy’s hand. “She scared me to death, but it was unbelievable.” Buffy shrugged a little and waved her hand, dismissing the praise. “Just another day at the office for me. I’m glad that I’m not out there alone anymore.” “What’s going on with him?” Riley asked, nodding over their heads at the blond Hostile who was having the back of his gown tied. “Oh, we’re moving him back to his room. His tests are finished.” Walsh stepped aside and an agent stepped through the door, followed by Spike. Spike glanced at the people in the hallway with indifference; then it dawned on him what he was seeing. He jerked his head up again and his eyes widened. “Buffy!” He stepped toward her fast, rapidly speaking. “What are you here to-?” “Don’t you touch her.” Riley moved fast, shoving him away and causing him to hit the wall hard. Spike lost his footing, weak from stale blood and no exercise, and slumped to the floor. Buffy positioned herself between them, painfully aware that all eyes were on her and her every move was being scrutinized. She waited for Spike to stand upright, trying to assess his condition. As soon as he was on his feet she drew in a deep breath and leveled him with a glare, hating herself for what she would have to do. “Spike, I see they haven’t staked you yet. You’re lucky that I’m not the one watching you.” Spike searched her face and then let his gaze wander over her clothing. He took in the belt she was wearing and all the small pouches dangling from it. He slowly stared over the open vest and the green T-shirt underneath, then moved lower, drinking in the baggy camouflage pants that were tucked into her boots. “I’ll be damned.” “You already are.” She replied, smiling cruelly at him. Spike’s eyes met hers and held, searching for something, anything, to indicate that she was still on his side. He wasn’t a fool, he knew that if she was pretending to be on their side she would have to be cruel to him, but he needed some kind of sign. When she didn’t let a single emotion flicker across her face, he said, “Then you’ll be damned right along side me in this hell hole.” Riley shook his head and pulled Buffy’s hand into his. “Let’s just go. You can get changed and go home and rest. After last night, I’m sure you need it.” Spike locked his gaze on their entwined fingers and saw red. “After last night? What are you doing now, Slayer? Whoring yourself down here since you’ ve exhausted the college campus?” Buffy felt a rush of blood go straight to her face and she did the only thing she could think of. Swinging hard, her fist connected with the side of his face and he fell back into the arms of the doctors, who gripped him hard, not letting him get near her. Riley caught her around the waist, lifting her off the ground and carried her down the hall. Spike pulled free and rubbed his jaw. Walsh watched Riley disappear around the corner and then gave Spike her full attention. “You knew she was the Slayer?” He shrugged in response and licked the trickle of blood on his lip. “We go way back.” “How far?” “Not as far as she went with that fucking soldier boy apparently, but far enough to despise her.” Spike watched the woman stalk down the hallway and growled when he was gripped and led back toward his cell again. There were two things he knew for certain: Buffy had done exactly what he had feared she would do when she came back and he wasn’t going to take it lying down. No matter what her intentions were … fucking around with one of the people who put him there was never on the agenda. As soon as he was shoved into his cell, he turned toward the wall so no one would see how much pain he was truly in. Riley was sitting on the edge of her desk when Maggie opened the door. She glanced around the room, figuring Buffy was changing in her bathroom, and said, “Leave us alone, Riley.” “Permission to destroy Hostile Seventeen requested.” He said angrily, grinding his teeth back and forth. “Denied.” He looked ready to put up an argument and then stood, walking out the door and closing it behind him. Maggie waited for several seconds before she crossed the room and tapped lightly on the door. “Agent Summers, I’d like to speak with you.” “Just a second.” Buffy splashed water on her face and dried off with a few paper towels. Seeing Spike had affected her in ways she hadn’t been prepared for. She despised herself for hitting him and hated the fact that everyone had seen what happened. She changed her clothes quickly and pulled in a deep breath, fully expecting Walsh to tell her she was fired. Opening the door, she stepped out, glanced around for Riley and was relieved when she didn’t see him. “Agent Summers, what exactly is your relationship with Hostile Seventeen?” Maggie shoved a chair away from her desk and pointed at it. “Sit.” Buffy complied and watched the woman take a seat opposite her. “I’ve known him for a while. I was in High School and he came to town, trying to kill me and making trouble.” “You told us that you were kissing him because you were trying to get information out of him.” Licking her lips, Buffy nodded, allowing the lies to flow like wine. “Spike’ s like that. A few months ago, we teamed up against this demon thing and he told me how to kill it. He knows stuff and I needed someone who was in the know. I string him along and he thinks that I’ll sleep with him one day and if I appease him with kisses, he tells me. He’s a narc.” “Is that right?” Walsh wasn’t convinced. “Why would a vampire help you?” “I swear it. He’s not like other vampires. Even before he got the chip, he was different. I mean, he’s a killer, but he’s not stupid. That demon was going to destroy the world and he knew that.” “And what did you have to give him in return for his help.” Buffy thought fast and then pointed at the scar on her neck. “Slayer blood. It’s like a drug for a vampire. Or so I hear.” “You allowed him to feed off of you?” Maggie looked stunned. “And he let you live?” “We had a deal. Spike’s going to look out for his ass no matter what the cost. That’s how he is.” “It’s been my experience that you can’t make deals with demons.” “And I’m living proof that you can.” Buffy raised her eyebrow and then stifled a yawn with the palm of her hand. “You’re exhausted. You go home and sleep for a while. We’ll need you back here by ten tonight for patrol.” Professor Walsh stood again and pulled Hostile Seventeen’s file from her desk. “Maybe then, I’ll have the results back on Spike and we can figure out why he’s so … unique.” Maggie watched the girl leave and leaned forward, resting her chin on her clasped hands. She was convinced that Buffy was hiding something and she meant to find out what. Until then, the girl would stay and aid the Agents as if nothing was amiss. And like it or not, the Slayer would help her uncover the mystery of Spike. Because he could very well be the one that got away. Years ago.

Chapter #5 - 5

Part Thirteen The kiss that Riley gave her before she left was full of fire. It burned all the way down into her stomach and made her toes curl. It left her breathless and sagging against his body and he chuckled, squeezing her tight. He pressed another kiss to the top of her head and reached behind her, opening the door of her mother's Jeep. He stood outside the door, helping her in and watching her buckle the seatbelt, before he leaned in and said, “I’ll call you later. Is that okay?” “Please do.” She smiled, forcing her body to stay relaxed when he kissed her again. When he pulled away and shut the door, she waved slightly and backed away, aware that he was watching her. She didn’t pull off the side of the road to sob until she was two miles away. Then she slammed the car into park, leaned her head against the wheel, and cried harder than she could ever remember. Spike. Spike in a hospital gown. Spike with blood on his lip from her hitting him. Spike thinking that she had slept with Riley. Spike looking at her clothes and slumping down, looking like a little boy who had lost his puppy. Spike. Spike. Spike. “What have I done?” She moaned, slamming her hand against the console. Someone knocked on the window and she jerked upright, expecting to see a police officer. Instead, Giles stood on the other side, peering at her with concern. When he saw her tear streaked face, he yanked the door open. “Are you all right? I’ve been looking for you all morning!” Buffy unfastened her seatbelt and was in his arms in an instant, burying her face against his sweater-clad chest. “I saw Spike and he looks so bad, Giles. He looks like he hasn’t eaten for weeks and he-he’s so mad at me.” “You went underground again? Without so much as a note? Buffy!” “Yes. We had to kill these demons near the old drive-in.” Buffy’s breath hitched as she added, “Please don’t yell at me, Giles.” “Shhh.” Giles rubbed his palm in a circle on her back and then patted her lightly, pushing her to an arm’s length. “You’re in no shape to drive.” “I have to get Mom’s car back to her.” “I’ll leave my car here and come back for it later.” He led her to the passenger side of Joyce’s car and opened the door. Walking quickly, he pulled out several books and newspapers from his car, then climbed into the driver’s seat next to Buffy. Buffy took the books he held out and put them on her lap, eyeing them with apprehension. “What’s this?” “Newspapers from the last few years here. Some are the UC-Sunnydale Banner and the books are for Willow.” He glanced at the gears and then sighed, “Thank heavens, it’s an automatic!” “Why do we need them?” Buffy sounded congested, her nose completely stopped up from crying. She sifted through the dash and found a box of tissue, then blew loudly, earning a look from Giles. “Sorry.” “We need them for research, of course. I began sifting through the papers last night and discovered that four children, aged five to nine, were taken from adjoining towns. Normally, I wouldn’t have made any connections, but each of these girls were taken at night and one eyewitness claimed he saw one girl talking to someone in a sewer grate.” “Okay, this reminds me of that movie ‘It’.” Giles stopped at a red light and glanced over at her. “It?” “Book by Stephen King? Became a movie? John-Boy stars in it.” “Ah, I tend to shy away from fiction.” Buffy shrugged. “There is something in the sewers.” Giles stared at her until someone honked behind him and he moved forward, through the green light. “Do tell.” “I don’t know what it is. Last night, we had to go through them to get to the drive-in. There was a body down there, Giles. A little girl and she was mauled. Riley was wigged, said something about whatever it was feeding off people now, and pretty much told me to stay away from it. I’m guessing that it, what ever it is, is pretty damn bad.” “Really?” He narrowed his eyes, glancing out over the road. “And did this chap happen to tell you what they plan on doing about it?” Sighing, Buffy ignored his tone and continued. “He told me that they do ‘sweeps’ and try to pull it out of hiding. Forest told me that they do it a lot and the thing can’t be found. Don’t worry, Giles, I’ll get it.” “I think you need to worry about getting yourself out of this mess you are in first.” He applied the brakes and turned into the Summer’s driveway. “And I’m not just talking about your angry mother, Buffy. I’ve never seen you like this. Your priorities aren’t straight, you’re using very questionable tactics to string people along, and I’m worried about you.” “I can handle it, Giles.” “Yes, breaking down on the side of the road is definitely the way to handle things. I've never seen you like this.” He arched an eyebrow and turned the ignition off. “You aren’t to go into the sewers alone, Buffy. I agree with this Riley fellow.” “I’m the Slayer, Giles, and it’s killing people.” “With your frame of mind, I fear that it would kill you. We’ll do what we can on this end, but for now, it’s better that you leave the commandos to it.” Buffy tightened her jaw and nodded. She didn’t want to argue, so she would let it go. There was no way she would ignore it though. No way in hell. That little girl had died a horrible death and if she hunted this thing down and killed it, then at least she would have that to feel good about. Making up her mind to sleep for a couple of hours and then go underground, she opened her car door and went to face her mother. Maggie had been digging through file cabinets for over two hours, searching for Hal Walsh’s old records. She glanced at the clock, cursing her husband’s lack of organizational skills and picked up the telephone. The technician in charge of records and filing picked up and said, “Rickford, speaking.” “Mr. Rickford, it’s Maggie. I’m looking for Hal’s old files and journals. Have you seen them?” There was a brief pause and the man on the other side of the line could be heard shuffling papers. “Yes, ma’am. The actual paperwork was destroyed, per your order, ma’am, but we did save some of the reports and exam records.” “Are they logged into our databank?” Maggie strode to her desk and sat down, firing up her computer before he answered. “Yes, ma’am. Anything of Hal’s can be accessed through the mainframe, but it ’s guarded. You’ll need to use the clearance code.” “Thank you, Rickford.” Maggie hung up the phone and followed the proper links. Soon, she was skimming through various pages of text that Hal had accumulated in his years as the head of the Initiative. What she was looking for in particular would have happened in the late early eighties, right at the beginning of the Initiative’s crusade. “A-ha!” she cried, finding the proper report. She rolled her eyes when she realized he hadn’t written it properly and made it look like a storybook instead. Nevertheless, she began reading: __ July 11, 1984 I knew he was a vampire the minute I saw him. He was walking casually down the road, eyeing the people that paraded along Venice Beach, up and down. His skin was pale, appearing even lighter from the halo of dark hair that hung around his face. I had been looking for hours; searchin for a vampire and here he was and he was beautiful. I trailed him down through the night, watching him, judging his strengths and weaknesses and decided he was perfect. The crucifix was clutched in my hand, hidden inside my pocket, when I tapped him on the shoulder. I had waited for him to lead me away from the crowds and now he paused and said, without turning, “Why are you following me?” His accent was thick, not cockney, but definitely Northern London. I took a step back and said, “You’re a vampire.” “What are you, a watcher?” He turned and eyed me up and down. I watched as his eyes went from deep blue to a steely yellow and fumbled for my crucifix, finally yanking it loose. “I have no clue what a watcher is, but yes, I was watching you.” He chuckled and slid his tongue along his tooth, pulling a thin trail of blood along in it's wake. “Want to have a better look?” “N-no.” I stammered, suddenly less sure of myself. I pressed the distress button on the side of my belt, praying that I wasn’t too far away to be found. “I had a proposition for you.” “I’m not gay.” He smiled at me, letting his face go back to human. “Or maybe you wanted me to change you? Is that it?” I was stunned for a second; baffled by the way he was talking to me, engaging me to talk. “No, I don’t want to be changed.” He turned away from me and watched the moon reflect off the ocean for several minutes. I chewed the inside of my mouth, wondering why he wasn’t attacking me and wondering how I would get close enough to him to inject him. Finally, he spoke again. “Do I fascinate you so much you can’t tell me what you want?” “I’m a doctor.” I replied quickly, edging a couple of inches closer. “We are studying demons and collecting specimens.” “You think you are going to collect me?” He laughed, the deep sound echoed and almost seemed like thunder to my fragile nerves. I’ve encountered many vampires, but this one, this one was unlike any before. He wasn’t aggressive, at least I hadn’t witnessed him as such, and he was talking to me, which is unheard of. I heard something behind me and dared to glance back. A jeep, one of our jeeps, was plowing toward us over the sand dunes. He seemed indifferent and then lunged, gripping me around the neck. I could hear his facial bones crunch as the feed came upon him and his fangs sunk into my throat. I yanked the syringe from my pocket and drove it into his thigh, expelling all the ingredients. The vampire howled in rage and threw me forward, where I slumped onto the moist sand. He stared at the needle in my hand and said, “What was that?” I was too weak to answer. Headlights blinded me, and I was gripped under the arms, and pulled upward by the Agents. When I was finally able to see through the smoky haze, he was gone. The vampire, and the mixture inside of him, had vanished. I have no way of knowing if it worked, if the dosage was strong enough to inhibit the demonic impulses or free up any of the qualities that are subdued by the demon. As far as I am concerned, this demon, this vampire that spoke to me and gazed longingly across the water was as much a mystery to me as the outcome of my test on him will forever be. Hal Walsh 1985 __ Maggie took a few notes and picked up her tablet. It was time to find out if Hostile Seventeen was from North London and had ever been to Venice Beach. If he had, and he was the one, then the proverbial missing link would be found and the Initiative would be ready for phase two. The telephone trilled and Buffy groaned, glancing at the clock on her nightstand. It was almost seven that night and she had slept soundly, not remembering shutting off her alarm clock at three. “So much for going to the sewers earlier.” She mumbled and grabbed the phone. “Hello?” “Buffy, hey!” Willow said excitedly. She had been instructed by Giles to get Buffy out of the house and take her mind off everything that was happening. “Guess who is going to be at the Bronze tonight?” “No clue.” Buffy yawned and slumped back against her pillows. The instant she was fully awake, the memory of what had happened with Spike crashed down on her and she sighed. Instead of thinking about it, her mind wandered briefly to the kiss Riley had given her before she left. At least that part of her plan was working. Almost too well. “Bif Naked!” Willow cried, watching Xander and Anya, who were listening intently. “I know you love them! Xander’s driving and we’ll swing by to pick you up. It’ll be just like old times! Only now we have a car and actual money and no curfew and lots of stuff to talk about that isn't depressing.” “I’m tired, Will. I think I’ll just stay home. I saw Bif Naked a while back at that frat party with Parker, so I think it’s okay to skip it. Bad vibes and all. You guys go and have fun.” “Buffy!” Waving frantically, Willow motioned Xander to pick up the other phone. “Please come?” Xander picked up and said, “Hey Buff! You aren’t trying to say no are you?” “Hey Xander!” Buffy forced cheer into her voice. “I was just telling Willow how tired I am.” “Guess what the Bronze is famous for? Caffeine and dancing. Two pick me ups if ever there were pick me ups. And you haven't really had a chance to see me strut. Woking at the 'The Fabulous Ladies Night Club' was good for me.” Xander laughed a little and added, “Dollars, bring plenty of dollars. We’ll be there in an hour.” “No, guys!” Buffy replied, a little more sharper than she intended. “I’m tired. I don’t want to go to the Bronze. I don’t want to dance and I don’t want to argue about it. I’m tired. T-I-R-E-D.” Xander started to say something sarcastic, but Willow shook her head. “Okay, Buffy. But maybe later you’ll feel like it?” “I’ll see. Bye, guys!” She cradled the phone and stood up, heading toward the shower. The phone rang again and she rolled her eyes and lifted it, “You guys don’t give up do you?” Riley paused for a second and said, “Not usually, and I doubt this will be the exception.” Buffy’s eyes widened and she sat on the edge of her bed, “Oh, Riley! I thought you were Willow.” “Nope. How are you? Did you sleep?” “Yeah, all day. Well, except for the hour that I was being yelled at by my mother. Gee, you’d think it was wrong to steal a car or something.” Riley laughed with her and then took a deep breath. “So, Walsh gave some of us the night off and I can’t think of anything I would rather do than see you again. I hear that Bif Naked is going to be at the Bronze tonight. I don ’t usually hang out there or anything, but the band’s good and some of us are going. Would you-“ He left it hanging and Buffy bit her lower lip, running a hand through her hair. Odds are, he would have accepted her saying she was too tired, but he made it sound like a night off was rare. She could go to the sewers later, for now, she’d do what she could to keep him occupied and off her trail. “I ’d love to. I’ll meet you there in an hour.” “Sure you don’t want me to pick you up?” “Only if you insist.” She smiled when he insisted in a firm voice, and agreed, then hung up. Glancing at herself in the mirror, she shrieked and ran to the shower. Almost an hour and a half later, she was dressed in tight leather pants, a skimpy backless halter-top and black boots. She had curled her hair and pulled the top back, letting the rest fall over her shoulders in soft waves. Riley rang the doorbell and she grabbed her leather jacket before she opened the door. Riley’s mouth opened, but no sound came out as he took in her appearance. Staring over her slim body, he finally mumbled something about her being beautiful and held out a hand, taking her coat and helping her slip it on. When she turned her back to him, he got a full view of her soft skin and almost dropped her coat completely. He gripped it clumsily as she slid her arms in and turned to face him. “Buffy, you really are beautiful.” “Thank you.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, then grabbed her backpack. The plan was to party for a while, then tell him she wasn’t feeling well, and leave to go search the sewer. She pulled the door closed behind her and Riley took her hand, leading her toward his car. Within minutes, they arrived at the Bronze and stood at the end of the line, waiting to get inside. The line moved quickly and they were ushered inside, where Riley paid the cover charges. Forest saw them immediately and waved from a table near the stage and off to one side of the dance floor. “There’s Forest.” Riley pointed. “Do you mind joining him and some of the others?” “Not at all.” Buffy smiled and waved at him, relieved that she wouldn’t have to find something to talk about one on one with Riley. “I like him.” Riley seemed relieved too and led her toward the table. She was about to sit down when someone tapped her on the back and she turned, “Willow, hey!” “Felt too tired to come out, huh?” Willow shook her head angrily and glanced from Riley to Forest. This was the first time she had ever been this annoyed with the Slayer. Buffy shifted from one foot to the other and glanced up at Riley apologetically before she spoke to Willow. “I’m sorry. I meant to call you and tell you that I had changed my mind, but I figured I’d see you here anyway.” Willow didn’t look convinced and crossed her arms. Forest glanced from one to the other and plastered a relaxed smile on his face, despite the tension. He leaned forward and extended a hand toward the pretty redhead. “I’m Forest and we have plenty of room here for you, if you’d like to join us.” Shaking her head, Willow took his hand. “I’m Willow. I’m actually here with some,” she heard Anya laughing and glanced at the dance floor to see Xander doing his ‘strut’, “people who have deserted me, so I’d love to join you guys. If that’s okay?” “Hey, a friend of Buffy’s is a friend of mine.” Forest pulled out the chair next to him and took her elbow, helping her up on the high stool. “Hey, aren ’t you into that Wicca group thing that meets in the lounge?” “I sure am.” Willow looked a little surprised. “How did you know that?” “I never forget a pretty face.” He smiled at her and then looked at the empty cup she sat in front of her. “Would you like another drink?” “Sure. I’d love a latte.” Riley pushed Buffy’s chair closer to the table and said, “How about you, Buffy?” “I’ll have the same.” She watched the two excuse themselves and turned her attention toward Willow. “I’m sorry, Will. I really was going to stay in bed and do nothing, and then he called and I figured that I better not turn him down.” “Is Forest in the Initiative too?” Willow whispered, watching the two men stand at the bar. “He is. He’s really a nice guy. Both of them are.” Buffy watched them as well, noticing the way several girls who sat at the bar eyed them both up and down. “They don’t know that you know I’m a Slayer or anything, so let’s keep the topics safe.” “Do you mind me being here?” Willow looked at her intently, almost nervously. “’Cause I could-“ “NO!” Buffy said quickly. “I love having you here and don’t think otherwise, okay.” Willow nodded and perked a little when Forest and Riley returned. The DJ, some college kid with dread locks, began to play a slow song and Forest held out a hand. “So, Willow, want to dance?” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Fourteen Buffy sipped her latte and tried to think of something to say. Sitting alone with Riley, with nothing demonic to discuss, was uncomfortable. He smiled at her and sipped his own drink, obviously thinking the same thing. When he glanced out over the crowd, she let her gaze wander over his appearance. He had on a dark blue shirt that was opened at the top and black jeans. His hair hung across his forehead, making him seem almost boyish, which contrasted with his masculine chest and arms. Finally, she leaned closer and said, “So, how did we get the night off?” “No clue.” He smiled and sat his cup down, tentatively brushing the back of Buffy’s hand with his. “I guess Walsh is proud of us. Or you, to be more exact.” “I take it that this is rare?” She glanced at their hands and then back up at him, wondering how his fingers stayed so soft considering his profession. “Very rare.” The music got a little louder as a faster song started and he stood, scooting his chair closer to Buffy’s. “I’d ask you to dance, but I have two left feet and I’m afraid one of us would get hurt.” “You can’t dance?” She asked, staring at him in shock. “Well, I’m sure I could learn. Do you foresee teaching me anytime soon?” He brushed a lock of hair away from her shoulder and stared at her closely, drinking in the smooth planes of her peaches and cream complexion. In all of his twenty-one years, he had never seen anyone as beautiful as Buffy. “I’m sure I could.” She replied, ignoring the cold chills that shot down her back as his thumb brushed her neck. It was ridiculous to be reacting to his touch, especially after the day she’d had. “Next slow song and you’re mine.” “Just for that dance or for a few dances?” He asked coyly. “Some songs can play for days. Months even. I have a repeat function on my CD player if that helps.” “I’d say quite a few songs.” Shifting in her seat, she hid her discomfort with a smile. Was he asking her for a long term commitment? She was about to say something more when she saw a familiar face. Her smile faded and she tensed as Parker sat down at a table next to theirs with a girl who looked fifteen. “What’s wrong?” Riley glanced at her and then followed her gaze. “Nothing, I just-“ “Parker Abrams really has quite an effect on you.” Riley sat up straighter and lifted his cup again, agitated. If only she realized how many hours he had agonized over the fact that she had wasted her time on Parker. Buffy put her hand out and laid it on his arm. “I’m sorry. We just had a really bad … thing … and it was handled poorly. It’s just-” “I’m not asking.” Riley sat further back into his chair and stared at Parker, who waved at him innocently. He made a show of leering at Buffy, flicking his tongue out over his sneering lips, and Riley looked away. “Look, do you want to leave?” “No.” Buffy pointed at the dance floor and said, “Slow song.” Nodding absently, Riley stood and pulled her chair out, then led her into the crowd of dancers. “I’m warning you, I’ve got as much rhythm as a deaf monkey.” “I hear that there’s an entire conga line made up of deaf monkeys somewhere overseas. They dance and play.” She grinned up at him, relieved when he chuckled a little, and took his hands. Riley stepped on her toe immediately and she raised an eyebrow. “You really weren’t lying, Riley.” “I’m a deadly weapon.” He replied, blushing a deep shade of red. Forest moved closer, clutching Willow around the waist and said, “I don’t believe it, Buffy. You got him on the dance floor? I hope this place is insured.” “Shut up.” Riley said, chuffing him on the back of the head. “Buffy, are you insured at least?” Forest asked seriously. “I can call my dad, he sells it.” Buffy laughed and then contained the giggles when Riley narrowed his eyes at her playfully, accidentally squashing her foot again. “You’re not teaching me very well, Buffy.“ “Go away, while I still have limbs.” Buffy told Forest and Willow, then smiled up at Riley. “Just don’t think about your feet.” “Okay, can I ask you something?” “Sure.” She glanced downward, carefully judging the best way to avoid his feet, which was easy since he had the same pattern repeatedly. Once she mastered it, she looked back up at him. “Why do you let him get to you?” He nodded his head a little, indicating Parker’s table without looking that way. “I-I don’t.” “Don’t tell me that you don’t. I was just there with you, you know? He enjoys the fact that he bothers you.” She lowered her eyes and then took a deep breath, searching for words. She was saved when the music was cut short and the Bronze manager walked onstage to introduce Bif Naked. Buffy clapped unenthusiastically and stepped back into Riley’s arms as they began to play a slow song. She recognized it immediately and groaned. It was the song that she and Parker had danced to and she didn’t want to go there. “Can we sit this one out?” Riley started to nod when Parker stepped in behind Buffy and laid a hand on her shoulder. His eyes trailed a path up her bare back and then he glared at Riley over her head. “Hello, Buffy. My god, you look stunning.” Buffy turned slowly and stared up at him. “Parker.” “I thought I’d ask you to dance since your partner can’t.” He stared at Riley briefly, then looked back at Buffy. “And this is our song, isn’t it?” “We don’t have a song.” Buffy replied quickly and started to walk past him. Parker grabbed her elbow and spun her to face him. “Did you know that Finn here is only interested in you because I told him that you were good in the sack?” Buffy gasped and paled and he grinned at her. “What? You’re upset with me? Don’t be. He asked me, I didn’t volunteer it.” Riley shoved him away from Buffy, ready to break his face, and then Forest was there, pushing him away and telling him to calm down. Parker smiled at Buffy and chucked her under the chin. “Don’t worry, he’s desperate enough that he might hang around afterwards.” Buffy balled her fist and swung. Realizing what she was doing halfway through the punch, she pulled out and a limp slap landed across his cheek. He laughed, blew her a kiss, and re-joined his date. Red-faced, Buffy grabbed her coat off the back of a chair and snatched up her bag. Riley, still being held off by Forest, saw her, pulled free, and met her almost to the door. "Where are you going?” “Home.” She shoved her arms through her sleeves and tossed her bag over her shoulder angrily. “Buffy, don’t do this.” Riley pulled her into a corner, pleading with her to hear him out. “I didn’t ask you out because of what Parker said, okay?” “God! Then he did tell you? You knew?” Buffy covered her face for a second and then slumped back against the wall, humiliated. “Yes, he told me and I punched him in the face about three seconds later and that’s why he’s mad enough to do something like this.” Riley put his hands on either side of her, bracing himself against the wall and staring down at her. “I swear it, Buffy. That’s what this is all about and I wasn’t looking to get you in bed.” “You punched him?” “Ask Forest and Graham. They were both there. He said some really bad things about you and I couldn’t let it slide.” She gazed up at him and swallowed hard, feeling a tingle slide through her body at his admission. He had decked someone for her and she didn’t know how to react to that. Telling him thank you would be appalling, so she told herself he was lying instead. “I have to go.” “No. No, you don’t.” Riley caught her again and lowered his hands to her waist. “Please don’t. I want to enjoy this concert with you and I want to have a good time. I can’t do that if you leave.” Forest and Willow approached them slowly and Forest stared at Buffy. “Are you okay?” “Fine.” She replied tersely, staring at a spot on the floor of the Bronze and wishing she could open a vortex there to vanish into. Forest nodded back toward Parker. “I don’t think he’s gotten over you knocking his lights out, Rye.” “You hit him?” Willow asked, her features showing her delight. “Hit him?” Forest laughed and shook his head. “Riley knocked him over a table and into the floor. All because he said some not so nice things about our favorite Buffy.” Buffy gasped a little. So Riley really had punched him? Willow put an arm around Buffy’s shoulder and took her bag, handing it to Riley. “You aren’t going anywhere. That would just make Parker think he won. Let’s go to the restroom and you can freshen up and forget about it.” Willow tugged her along behind her and Buffy followed dumbly, trying to sort out what she was feeling. As soon as they were inside the brightly lit bathroom, Willow pulled out her purse and handed Buffy a compact and lipgloss. “Buffy, you almost went off on Parker. You could have hurt him.” “I know.” She patted some powder onto her nose and then smoothed a coral colored gloss over her lips. “Riley hit him.” “Buffy, I never told you this, but Riley came to our room right after I found out about Oz and Veruca and he asked me about you. He said he wanted to know what you liked and stuff because he’d never ‘courted’ anyone like you.” “Courted?” Buffy capped the gloss and accepted the blusher, even though her face was still red enough. “No one says that anymore.” “That’s why I got a little pissed about you using him. Forest told me awhile ago that Riley changed his clothes three times when you agreed to go out with him and that you’re all he talks about.” Buffy slammed the lid on the blusher and shoved it back toward Willow. “Well, thank you for complicating things even more for me. What about Spike?” “What about him?” Willow dropped it into her purse and crossed her arms. “He ’s a vampire, Buffy. I don’t know why you’re so interested in saving him or what you plan on doing if you do, but don’t forget what he is. And don’t forget that Riley has a real, live, beating heart that you can crush in a second. You've been on the receiving end of that, Buffy, and you know how it feels.” Buffy watched her friend slip into an empty stall and leaned against the sink. Yes, Spike was a vampire and yes, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone in her life. It was getting complicated though. In order to save him, she would have to let everyone, even her closest confidantes, think that she was only interested in his well being. Not his being with her. A toilet flushed and Willow stepped out. Buffy moved aside and watched her wash her hands, then grinned slyly. “So, what are we thinking about Forest?” “Wow.” Willow blushed a little and applied some lipgloss to her own lips. “Wow.” “That’s what I thought.” __ Parker was on the dancefloor when Buffy left the bathroom and he wriggled his bushy eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes and started back toward her table. Riley put his hand on hers from behind and she looked up at him. “What are you doing over here?” “I saw him and figured he would give you a hard time if you were alone.” He replied, looking worried and unsure of his movements. “Thank you.” Buffy slipped her coat off and hung it over her arm. “Think we still have a table?” “Yeah.” He led her past the stage and they sat down, briefly watching the dark haired girl behind the microphone growl out beautiful lyrics. “They’re good.” “I love their C.D.” Buffy sat her coat on top of her bag, which was in a chair next to her, then leaned her head over against Riley’s shoulder. “Do you forgive me?” “Forgive you for what?” He asked, taking one of her hands in his and bringing it to his mouth. “He hurt me. Bad. Worse than I’ve been hurt in a long time and that’s why he affects me and that’s why I react.” She sat up and turned to face him completely. “I’m sorry that I got so upset with you and I don’t think that you asked me out because of what he told you.” Smiling, Riley ran his fingers over her cheek and then pressed his lips against hers. It was brief, almost chaste, and he sat back up. “For what it’ s worth, I think he’s going to be hurt just as bad.” “What? No, Riley, you can’t-“ “Shh, not me.” Riley grinned at her and then pointed toward the dancefloor. “His date is sixteen and her brother is a friend of mine. As soon as I tell him that Mr. Abrams was all over his sister, he’ll suffer. Greatly.” “Oh, that’s bad.” “I’ll make sure it happens when you can see.” “Oh, that’s good.” Riley hugged her, closing his eyes and sighing happily into her hair. Nothing, absolutely nothing on the face of the earth, could possibly feel better than she did. Whether she meant to or not, she had tripped him and he had fallen straight into something that had to be love. __ Anya moved her hips in a circle in front of Xander’s, grinding against his pelvic bone as he gripped her waist and moved with her. It was erotic, filling her senses with untapped desire. She had never imagined that dancing this way could be so stimulating. She let her hands trail down his chest, rubbing over his nipples and causing him to groan. Smiling, Anya whispered, “Is your cock hard again?” “It is.” He replied honestly, even though he didn't know how he managed to get hard again so fast. They had just had sex in the back alley fifteen minutes before that. “Are you thinking about choking your chicken?” She licked her lips, pulling her tongue along the edges slowly, deliberately. “That’s actually not what I’m thinking.” He replied, watching helplessly as she forced his erection to swell even tighter, just by moistening her lips. “Are you thinking about my clit and carpet munching?” “Among other things.” He caught her mouth in his and kissed her slowly, then pulled back and nodded toward Willow and her partner. “Let’s go see if she can get a ride home.” Anya nodded and winked at him. For the entire day, he had been attentive and loving toward her and that was wonderful. She stood next to Xander as he tapped Willow’s shoulder. “Hey Willow.” “Oh hi!” Willow turned and said, “Xander, Anya, I’d like for you to meet Forest, Forest, this is Xander and that’s Anya.” Forest held out his hand and shook Xander’s firmly, causing the boy to go up on his toes for a second. “Owww, broken bones.” Looking apologetic, Forest said, “Sorry, man, my dad was a stickler for a firm handshake.” “I like firm things.” Anya announced, holding out her hand to Forest. They shook and she grinned. “Nice.” Xander had shoved his aching hand into his pocket and then turned when Buffy tapped him. “Oh, hey Buffy, glad you made it.” “Xander, Anya, this is Riley.” She nodded at Riley and finished the introductions. Riley held his hand out to Xander and he whimpered slightly, pulling it from his pocket. Riley’s grip was just as firm and he smiled helplessly, “Nice to meet you, man.” “Likewise.” Riley smiled and shook Anya’s as well, surprised at how tightly she gripped his hand. “Did you guys enjoy the concert?” “Yeah, it was great.” Anya nodded, glancing up at the empty stage. “DJ’s are okay, but I like a real band.” “Me too.” Riley nodded in agreement and held Buffy’s bag while she slipped her coat on. “I think we’re going to go for coffee. Is anyone interested?” “Thanks, man, but I need to get home.” Xander shrugged a little and turned his attention toward Willow. “Do you need a ride, Will?” Willow paused for a second and then glanced at Forest, who grinned at her. “I’ll drive you home. How does coffee sound to you?” “Sounds great.” Willow blushed a little and looked back at the floor. “How about you, Anya?” Riley draped his arms around Buffy’s shoulder and shook his head when she reached for her bag. “I’ll carry it.” Anya considered the offer and shook her head. “Normally, I would say yes to the coffee drinking ritual that young people seem to be so fond of. However, my cunt is wet and I’m about to cream my jeans, so I’m going to go with Xander and make him cum with me.” Riley’s smile faltered and he reddened slightly, “Okay then.” Buffy was shaking all over with silent laughter and Willow leaned against her for support, giggling like mad. Forest stared at the girl in shock and then looked at Riley with raised eyebrows. Xander held up a hand and said, “I can explain this. See, she's-no-we-no-.” Willow, still laughing, motioned for them to leave. “No, please, just go. Have fun.” “Coming is fun.” Said Anya, wondering what joke she missed. “Going is better.” Buffy had collected herself, but she knew she could collapse into hysterics again if she had to keep looking at Xander’s shocked face. “Anya, are you ever going to get past part ‘C’ of the slang dictionary?” Xander asked, leading her away and wishing he could drop off the face of the planet. “I’ve been reading part ‘D’, Xander.” She announced loudly. “And I have a few questions. Where can I buy a dildo and why haven’t I already gotten one?” Several people tittered and Xander’s dick was not only soft, he figured it had withdrawn into it's shell for good. Embarrassment just did not factor into what he considered foreplay. __ Almost an hour and several cups of decaffeinated coffee later, Riley pulled up to the curb in front of Buffy’s house. He sat with her for several seconds, and then leaned across the seat, staring at her intently. “Did I remember to tell you that I like your hair curly like this?” “No.” Buffy replied, staring anywhere but his face. “Buffy, I like your hair curly like this.” He said seriously, then broke into a huge grin. “Thank you.” “I think Forest really likes Willow. When you two had gone to freshen up, he asked me all sorts of things about her.” “I’m glad.” “And I think that I really like you.” “Then I’m extra glad.” Buffy unbuckled her seatbelt and slid closer, kissing him softly on the lips. He slid his hand up her back and settled it at the nape of her neck, deepening the kiss. The same familiar current passed through her and she pulled back, allowing guilt to replace the delicate tingling. Riley traced the curve of her jaw and said, “I guess it’s time to say goodnight. We’ll be meeting at ten am for a debriefing. Do you need me to call you and wake you up?” “That would be nice.” “Come on.” He nodded at his side of the car and opened the door, pulling her across the seat and out with him. “You don’t have to walk me to the door.” She said, grinning. “Well, I want to.” He took her hand and stopped walking when she stepped up onto the porch. Handing her the bag, he stayed one step down and they were almost eye level. “Thank you for a really nice time.” Buffy said sincerely. “And thank you for not being mad about the whole Par-“ “Don’t say his name.” Riley wrinkled his nose and then put his hands on her hips. “Thank you for not being mad about the whole jealousy thing.” “Jealousy?” Buffy raised an eyebrow. “You were jealous?” “Yeah, I confess. It makes me crazy to think of him having you and not cherishing that.” “Aww.” She put her arms around him and hugged him, leaning against his neck. “You’re so sweet.” ~ And I’m the biggest bitch in the world for doing this. ~ “You are too.” He kissed her again, briefly- in case her mother was watching, and pulled away. “Sleep well.” “You too.” Buffy watched him walk down the sidewalk and waved when he got into the car. He sat there, waiting for her to get inside safely and as soon as she shut the door, he pulled away. She flipped the light on at the foot of the stairs and leaned her head back against the door. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Damn him for being so sweet and normal and damn her for being just a girl who had always wanted that. She needed to refocus and get her priorities straight. It was all for Spike. Riley was a device, right? Right? “Did you have a good time?” Joyce asked, peeking around the corner. “Mom! What are you doing up at two a.m.?” Buffy asked, still leaning back against the door. “I had company.” Joyce stepped aside and someone stepped out beside her. Someone with a long leather coat. Someone with dark hair that stood up at the top and eyes that could penetrate the hardest soul. Someone with the face of an angel. Buffy’s eyes widened, “What is he- what are you- why-?” “Hello, Buffy. I heard you could use some help.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Fifteen This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures... -Giles in The Harvest “Help?” Buffy exhaled loudly and closed her eyes. Angel stood before her, staring at her with his best tormented expression and she felt like a ton of bricks had been sewn into her stomach. Opening her eyes, she glanced heavenward and snapped, “This isn’t funny, God.” Angel stepped forward and reached for her bag, but she brushed past him and tossed it on the sofa in the living room, mumbling as she went. “Okay, someone up there must really hate me because I doubted this could get more complicated and then there you are. Complicated times ten!” “I’m sorry.” Angel glanced at Joyce nervously, unsure of how to act around her and unable to hide his discomfort. Joyce seemed to take a cue and said, “I’ve got to get up early.” Buffy watched her mother go up the stairs and turned back toward Angel. “Who called you here?” “Is it important?” “Was it Willow? Giles?” Buffy searched his face and then nodded. “It was Giles. What did he tell you?” “It wasn’t just Giles. Cordelia sees things now and she saw you in a hospital gown. You were badly injured, Buffy. I called Giles myself and he filled me in on what’s been happening here.” Angel shifted his weight from one foot to the other and clasped his hands in front of him. “I had to come.” “No.” She sat down and ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head as if she wanted to wake up from the dream. There was no way this was actually happening. “You didn’t have to come. You didn’t have to leave, you didn’t have to make all my decisions and you didn’t have to hurt me. You did it because you wanted to.” Angel had been expecting a harsh reaction from her, but this was too much. “You think I ever wanted to hurt you?” “You must have.” She shot back, then rose to her feet and grabbed her bag. “Dammit, I forgot about patrolling. Just, go back to Los Angeles, Angel. Live whatever it is that you call a life and let me live mine.” “You’re in trouble.” He said, stopping her from leaving the living room. “I can’t go back to LA and leave you to handle something that can get you killed.” “You left me so I could have a life.” She stepped back and spread her arms wide, urging him to stare her up and down. “Here it is and I'm still in danger. That didn't stop you from leaving before. It’s the exact same as it was and the only difference is that you aren’t here anymore. I’d like to keep it that way.” Scowling, she started past him again. “Giles said that you weren’t to go out tonight.” Angel moved to the doorway and leaned against the jamb. “If you go, I go, and the sun will rise soon.” “Me and my shadow.” Buffy sang sarcastically. “It never ends with you, does it? I get to a point where I can move on and you come along to torture me again. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t think about you today. I didn’t think about what you did to me and I didn’t think about how much it still aches.” “I said I’m sorry.” Angel growled angrily, the words slicing through the air with finality. “I can’t say more than that. I’m here because I think you might need me. If it turns out that you don’t, then fine, I’ll go and leave you to it. But I can’t ignore Cordelia’s vision and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s going to happen.” Buffy started to say something and he shook his head. “So, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll hang around. I won’t get in your way and I’ll try my best not to *shadow* you.” “You’re too kind. How wonderful you are to come back here. Do you think one selfless act makes up for how selfish you’ve been? How selfish you are?” She sneered, moving around him and going to the kitchen. She yanked the refrigerator door open and pulled out the orange juice, then turned to find a glass. Her coat felt heavy and she shoved it off, suddenly overheated. He followed and sat at the bar, watching her pull her coat off and sling it onto the table. His eyes trailed over her and he frowned. She was thin, too thin. Her leather pants were snug and the backless halter revealed her ribs, which were visible everytime she moved. “You’ve lost weight.” “Being a slayer isn’t exactly conducive to weight gain.” She replied, pouring herself a full glass of juice. “You weren’t this thin before.” Angel replied, standing up to take his own coat off. He tossed it and watched it land on top of hers, feeling oddly affected by seeing the coats together, then opened the refrigerator door himself. “Do you like eggs?” “Do I like eggs?” Buffy raised her eyebrow and sat her glass down. “What kind of question is that?” “Fine, don’t answer. This morning, you do like eggs.” He pulled three from the door, grabbed the butter and milk and kicked it shut. “Where are the pans?” “You’re going to cook me eggs?” “No offense, but I’ve seen healthier looking refugees.” He ignored the way she stood up straighter and crossed her arms, and opened the cabinets, intent on finding the necessary utensils himself. Buffy watched him; half annoyed and half-impressed, as he broke the shells and mixed them with a little milk. Soon, the smell of food was making her stomach growl and she accepted the plate he sat down in front of her. Shaking her head in disbelief, she looked at the fluffy scrambled eggs and toast, and smiled. “You really did cook me eggs.” “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on around here while you eat.” He nodded toward the table and she followed with her plate. Angel put the coats on the back of a chair and watched her intently. “Let’s start with Spike.” Between bites, Buffy told him about Thanksgiving and Spike showing up looking half dead and needing a place to stay. It progressed to her telling about Willow’s spell, which made her fall in love with Spike, and then finished with the night they were both taken in the sewers. Naturally, she left out the kiss and the way he made her weak in the knees, and simply told him how scared Spike had been. “It’s not right, Angel. What they do is wrong. I mean, it’s torture. First they make them defenseless and then they test them and then they kill them.” Angel leaned back in his chair and digested everything she had told him, mulling for a while over the thought of Buffy and Spike kissing and being ‘engaged’. He knew Buffy better than she knew herself and since he had seen her torture a vampire, he wasn’t convinced that she was standing up for ethical treatment of demons just because. No, there was more there. “Are they actually torturing them? Moreover, why do you care? “Well, maybe not physically, but certainly mentally. And I care because suffering, even if it’s a demon, is still suffering. I mean, they could have taken you a long time ago, you know?” She finished her last piece of toast and sighed, hoping to change the subject. “I’m stuffed. That was really good.” “Good.” He replied absently, staring past her at the wall, his mind still overflowing. “What exactly is it that these commandos hope to do.” “They’re creating demons that can only feed on other demons. That way, they can kill the weaker demons and then eventually just have one breed of demon. It’s flawed right now though.” She quickly explained everything Riley had told her. Starting with how the brain slows during death and finishing with how one day, they hoped to have a better chip that wouldn’t weaken and kill the Hostile. “That’s impossible.” Angel shook his head and leaned onto his elbows. “Buffy, most demons are almost human like in the fact that they have brains and can think and register pain and die. Hell, vampires were human once and there are hundreds of other breeds that were as well. Think about it, people and demons are almost alike.” “What are you saying?” “I’m saying that these tests, these things that they’re doing, don’t add up. To make a demon have any human qualities, you have to either amend it magically, like a soul restoration, or you have to connect the two somehow. People and demons.” “Come again?” “In every aspect of life, there are links. Every being is somehow linked to another being. Science would like to have you believe that man and ape are related, but it’s more like man and demon. Way back, before there were people, there were demons. They used their magicks, used their skills and one day, it blew apart, their reality diminished, and man was here. They inadvertently created their own enemy.” “Demons created man?” “Some demons claim that it happened that way. Some people believe that God, a higher power, intervened and created it, and some believe that demons don’ t exist. We know better. And the links between the two are broken in this Initiative. Unless-” He trailed off, reprocessing everything she had told him. “Angel, I’ve never been good with reading between the lines, so can you be blunt?” “You told me that they are doing tests on demons to make them unable to hurt people. You can’t just test one thing without the other. People have to be down there, Buffy. For them to know what happens to a vampire’s brain during the change means that they allowed someone to be changed and monitored it.” “They quarantine people. Maybe they knew it was too late and monitored the change on a victim that they couldn’t help anyway.” Buffy offered, but her heart wasn’t in it. If what Angel was saying had truth in it, and considering the source it had to, then the implications were there. The Initiative wasn’t harmless and she would be forced to stop them. “Do you honestly believe that they could make these assumptions and analysis based on seeing it happen randomly?” Angel saw for himself that she didn’t and stood up. He walked into the living room and returned a few minutes later with a newspaper. “These four little girls are missing. Giles told me you found a body in the sewer. Was it one of them?” Buffy took the paper and scanned the four faces. “It was the little blond one. I actually saw her in a dream. I could hear her screaming and there was blood. It was-“ She paused and stared at the pictures more closely. “Buffy, what is it?” Angel moved to her side and laid a hand on her arm. “When was this paper printed?” She flipped it over and stared at the date. “It’s today’s paper.” “Yeah, and?” Heart pounding and hands shaking, she pointed at two of the girls and swallowed hard. “When I went out with the Initiative to the drive-in and pulled those people free, these two girls were there.” “Where?” “Hanging in the nets.” Buffy scanned their smiling faces and bit her lip, then pointed at one with black hair. “This one asked me if I was an angel and told me I was. Forest said that they would be transported to safety. Maggie said they bring people underground for surveillance and they simply think they’ve been in the hospital.” “Were the girls hurt?” “Not that I could tell. I mean, they were crying and pretty upset, but uninjured as far as I could see.” “Buffy, do you think –“ “They’re testing the quarantined people?” Buffy nodded at him. “Hell, yes. That’s exactly what I think. I mean, you’re right. They have to be doing stuff to humans in order to learn what they know.” Angel nodded, eyeing the paper again. “What’s the plan?” “Somehow I don’t think that going in and accusing them is the way to go.” “I agree.” He narrowed his eyes and then looked at her. “But, this means that this is even more dangerous now. They know you’re a Slayer and they could just be earning your trust to get your guard down. Who better to model their demon slayers after than a real live demon slayer?” Buffy stood slowly and took her plate to the sink. “Well, my guard just went up and my defenses are on red alert.” “Keep it that way.” Angel replied, pulling his coat on. “Where are you staying?” “My old apartment.” He fixed his collar and turned back toward her. “I’m here to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it and don’t fool yourself into thinking you don’t need it.” “Thank you.” She said, smiling slightly at the feeling of nostalgia that rushed through her. “I’m sorry about-“ He held up a hand and said, “Let’s not, okay? This is business and as soon as it’s over, it’s back to LA with me and back to school for you. When are you going down again?” “Ten a.m.” Buffy sighed a little, wanting to say something more, but unable to find the words. “Good luck is what I want to say, but instead, I’ll say be careful. I think you need that more. You can't be too cautious, but you can be too reckless.” With that, he turned and walked out of the kitchen. Buffy heard the door open and shut and slumped in her seat again, staring at the faces on the paper. In her opinion, the girls had been dirty and parched. Nothing about them would indicate that they needed to be kept for this long in the facilities. It had been over twenty-four hours and that was plenty of time to get them hydrated and reunited with their families. She walked to the back door and stared out at the night. Suddenly her life didn’t seem as complicated as those of the parents of these children. Somewhere out there, a mother was without her baby and the little girl was without her mother. Having been without before, Buffy swore to herself that come ten a.m., she’d have answers. Sleep was something that did not come to her. Buffy tossed and turned, watching the glowing red numbers on the clock tick away the hours and finally rose at dawn. Pacing passed some of the time and writing in her journal gave her something to do briefly. Then it was almost eight a.m. and she could wait no more. Pulling on her running clothes, she trotted down the stairs, scribbled out a note and left on foot. She jogged easily, quickly covering the five miles and arrived at Lowell House flushed, but not out of breath. Several guys greeted her when she was let in and she made half-hearted replies to their attempts at conversation. Finally, she recognized Michael, the man who had introduced himself to her the first day, walking toward the elevators and joined him. “Hi, Michael, right?” “Oh, hello Buffy.” He smiled down at her and glanced her up and down. “Out for a jog?” “Yeah, got to maintain this girlish figure.” “You’re anything but girlish, honey. I’ve never seen such a woman.” He replied with a small wink. “Did you need an escort down? I know your pass isn’t activated yet.” “I’m actually looking for Professor Walsh. Is she underground?” Buffy asked casually, letting his flirtation pass without incident. “She should be. Is something wrong?” Michael hoped that there was something wrong. He hoped that she had discovered what a pissant Riley was and was going to request a team transfer. His team was lonely and could definitely use a hot little number like Summers for distraction. “Well, I don’t know.” She pulled the paper out of her jacket and pointed at the little girls, which she had drawn a circle around. “I rescued these kids the other night.“ “I was there.” Michael took the paper and glanced at it nervously, wondering how to handle the situation. He doubted very seriously that Walsh would have told this girl, this new agent, much of anything. “So you know as well as I do that they were fine and should have been reunited with their families before this paper went to print.” Buffy took the paper from him and put it back in her jacket. “I need to see Maggie.” “I’m your man.” He pointed at the mirror and waited for the green ray to pass over them, then stepped inside with her. “How do you like it here?” “I like it fine.” Buffy replied monotonously. Michael spoke into the speaker and then smiled at her. “You don’t sound convincing.” “I’m tired. No sleep.” “Riley keep you out all night?” Michael grinned a little and wiggled his eyebrows. "Rumour has it that you two are quote the little couple. Is that true?" “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Buffy asked, forcing herself to grin at the man. She had seen the way he eyed her the first day they were there and she hadn’t forgotten the way Riley seemed to tense up when he was present. Her first impression was that he was oily enough to slither his way into most places, but her good graces would not be one of them. “Just so you know, my team could use you if you get tired of playing house with Riley. We’re more active that the pansy squad and you’d get out a lot more.” “Out?” The elevator doors opened and he stepped through. “You know, out in the field. We cover the sewers. We’re not like the little country boys that have to hang out above ground. We get down and dirty. Something tells me you’d fit right in.” Buffy pursed her lips like she was in deep thought and said, “I’ll keep that in mind.” Riley was sparring with Forest in one of the padded exercise areas when he saw Buffy walk past him, followed by Michael, who was talking rapidly to her. It was only nine o’clock and he remembered telling her specifically that she wouldn’t be needed until ten. He turned slightly, watching her demeanor, and caught a mouthful of Forest’s fist. “Damn!” Forest shouted, clutching his fist to his chest. “What the hell are you doing?” “I’ll be back.” Riley grabbed a towel, ignoring the ache in his jaw, and climbed the ladder, following the way they had gone. He walked the main aisle, glancing down the corridors and finally saw them all the way at the end of the Implanting row. Michael saw him coming and led Buffy to another elevator, draping his arm over her shoulders. He had purposely brought her this way in hopes of Riley seeing them together. “I guess Walsh is on the other level.” Buffy wanted to wriggle out of his grasp but let him pacify himself instead. When they were inside, he leaned low to whisper in her ear and she saw Riley heading their way. The closing doors prevented her from stepping out to greet him, but it didn’t prevent her from seeing the look on his face. “Michael, why do I get the feeling that you don’t like Riley?” “Because I really work hard to make sure everyone can tell.” He shrugged, leading her down another hallway as soon as the elevator opened. “Care to tell me why?” “I can only tell people why over coffee. Have some with me later and I’ll gladly fill you in.” He tweaked her nose and pointed at the end of the hall where Walsh stood. “Find me later if you’re interested.” Buffy watched him as he walked away; arrogantly holding his head high, and whispered, “Don’t hold your breath.” Rolling her eyes, she headed toward Maggie. Professor Walsh saw her coming and her forehead creased with concern. “Buffy, are you injured? Why are you coming to the infirmary?” “No. I’m fine. I was looking for you actually.” “You found me.” Buffy pulled out the paper and pointed at the smiling faces on the front page. “I found them too and it’s strange to me that this paper reports them as still missing.” Maggie was taken aback, but quickly forced herself to remain impassive. “Yes, I know. Initial examinations of the people who were rescued showed signs of contamination. We’ll need to watch them for at least seven days.” “Contamination of what?” “Buffy, prolonged exposure to a demon can be harmful or fatal to a person. This particular demon was incredibly nasty and every person from that night is ill.” “I’m not ill. Riley’s not ill. Forest isn’t and neither is Michael.” Maggie sighed heavily and closed the medical journal she had been looking at. “I said prolonged exposure, Buffy. We need to keep them here long enough for our antibiotics to kill any of the germs left on them.” “What makes you think they need it?” “You’re very inquisitive.” Walsh smiled and put her arm around Buffy’s shoulders, squeezing lightly, the way Michael had done. “I like that quality. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you why they need it.”

Chapter #6 - 6

Riley met Michael as he stepped out of the elevator and was relieved when she didn't see Buffy with him. He held up a hand as the man started to brush past him to get into the elevator himself. “Where’s Buffy?” “Look for her.” Michael smiled. “Just tell me. Or else-” “You think you have some kind of pull around here just because your mommy runs the show? My dad was--” “Oh hell.” Riley stepped back in disgust and looked at the boy like he was insane. “Are you still on that? Your dad got himself killed. Forest didn’t do it. Graham didn’t do it and I sure as hell didn’t do it. He did it.” “Right.” Michael nodded his head and spoke sarcastically. “He knew that something was happening at that High School, Riley. He told us and none of you assholes believed him. You stayed behind and let him go alone and he got blown to hell and back.” “We told him not to go, Michael.” “He had rank in your group. You didn’t have a right to tell him anything.” Running a hand through his hair, Michael stared him in the eye. “I should let Buffy know what a coward she’s running with.” “This is an old fight, man.” Riley exhaled loudly and turned to walk away. “And don’t you even think about bringing Buffy into it.” “Maybe you should see what it feels like to lose someone you love.” Michael mumbled. Riley spun fast and gripped him by the throat. “Don’t you even look at her and don’t you dare come within three feet of her again or I’ll mess you up so bad, you won’t know a Hostile from your face in the mirror.” Michael shoved him back and swung his fist, which Riley blocked. Riley got a good left hook in and knocked Michael’s head back against the wall and Michael’s foot caught Riley between the legs before they were separated by Walsh’s sharp reprimand. She shouted for them to halt, from one end of the hall, and both did as instructed, backing away and staring at the ground. Buffy followed and watched with wide eyes as Walsh seemed to dominate the situation instantly. Maggie looked from one to the other. “What is the meaning of this?” Michael stood straight and said, “Nothing, ma’am. It’s under control. Permission to be excused, ma’am.” “Shake hands.” Walsh said, crossing her arms and watching as the two boys did as instructed. “Permission granted, Michael.” Michael turned and stepped through the door to the stairwell, pausing on the other side to listen through it. He couldn’t wait to hear what Riley would tell Mommy Dearest. “Riley?” Turning, Maggie appraised Riley. “Your side?” “It would appear that Mikey hasn’t gotten past his father dying in that explosion last year at Sunnydale High. He still blames me.” Riley stared at the floor, his jaw clenched tightly. It was very degrading for this to happen in front of Buffy and he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Buffy cleared her throat and said, “Uhm, how are you responsible for the school blowing up? I did that. The Mayor was ascending into a demon and we had to stop it.” “You did that?” Professor Walsh looked astonished. “I did.” Buffy smiled a little, leaving off the part where it was actually just her idea and Giles had pulled the trigger. “I knew it had to be done to stop the Ascension.” “Wow.” Riley beamed with pride. “That was gutsy.” “Slayers are gutsy.” Buffy agreed and then remembered the children in the paper, her main reason for arriving early. “Hey, you said you would show me the kids. Professor Walsh?” “Oh, Riley can show you.” She moistened her lips and gazed up at her son. “Buffy is concerned about the people in quarantine. Can you take her over and let her look through the glass and see for herself that they are perfectly fine?” “Sure.” “No one is to go in.” Maggie started to walk away and then paused, “And Buffy, if you are so inclined sometime later, I’d love to hear about the school and what happened.” “Okay.” Buffy watched her leave and looked up at Riley. “So, show me.” Riley motioned her to follow him and she did, eager to see the children. Neither one noticed the stairwell door open, or the very angry young man who stepped out. Michael watched her closely, predator to prey, and then turned and stalked down the stairs. It was time to hack into the Agent file and get Buffy’s home address. His dad would not die in vain and Riley would pay for every single thing he had ever done. It would be such poetic justice to kill two birds with one stone. Riley paused at the end of the long hallway and tapped on a window. Buffy gasped when blinds were pulled back and she could view the Infirmary’s Quarantine Unit. Every bed was full and every patient lay motionless, hooked up to various machines. Despite the theories that Angel had bounced off of her the previous night, these people appeared to be unharmed. “Why are they so still?” “We put them to sleep. It’s easier for them to handle the quarantine that way. As soon as we know that they’re fine, we transfer them to the city hospital in Los Angeles. They will wake up there and probably won’t remember anything.” He pointed to two small figures in side by side beds at the back of the room. “There are those kids you saved.” Standing on her tiptoe, she nodded, making a mental note of where the Infirmary was located and vowing to check back in as soon as the opportunity presented itself. “Are they going to be okay?” Riley lifted a receiver beside the window and punched in several numbers. One of the men, who was wearing a mask over his face, picked up and stared out at them. “Are the two little girls going to make it?” asked Riley, indicating the back of the room. The tech nodded and hung the phone back up. Buffy laughed a little and said, “A man of few words.” Riley didn’t say anything as he put the phone back in place, then he turned. “Stay away from Michael.” “Well, that came out of left field.” “I mean it, Buffy. I didn’t tell my m- Maggie this, but he threatened you. He thinks that I was somehow responsible for his father’s death and wanted him to die so I could make rank in Team One. I told him to stay away from you and he said something about it being time for me to lose someone I care about.” “He could have been talking about anyone.” Buffy replied, wrapping her arms around his waist. It dawned on her that she had made the motion without thinking twice about it and that was very unnerving. “I only care about you and he knows that. Everyone knows that.” “I can take care of myself.” She smiled, both from his concern and his admission, and looked up at him. He brushed her hair back and took a deep breath. “I don’t doubt that, but humor me. Promise me you won’t go out alone or go around him.” “I promise.” Nodding, he lowered his mouth to hers. A loud buzzing caused them both to jump and she pulled away. “What’s that?” “It’s ten. Time for the meeting.” Professor Walsh stood on her podium and glanced at the people who had gathered around her. It always gave her a rush of pride to see so many fresh-scrubbed faces staring up at her. These people were the future of the world and she was proud to lead them in the war against darkness. Lifting the field report that Riley had filled out, she flipped it open and read the first two lines. “Team One is pleased to report that there were no fatalities on Mission X-3 Drive-In2. Five specimens were brought to base as requested and the victims were salvaged.” Closing the folder, she smiled. “Give yourselves a hand, people. You did an outstanding job.” Buffy clapped along with everyone else and then smiled at Forest, who nudged her with his hip as he joined the group. Walsh glared at him and he shrugged apologetically. “Sorry.” Shaking her head, Walsh continued. She was going to do something that was positively unheard of. It was time to settle into business and that meant that she wanted as little distraction as possible. “With no impending problems on the horizon, I am decreasing the workload. The holidays are practically here and I’m sure all of you have family and loved ones to spend time with. For the most part, we will still be actively running the mission and I want you to keep your beepers with you at all times. In two days, we will be shutting off all systems for Y2K structuring and I must devote time and attention to that. However, do not hesitate to contact Agent Finn or myself if a crisis arises. Any questions?” “Will we be required to report to base daily, ma’am?” Forest asked, unable to contain his glee at the prospect of less work. “The technicians, the feeders, and the cleaners will still have to maintain their workload, but the field agents are free agents.” Walsh grinned a little at the small cheer that erupted and then clapped her hands together. “However, there is much work to be done today. The chamber has sixteen dead creatures that need to be moved to the surgery bay for autopsies and we have four specimens in the later stages of implanting that need to be moved to the chamber. I don’t need to remind you that demons that are dying are very, very unpredictable in nature. Teams Three and Five, you gather some volunteers and remove the bodies. Hose down the area and get it ready for the new occupants. Agents Finn and Gates, you two will show Agent Summers how to handle the transferring of the Hostiles to the chamber. Summers, as soon as you have finished the tasks at hand, please find me.” Buffy nodded and tried to make sense of what she had just heard. They put dying demons into something called a chamber. It was like Nazi Germany all over again. The hair on the back of her neck tingled and she gave a small shiver. Maggie continued speaking, “I don’t have to tell those of you who are remaining in Sunnydale for the holiday break to use extreme caution at all times. Despite the fact that you will not be required here daily, you are still Agents and you are to keep order above ground. I’ll want a list of everyone who will remain in town for Christmas break. Some of you have standing orders and those will still stand. Please see Agent Gates and sign the proper paperwork. I want to know who I have to fall back on if something does happen. In this town, that’s very likely. Are there any other questions?” No one raised a hand and Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. She had expected someone to question the Y2K information, or at the very least volunteer to help. Only a select few people knew what was really happening and she had spent the better part of the morning preparing careful replies to possible questions. “Very good. Dismissed.” Several of the boys gave others high fives and laughed loudly, unable to contain the rush they felt from having a real holiday. Riley watched them, a small smile on his face and then moved toward Buffy, who had followed Forest to a table near the elevator to help him get the signup sheets ready. “I’m glad they’re getting the break. Everyone needs a little time off.” “Time off is that thing that we don’t actually have.” Forest replied and opened a pack of inkpens, pouring them all over the table. “You can bet that us poor souls who are hanging out here for Christmas will be put back to work.” Buffy was putting blank pieces of paper into clipboards and nodded absently, “It’s nothing new for me. I’m used to it.” Riley chewed his bottom lip and watched her closely. “Well, it’s time you get used to something new then. Enjoy the break, Buffy. It won’t hurt you to forget about slaying for a few weeks.” Buffy stopped what she was doing and looked up at him skeptically. “You’re kidding, right? Let me explain a little something. Evil doesn’t stop coming just because it’s December. I know, holy month yadda-yadda, but this is still Sunnydale and break or not, I’m the Slayer.” “It won’t matter if you miss a vampire here and there.” “I’m sure the person who supplies dinner for that vampire would beg to differ.” “You can’t save everyone.” “But I will damn well keep trying.” Forest taped the cardboard sign he had made the edge of the table and looked from one to the other. “I hate to interrupt what some people may interpret as a lover's quarrel, but we have work to do.” Buffy glanced at him and said, “I thought you were in charge of the sign ins for the people who were staying?” “I am in charge. There are the pens, there’s the paper and there’s the sign that says, ‘Sign Here If You Are Staying.’” He shrugged and scratched the side of his face. “I’m a man of many talents. I can be in two places at one time. That’s why I’m always the one Walsh picks for these odd jobs.” “She picks you to keep you out of trouble.” Riley pointed out. “Well, that too.” Thirty minutes later, Buffy was holding a gun in her hands and listening intently to Forest and Riley arguing about the best way to get a very large and scaly demon to the chamber. Riley felt that the minute they opened the doors, the demon would charge. Forest felt that there would be plenty of time while it was charging for Buffy to immobilize it. For the third time, Riley was explaining why shooting it with the ray gun would only serve to anger Walsh. “Maggie doesn’t like to have the bodies damaged when they’re this close to the end. The implants make it impossible for them to heal properly before they die.” Forest pointed at the demon, which was alternating between baring it’s fangs and making lewd hand gestures. “Do you think she really cares about the skin on that thing?” “I care about my skin, Forest, and I’m not putting my ass on the line. I’ll try to get close enough to inject it with the tranquilizer.” “Don’t you have a tranquilizer gun?” Buffy asked, impatiently tapping her foot and eyeing the small hypodermic needle in Riley's hand. “We ran out of the darts for them a couple of days ago and the shipment hasn ’t come in yet.” Riley replied, watching the demon closely. “I think it’s too sick to put up much of a fight.” “Why can’t we just walk it to the new place?” “That’s why we’re drugging the thing. So we can shackle it and take it where we need to go.” “Standing here isn’t getting it done.” Buffy shoved her gun into Forest’s arms and held out her hand. “Just give me the needle and let me do it.” Riley laughed at her and shook his head. “Absolutely not. I said I’ll do it.” “That’s just it. You keep saying you will do it, but you haven’t yet. Just open the door and let me take care of it.” “Buffy, request denied.” “I am a member of this team. I’m not going to stand around and hold a gun that I’m not supposed to use while you get your skull bashed in.” “Are you going to challenge me on everything?” Riley snapped. Forest rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall. “Oh lord, here we go again.” “I’m only going to challenge you when you try to repress me. I’ve been doing this for a long time, Riley. Now open the damn doors.” Riley swiped his security pass through the panel and punched in several numbers. Buffy moved toward the glass, waiting for it to move aside. As it started to open, she took a deep breath. “When I tell you to give me the needle, give it to me and don’t give me a hard time.” “Whatever.” Riley turned to look at Forest and said, “Don’t hesitate to use that.” “I thought that we had to save the skin and-“ “Shut up.” The door opened and Buffy slipped inside, eyeing the demon up and down. “We have to move you.” “Slayer …” It growled, pulling thick jowls away from a long snout. "I remember you." She stepped closer, eyeing the creature that had gotten away a few weeks before, and said, “Sit down.” “Make me.” Came the garbled reply. Buffy kicked out, snapping the creature in the knee. It crumbled onto all fours and tried to bite her, then howled in agony. She sidestepped and sent a foot into his forehead, knowing that the implant would be causing immense pain there already. When the thing cowered into the corner, she shrugged. “Would that qualify as making you?” She turned and held her hand out, taking the needle from Riley, who said, “Try to inject the neck. On this certain breed, the skin is softest there.” “Turn your head.” Buffy uncapped the needle and squatted in front of the demon. When it ignored her, she sighed. “Turn it or I’ll turn it for you. Permanently.” It complied and hissed when she stuck the needle into the gray flesh. She squeezed quickly, emptying the syringe and then stood, putting the lid back over the needle. “Now what?” “We put the shackles on and see if it can stay awake long enough to walk.” Forest came through the doorway with a set of thick chains and began to work on the demon’s hands. Buffy gripped the larger set, snapped them around the ankles, and stood. “Get up.” The demon stood on shaky limbs and swayed back and forth. Riley gripped one arm and began leading them toward an elevator. Buffy walked on the other side of the beast, her mind racing over how angry she was at the way Riley tried to shelter her. She was the Slayer. Capable and strong and – The demon stumbled and Buffy moved toward it instinctively, trying to keep it upright. The thing raised it’s arms, dropping the chain around her neck and began choking her. She lurched forward, barely registering the orders that Riley was shouting or the fact that she couldn’t breath. Pushing with all her strength, she was able to create enough space to get her head free. She pulled the demon down, crouching and causing it to slump over her. Then she kicked upward, clutching the chain in her hands as she swung out and up. Her body flipped over top of the demon and she dropped behind it. The chains that had been around her neck, were now around the demon's and she twisted hard, snapping the neck as she yanked it off it’s feet. It fell to the ground lifeless and her eye’s widened. “Oops.” “Oops?” Riley shouted, pointing at the angry red welts on her neck. “Buffy, that move you just made could have severed your head. And you killed the damn thing!" “Look on the bright side.” Forest said, putting his arm around Buffy’s shoulders protectively. “At least the demon's skin wasn’t damaged.” “You guys are-“ Riley shook his head when they both broke into hysterical laughter. “absolutely not as funny as you think.” “But you like us anyway.” Forest wheezed. “I like one of you and I tolerate the other.” Riley exhaled loudly and grimaced. “Now, which one of you want to do the paperwork on this one?” “I think that break you told me to enjoy just started.” Buffy announced, still giggling. Riley finally had to join them, wondering if his mother would also see the humor in the situation. He doubted she would and he didn’t really care. For the first time that he could ever remember, he was happy and nothing else mattered. Maggie flipped through the latest test results for Hostile Seventeen and sighed, pushing open the door and looking at him. She had meant to speak with him sooner about what she had read in Hal’s file, but one of the patients in the Infirmary had suffered a bad reaction to treatment. It had taken most of the night to get things back on track. Now she had time though and that was something he didn’t have much more of. Spike had his head resting on a table and looked like he was sleeping. She nudged him and he sat up, glancing around the small room. She frowned when she got a good look at him and looked away quickly. His face confirmed what the results had indicated. The dark circles, the red bloodshot eyes, the lack of color on his lips, all of it. The implant was working faster than she had expected. She figured that he had been unwilling to accept the fact that he couldn’t harm anyone and had continued to try, causing the implant to work harder. The normal life expectancy was about a week, possibly two, longer than this, but his chip was worn and was already releasing the toxin that would shut down his nervous system. Spike watched her sit a glass full of blood in front of him and cringed. It was insulting for them to try to appease him now. He could feel the changes inside of him and knew exactly what was going on. “You’re killing me. Don’t try to act like that blood will make me better. I’m dying.” Walsh didn’t reply for several seconds and then she nodded solemnly. “You are. I was hoping that you’d be willing to talk to me now though.” “What, deathbed confessions? I was a bad, rude man. You think I won’t try to get even badder now? I have nothing left to lose.” It took all of his will power not to strike out at her. After all, she was here alone with him and no soldier boys were around. Whatever they had done to his head would cause more pain than he could handle right then, so he sat still, trying to move as little as possible. “Have you ever been to Venice Beach?” Maggie asked softly. “Hasn’t every freak on the face of the planet?” “What year?” “I go every year.” “Why?” “It’s fun. People all over the place, women who parade around in their knickers and go to bed with anyone, and demons selling the best spell books you can buy. It’s like Woodstock for demons there.” He groaned a little, nauseated, and lifted the glass to his lips. The blood was cool and definitely belonged to a pig. He swallowed with a loud gulp and pushed it aside again. “Damn nasty shit.” Maggie glanced at the tablet in front of her and noticed that the vampire Hal mentioned was a brunette. “Do you bleach your hair?” “You color yours so you should know the answer to that. You should be white headed judging from the crows feet you have.” “When you were at Venice Beach once, did you encounter someone who stuck a syringe into your leg?” Taken aback by the question, he looked baffled. “No. I'm pretty sure I would remember that.” “I think you did.” “I think at your age your mind begins to play tricks on you.” He rubbed his fingers across his forehead and a growl rumbled from his chest. He felt awful. For most of the night, he had lain awake with thoughts of the Slayer flitting through his mind. He had struggled for hours, wishing he knew what she was doing and trying to convince himself that she was there to save him. Sometime during the night, he had felt something in his head. A snapping sensation that was immediately followed by a dull ache and then dizziness. And he knew that she couldn't save him if she tried. “Tell me about your sire.” Maggie decided to change the subject and come back to it later. Maybe if she forced him to talk, he would grow tired and let it slip that he was actually the vampire that Hal had injected. “He’s a prick.” “Did you want him to change you?” "Does it matter what I wanted? Here I am." "Tell me about your life, the mortal one. I want to hear it all." Spike sighed heavily and glanced at the ceiling. He wanted to curl up someplace and wait for the inevitable with no more intrusions. He had a lot of things to think about and mull over. “Is this my dying gift? You pick my brain apart and tell me why it’s better for me to go?” The woman didn’t reply and he added, “If I tell you what you want to know, will you leave me alone and let me die in peace?” “Yes. If you answer my questions and stop giving me a hard time, I'll see to it that you are left alone for the remainder of your time." "Get comfortable. I'm about to tell you a story and the only reason I am telling you is because I know I will never have to tell it again." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Seventeen This part contains depictions of violence, rape and Spike's changing. I tried to keep it toned down, but it is there. Read at your own risk. Spike fidgeted, running his fingers along the edge of the table for several seconds before he cleared his throat. “Where do you want me to start? I’m not going to tell this like that soddin’ poof in Interview With The Vampire.” “Start at the beginning of your life. Tell me about your birth and take me through the years of your youth and don’t stop until I tell you to.” Maggie pulled out a small hand held recorder and put it in her lap. “You broke my good one with your temper tantrum.” “I was born with a temper in 1850. London was a dark and rancid place back then. I was born on a cold night in December and I think it was the twenty-fourth. Christmas Eve to some. Christmas Day found me bundled up and left inside a Catholic Church on one of the pews. I was shipped to a orphanage almost immediately, save for a few days spent in the hospital overcoming frostbite on my feet. I grew for seven years without feeling a kind hand. We were worked, the children there. We rose at dawn and stayed up long after the sun had gone to sleep, knitting, sewing, earning our keep. And a meager keep it was. Days would pass with only brown water to sustain us. If we cried for food, we were hit and if we collapsed from the hunger, we were put in the boom room. I spent many a day sitting inside the boom room.” “Boom room?” Maggie urged him to elaborate. “The walls were metal and it was about four feet wide and three feet tall. When we were punished severely, something that a slap wouldn’t rectify, we were forced inside and the lid was closed. The good children, the ones who were too scared to protest the foul treatment we received, were given metal pipes. For hours they would beat on the outside of the room, too afraid to stop and glad to be doing something other than poking holes through their thumbs with needles. The sound was so loud and horrible, vibrating through you and making you dizzy. It was dark, darker than a starless night and I hated the dark. It terrified me and when I was allowed to leave the boom room, I would try to find a workstation beside a window so I could feel the sun for as long as she would shine. We were poor. The orphanage couldn’t afford blankets and what bedding there was had holes in the sides and at night, you could feel the rats rustling under your back. My stomach sang me to sleep growling and my stomach woke me up a million times, aching and begging for anything. If you couldn’t sleep because of a bad stomach then that meant you needed a day in the boom room. For seven years I lived inside the same walls, never allowed to go outside. We were a scab on the face of what London was working toward at the time and we were best kept hidden away. If they didn’t see us, see our gaunt little faces and the bellies protruding from hunger, then we didn’t exist. Nothing felt worse than being there and being considered nothing. Two weeks before my seventh birthday, a man and woman came to the orphanage. They had two daughters and their only boy had passed away a few months before that. He was seven and they desperately wanted a replacement for him. The boys that fit that age group were lined against a wall and told to stand up straight and we scrambled to do it, thinking that this would be our lucky day. Couples had come in before, wanting a boy and I was used to them walking right past me. A hundred times it happened. They’d pass me over and pick the tall boy, the cleaner boy, the boy with the strong arms. My spindly little legs were shaking when they stopped in front of me. The woman lifted my chin and dampened a hankerchief with her tongue, rubbing my cheeks with it. I never forgot that moment. She smelled clean and good, like a woman should, and I wanted to beg her to pick me. I didn’t have to beg. She saw that I did have rosy cheeks and even though I looked puny and was smaller than the other boys, I would do. William Lawler was a banker and his wife Agnes lived to serve him and her children. I had a spring in my step when I left that building and stepped into the sun for the first time. The carriage was large and the two little girls were in the back. Oh, how they laughed at my clothes and ratty hair. I looked like a little girl with such long curly hair. Father Lawler shouted for them to quit being mean to their new brother and they leaned their heads together to whisper so he couldn’t hear them. Katharine was ten and Elizabeth was eight. I think I knew right then that I would love her. I can remember her hair, so straight and fine, hanging around her face. She looked like a dream, so delicate in her dress and shiny black shoes and the biggest green eyes you had ever seen. I became William Lawler the Second and we settled into a new town, where no one knew that I was adopted. Father Lawler took his job at a new bank and I attended school, a constant source of agony for me. Elizabeth was in my class, having been held back a year because of sickness, and the only thing that got me through those days was her hair. She accepted me straight away. They all did, but she made sure I was happy. Her bread at the supper table always found it’s way onto my plate and she would whisper, “Eat it, William. You’re so small.” We always had enough and I had blankets on my bed and shiny shoes on my feet and was allowed to go play with other boys. I rarely did, though. I wanted to stay around Elizabeth and her yellow hair. Father Lawler was always being invited to fancy parties and Mother Lawler always refused to go, claiming that putting on airs was the devil’s work. He would always tell her that the whole world was damned and he may as well be damned and handsome at the same time. Time turned into years and soon I was fifteen. Elizabeth’s bread on my plate kept coming and it was right around that time that I noticed her plate was always full when dinner ended. She would slide her bread to me and then lift her fork to stab at her food. I really looked at her one night, where she was sitting in front of the fireplace and I saw that she was sick. Father Lawler announced that he was taking Elizabeth to a hospital over ten miles away and they would leave in a week. Ten miles back then meant two days of travel at least. The night before they left, Lizzy came to me and asked me to walk with her to the stables to say good-bye to her horse. I watched her stroke his face and she was crying when she explained to me that she wouldn’t be coming back. She had seen the Angel of Death in a vision and it told her not to be scared. Quite a lovely woman at sixteen, she turned to me and pulled me into her embrace, telling me that I wasn’t her real brother and she couldn’t die without showing me that she loved me. Right there in the barn, lying atop the dirt and the hay, I loved her completely. Not caring about sin or damnation. The next day she apologized for leaving me and told me that if she had not gotten sick, we would have run away together and married. I watched the carriage pull her away and she was on her knees, staring back at me. The last time I saw her, the sun was making the tears on her cheeks glisten and her hair, her beautiful flowing hair was blowing back toward me. Waving good-bye. Katharine seemed to enjoy her absence and made a big deal about all the space she had in their room now. I ruined it for her by going in as much as I could to lift Lizzy’s brush or her pillow. I’d rifle through her things, stroke her doll’s faces and wait patiently for her to return and prove that the Angel of Death had been mistaken. I’d thumb through the books that we had read to one another and go to our favorite spot in the woods and talk to her. The Angel of Death is never wrong. I waited at the end of our road on the day Father Lawler was returning and my heart sank when I only saw him riding atop the wagon. He stopped and asked me to climb on and I did. I saw the wooden coffin lying in the back and he had to support me to keep me from falling over with shock and grief. We stayed there together, sitting at the end of the road, and he told me that the only thing that kept him going was the fact that he still had a son. I pleaded with him to show me her body, to let me see that she was really lifeless. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t just sleeping and would accidentally be buried alive. We had to leave her in the barn overnight and when everyone had gone to bed, I slipped out and sat beside her. She was still up in the wagon, waiting to be taken to the cemetery. I could smell the death and decay. Back then they tried to get people in the ground as quick as possible and didn’t have any fancy embalming machines. It was horrible. She had left smelling like roses and came back smelling dead. I used a hammer and pulled the lid loose. I moved it aside and forgot all about the smell. There she was, wearing her favorite white dress. She had wanted that style in red, but Mother Lawler claimed that red was the devil’s work. Her hair was hanging over her shoulders and she was blue. Her lips, her face, her hands. I reached inside and put my hand on her cheek, whispering that I would never love anyone again. I cursed God and I cursed my family and I cursed myself. For the entire night I waited, shooing away the flies and finally, with tears streaming down my face, I hammered the lid back on. It was the hardest thing I had ever done to pull that lid back across and hide her from my view forever. I memorized every detail and when the sun rose, I pretended to have been outside washing up and went to get dressed. The day we buried her, my life became a hell in more ways than one. All of Father Lawler’s attention turned to me and I was forced to study more, work harder and become a scholar. I was content to lie in my bed all day and remember the past, but he wasn't about to raise a lout. He chose my friends, making sure they were the highest society and forced me to put on airs, for which I felt damned. I was cursed for deflowering my sister, even though I was adopted, and I was cursed for being such a bad child that my real mother didn’t want me to begin with. I discovered ale at the pub with these high-class friends when I was seventeen. Soon, I could be found lying in alleyways by the townspeople who would shout, “Lord help the Lawler’s, it’s their drunkard son William, lying here disgracing his family again.” I wanted to disgrace them. I wanted to disgrace them all for letting Elizabeth go. Katharine was ashamed of me and moved away, marrying a merchant. I wasn’t allowed to go to the wedding for fear that I would lie down drunk and disgrace the groom’s family and not just my own anymore. Soon, my parents gave up hope and left me alone, figuring an orphan like me just had a bad mind. They loved me, they told me that, but I didn't care. I was twenty-five when my world fell apart. My mother had died when I was twenty-two and my father seemed to cling to me then, scared to live alone. I gave him every reason to ask me to leave, but he didn’t. Couldn’t. Just as I had turned to ale, he turned to women, whoring himself out and no longer caring about his social snobbery. The bank fired him, we had to move to a rat-infested tomb that rivaled the orphanage for filth, but I was content. I had started to hang out with the pickpockets and beggars, feeling more at home than I had since Lizzy’s death. I was a regular street urchin and then Angelus and his childe, Drusilla, blew into town. She, this beautiful and almost childlike woman, bewitched my father. He would accompany me to the pub and stare at her, long for her, and I could see that she was aware of his adoration. She basked in it, making sure she got to touch him and tempt him as much as possible. I wasn’t impressed with her. She wore impossibly snobbish clothing and walked around like a cat, slithering from one man to the other. He was always there, this Angelus, watching her with a smile that curved his lips only slightly. Women fell all over him, begging for a dance or more, but he had eyes only for her. Then one day I saw his eyes on me and I was scared, terrified by what I saw in his face. Looking back at it, I can say that he was like the King Cobras that they show on documentaries, pinning their prey in a deadly gaze before they strike. One look at him and I felt the blood drain from my face. I knew. I knew that he was different. For three weeks it was the same. If I went out at night, he was there. Standing on street corners, lurking in the shadows of the pub and always, he watched me. I stopped going to the pub altogether, afraid that he would be there. Then, one night I came home and Dru stood nude in the kitchen and my father was on his knees in front of her doing things that would guarantee him a spot in hell. Angelus was sitting at the table, flipping through Elizabeth’s books, and he smiled when he saw me. “Ah, young William.” The accent was Irish and he stood, offering me his hand. He seemed impassive to what was happening a few feet from us, while I was tempted to run. My father stood and told me that I was to show Angelus around the town in exchange for the company of Drusilla. I said no immediately and my father’s fist flew. The first time he had ever struck me was right then, with a naked woman at his side and a man who terrified me hovering over us. Angelus grabbed his hand before he could hit me again and shoved him away. He says, “If you strike this boy again, I will kill you.” I wasn’t a boy. I was twenty-five but I didn’t say a word. Angelus insisted that I begin showing him the town that night and pulled me from the house. His hands were cold on my arm and I shivered, feeling like he had reached through me and iced me over.” Spike paused, as if reliving the moment and closed his eyes. Maggie watched him closely and said, “You tell this with such detail. I’ve never heard a vampire tell his stories this way.” “I said I would tell it once. I might as well tell every bit of it.” The pain in Spike's head intensified and he brought the glass of blood to his lips again, taking a deep swallow before he continued. “We walked slowly and he never took his eyes off of me once. I don’t think I breathed one time as we headed down the alleyway that led to the center of town. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was expecting something. His presence, his demeanor, all of it put me on the defensive. I was shaking by the time we made it to the pub. I pointed it out, telling him that this was really all there was to see that time of night and he had already seen it for weeks. He pulled me around the corner and says to me, ‘I’m going to go into the alley right there, William. You go inside and bring a pretty girl out here.’ I wasn’t a fool. I knew what happened to pretty girls in alleys. I shook my head no and started back toward my house. His grip was like some sort of trap on my arm and I yelled out. He turned me to face him and I screamed. His face, oh, his face was terrifying. Gold eyes had replaced the brown ones and his forehead was wrinkled. Pointy teeth had grown from blunt ones and he seemed bigger to me. I think I would have had a heart attack if I had been able to register what I was actually seeing. I thought I was looking into the face of the Angel of Death. And so help me, I was. His voice was deeper, his accent thicker, when he spoke again. "You get inside there and bring someone out unless you want me to kill you, William." All I could do was nod and he smiled at me, motioning me inside and I burst through the doors. I began to shout, "Help me, oh lord in heaven, the Angel of Death is upon us." People laughed at me, accusing me of having too many spirits. I begged them to believe me. I begged them all to come with me and see for themselves. I wanted them all to come and protect me. No one budged and I began to cry. I felt a hand on my face and glanced up. A girl, no more than eighteen, wiped my face and said, "Show me. I believe you." I begged her not to walk out the door. I pleaded with her to stay inside, but out she went. He grabbed her the second she made it past the doorway and covered her mouth. I trailed them, wondering if I could overpower him and tried not to hear the muffled screams coming from the girl. He pulled her into a cemetery at the back of a church and threw her on the ground, turning his feral eyes toward me. "You did good, William. Such a fresh, lovely flower." I watched him grab a handful of her pale hair and pull her to her knees, then to her feet. He whispered, ‘What is your name, child?’ ‘Elizabeth.’ She was bawling, staring at me and pleading with her eyes. I trembled from my head to my feet, feeling like this girl was my Elizabeth and I had to help her. ‘Have you ever been touched, Elizabeth?’ His hand moved to her throat and I saw him squeeze a little. ‘Touched?’ She cried even louder as he pinched her neck. ‘You’re touching me, sir.’ ‘Such innocence.’ He crooned, leaning down and licking the tears off of her face. ‘Such sweet, sweet fear.’ Then his hands moved fast, ripping her skirt from her body. His grabbed her between the legs and pulled her knickers off the same way, tearing them at the seams and causing her to scream. She was naked from the waist down and he ran his palm over her newly exposed flesh. ‘Have you ever been touched here?’ Realization hit her, as much realization as the women were allowed to have back then, and she pleaded, begging him not to hurt her. I joined her, asking him to let her go. He seemed shocked and said, ‘William, I thought so much better of you. Are you a man?’ ‘Yes, Angelus. I am a man and a man will defend a woman’s honor.’ I stepped forward and reached for her. ‘Let her go.’ I said, my voice betraying me and sounding weaker than I would have liked. He laughed at me and says, ‘Ah, William, will you take her place?’ I nodded slowly, not realizing what I was agreeing to. He shoved the girl forward and she tripped, hitting her head on a piece of headstone and I tried to go to her. Halfway past him, Angelus grabbed me and pulled my mouth to his. It was a shock and I pushed fiercely against him, struggling the way the girl had done. His face was still deformed and I’m trying to scream and can’t get enough breath because he’s crushing me. I feel his hands on my belt and try to fight harder. I’ve never felt strength like his. I find myself tossed across a headstone on my stomach and my britches pulled down. He shames me, causes me more pain and agony than I have ever felt. I had only ever known of sex with a man a woman, sex with only my Elizabeth, but I feel like I deserve this. I am being punished for cursing the Gods and shaming my family with ale and falling in love with my sister. I prayed loudly, reciting tidbits my mother had made me learn in the bible. The pain is so powerful, I think that I’m going to die and recite the Lord’s Prayer under my breath. It seemed to excite him more and by the time his climax had come and gone, I was too weak and sore to move. I rolled off of the headstone and clawed at the ground, trying to find something to strike out at him with. I find a rock and turn and he had the girl gripped in his arms and his teeth buried in her neck. Blood was dripping from his mouth, running down the front of her dress and I stumbled forward. He let her drop to the ground and ran his hand across his mouth like she was nothing. ‘You said I took her place.’ I yell, throwing the rock. ‘Oh, you did.’ He caught the rock in his hand and tossed it up and down. ‘You would be the one dead if she had not been here. See, I had wanted a new girl, Dru bores me so, but now, I think I’ll keep you.’ He starts toward me and I run, pulling my pants up as I go. I can hear him behind me, not running, but not letting me get far enough away that I can’t hear his voice echoing through the night. He called to me, singing my name. I have to get home. I get a stitch in my side and clutch it as I run, limping and stumbling. I slam open the door and finally find the breath to scream. My father, what is left of him, is lying on the table. Drusilla is perched on his face, pulling stuff from the wound in his chest and dropping it onto the floor. I vomit, gripping my stomach, and she slinks toward me, every inch of her covered in blood. The horses are in the barn and I move fast, running toward it. I mount and fly out the door, bareback and still in pain. Angelus grabs my ankle and I topple off the side. He’s on me in an instant, covering my body with his. ‘Please, please.’ I screamed, sounding very much like the girl that Katharine said I looked like as a child. I think I was begging him to let me live, but now I know I was begging him to let me die. My dignity had been stripped, my family lost, and when he leaned down and pierced my throat, I welcomed it. I welcomed death. I felt myself start to slip away and I see Elizabeth. She beckons me, calling my name in a field of wildflowers. I see my mother sitting in the parlor reading her bible. I see my father telling me that I made him proud. I see Elizabeth again, wearing a red dress like she had always wanted and she isn’t damned for it. Then I see dark. Something wrapping around my cock wakes me up and I look down to see Dru’s head bobbing up and down between my legs. Angelus has a goblet and is sitting at our feet, watching closely. He raises his cup to me and says, ‘Welcome, my childe.’ The hunger is deep, reminiscent of the hunger back in the orphanage, but I don’t beg. I push Dru aside and rise, powerful and aware of every sound and sensation around me. I can hear the hearts beating in the hotel rooms, I can smell the perfume that the ladies spray on their breasts, I can taste the crimson life that Angelus fed me to bring me back and I smile. Dru rakes her nails down my back and says, ‘Someone is hungry.’ ‘Tonight we feast.’ Angelus declares and hands me a box with new clothes in it. I put on airs and don’t feel bad. Guilt is gone. I no longer care that Elizabeth is dead or that my father died. I regret not taking a stab at that girl in the cemetery and I am mad at myself for running away from this. From this release. I feast. I think that I somehow enjoy it more than Angelus does and he takes pride in my gluttony, deriving pleasure from watching me. He shows me things, ways to invent new tortures and together, we wipe out half the village before the three of us leave. Dru’s attention turns to me more and more. I can’t deny her as Angelus does. He will coddle her one minute and strike out at her the next, uncaring that she is so fragile. I care. I hated her when I first saw her, hated her sexuality and her demented ramblings and now, with the darkness that surrounds me, she shines and draws me in. I don’t long for daylight, I don’ t long for anything except her. Years go by and we travel all over Europe. Serbia feels our rage for years and eventually we find our way to Romania. So many years have gone by and I learn from Angelus daily, striving to be as revered as he is one day. I want to step out of his shadow and be the one that everyone looks at when we walk into a room. He dominates it, his height, his shoulders and I want that. I am powerful, but the only time I feel powerful is in Dru’s arms. She lets me be a man. Angelus treats me as a son, his plaything. Romania intrigues us and we stay for a while. Angelus goes to hunt one night, leaving Drusilla and me alone. We make the most of it, exploring one another more thoroughly than Angelus allows. The night vanishes quickly and soon we realize day has come and our sire, our teacher, our father, if you will, has not returned. All day we wait, alternating between worry and speculation. I want to have the chance to thank him for making me. To thank him for showing me the way. Night comes and then day and then night again. Ducks and me are feeding less and less, trying not to be obvious. Months past and she pulls into herself, won’t talk to me, won’t do much of anything anymore. I do hear her talk to that wretched doll that Angelus had bought her a few years before. Dru gets visions, telling me that Angelus isn’t dead, but he is gone forever. Finally, I can stay no more in that town with it’s soddin’ memories and my hopes that he will walk through our door. We journey to Prague and she comes alive again, letting me step into the role as master even though she is my elder. We make names for ourselves, me because of my fascination with railroad spikes and her because of her visions. We create a league of minions who do our bidding and wreak havoc forever. Word comes to us that Angelus has gone to America and that something has happened. He no longer hunts and kills people. Dru and me get ready to see this for ourselves and we celebrate the prospect of finding him again on what is to be our last night in Prague.” “Excuse me? No longer kills people?” Maggie interrupted, sitting the tape recorder on the desk. “What do you mean?” “Can I get there in order please?” Spike stretched a little. “I need to tell it like it happened.” “Fine, go on.” “Something happens though, we get mobbed and Dru was almost bled dry. I find her lying in the street, her head damp with her own blood and do what I can to nurse her back to health. For so many endless years, it’s just me and Dru. Me feeding her, cleaning her, talking to her when she was too weak to even hear me. Nineteen sixty comes. Dru is able to walk and talk and eat without my help and she hears that America is the best place to be. We stow away on a cargo ship, alternating between feeding on people and feeding on rats to keep our identities a secret. Half of the people on board the boat are American and by now, America has become fascinated with horror films and vampires in particular. New York looms on the horizon and despite the chill, we stand on the deck and watch monstrous buildings and more lights than we’ve ever seen get closer and closer. Ah, it’s wonderful. Food is everywhere and we meet people who tell us about Angelus. We travel more, going all over the states searching for him. The night that he had gone out to hunt, leaving Dru and me alone, he had fed on a Romany gypsy girl. Oh, she was supposedly a beautiful young thing, promising with the magicks and worshipped by her clan. Angelus gets caught with his pants around his ankles and his teeth buried in her throat. The elders despise him and conjure up a special brand of punishment. They restore his soul and turn him into a big old whiny douche bag with fangs. Oh, he still has to eat, but he brown bags it like this.” Spike pointed at the glass on the table and then stared at Maggie’s stunned face. “Pretty wild, huh? The bloody wanker was in New York just weeks before we arrived and we were hot on his trail, always too late to catch him. Dru handles it poorly and withdraws even more as more time passes. I handle it by going to pubs, only it’s called a club in America, and I get drunk. Then one night, I go out to the beach and sit there, watching the moon dance across the water-“ Maggie jumped a little, and glanced at her tablet. Hal had said that the demon at Venice Beach stared at the moon and the water. She didn’t interrupt him though. “And I cry. For the first time since the night that I was changed I cried. I cried as much as I had cried for Elizabeth. I cried as much as I had for myself. I cried like a baby. I wanted my sire back. I kept thinking, ‘how dare he?’. Every tear that fell made me more aware of what I had been in life. I realized that, even though a demon lived in me, I still knew love. I loved Dru and I loved my sire and I hated him too. When I was first turned, he told me to prey on only the weak. He had broken that rule and got himself spayed.” Spike took a gulp of blood. He couldn’t tell the part about Buffy sleeping with Angel and him coming back. He couldn’t tell the part about his own feelings for Buffy either. “That’s pretty much it. Dru eventually left me for a Chaos demon and I came here to torment the Slayer.” “Why?” “It’s fun. She’s a spry little devil, knows just what she wants and how to get it.” “You said that you cried and felt love. Did your old feelings come back to you at all? The feelings of remorse and hurt for the loss of Elizabeth?” “Yes. Why do you think my hair is this color? I can’t see it, but at least I know that I have someone on me that was like her. She was back to being a part of me. She invaded my thoughts. Her tiny little body, her long blonde hair and piercing green eyes. She could see right into my-“ Spike paused, a brief picture of Elizabeth filtering through his mind. It took him a second to realize that he was seeing Buffy. Buffy with longer hair and a long skirt on. Buffy with a piece of bread in her hand, offering it to him. Buffy in the hay, telling him to love her like she had always wanted. “Spike?” Maggie put a hand out and pressed against his arm. He jumped, pulled from the reverie. “You promised me. I told you my tale and you promised me I could die alone.” “Did someone shove a needle into your leg at Venice Beach in nineteen eighty-five?” “No.” Spike replied convincingly. Even though someone had done that very thing. The beach that he had cried on had actually been Venice Beach and it was after the injection. Whatever was in that shot is what made his emotions flood through him. As time passed, they were less prominent, but he never forgot the way it felt either. Something told him that if he confessed, he would be subjected to more tests, and he was tired. Spike was ready to see the Angel of Death for real or Demon of Death in his case. “Please, let me go now.” “If it was you on that beach and you tell me, I can give you more time. I can keep giving you more time.” “I’m ready to go and it wasn’t me.” Maggie nodded slowly and pulled a walkie-talkie from her pocket. “Team One, this is command, over?” Riley’s voice crackled and he replied, “Team one to command, over?” “I have another Hostile ready for the chamber. You won’t need a tranquilizer. We’re on level two in the debriefing room, over?” “Copy that request. Team one to report to level two debriefing room. Hostile for chamber, over?” “Over.” Professor Walsh stood up and kneeled in front of the vampire. “I have one more question.” “What?” “Where is your sire now?” “I don’t know.” “Is he alive?” Spike smiled. “To my knowledge, he has not been alive for over two hundred years.” Maggie chuckled a little, remembering when he said those exact words to her before. “I could speed the process of your death, Spike. I could end it right now.” “No, please.” He shook his head and then leaned it against the table. “I have a lot to think about.” ~ And a Slayer to talk to one last time. I will last that long, I will. ~ Part Eighteen Buffy climbed out of the chamber behind Forest and memorized where the access was. It was the exact same tunnel that she had gone past the night that she found the twelve Roses. The demons that she had seen that night were dying. The Initiative threw them down there and gave them food until they passed away and then they took the bodies through the tunnels to do autopsies on them. She had not been able to see very much of it, but what she did see proved to her that she could get Spike and make her way back to the crypt in the cemetery without being caught. He was bound to be sent down there sooner or later and by then, she should know everything she needed to know about saving him. Orders had come a few minutes before and they were to get another Hostile and take him to chamber. Buffy was excited, looking forward to having the opportunity to ask a few more questions. Riley and Forest were talking to one another about a party that night and she tuned them out for the time being, staring at the monitors on the main floor. If everyone was having a vacation, then it was possible that the cameras in the chamber would not be activated. She could sneak back in and try to figure out what was happening at the infirmary and try to steal a couple of seconds with Spike. Alone. Her security pass had not been cleared, but she wouldn't need it now. Riley had not used his code to open the chamber. “Buffy?” Riley tapped her on the arm and she turned, jumping a little. “So, are you coming?” “Coming?” She followed them to the elevator and stepped inside, trying to wrap her mind around what he was asking her. “To the party.” Riley punched a number in and then looked back at her. “The one we’ve been talking about for ten minutes.” “Oh, the party. I don’t know. I didn’t sleep well last night and was kind of hoping for a really long nap.” It wasn’t a lie. She had not slept at all and she was hoping for a nap, but that didn’t mean she was going to have one. The sewers still needed to be patrolled. Riley’s face fell and he sighed. "Well, if you're tired then you should get some rest.” “I’ll definitely try to come.” She smiled as the doors opened and then her world fell apart. Spike was leaning against the wall right next to the doorway of the debriefing room. He looked up when he saw them coming and closed his eyes, unable to look at Buffy for fear that he would reach out to her. Maggie began speaking and he forced himself to listen and not think about the Slayer. “Spike’s chip is working faster than we anticipated. Please put him at the end of the chamber, away from the other demons, and see to it that he has fresh blood dropped to him every two hours.” Buffy’s hands were shaking and she only half listened to Riley asking why Walsh was handling the Hostile without backup. She stared at Spike, biting back the tears that were burning the backs of her eyes. He looked almost dead. His eyes seemed to have sunk back into his head and his lips were solid white and cracked open in several places. She watched Riley grip his arm and pull him along, brushing past her. ~ God, please don’t let this be happening. I’m not ready. I’m not prepared. ~ Inside the elevator, Riley and Spike stood against the back wall and Buffy stood in front of Spike. Forest was talking about the party again and Riley was laughing at something he was saying. Buffy stepped back slightly, barely moving and reached behind her, trying to find Spike’s hand. The doors opened and she swore slightly, forced to step through without getting the chance to reassure him. Within minutes, they were on the way down into the chamber and Buffy realized that she needed to ask some very important questions. Clearing her throat, she approached it casually, “I hope that I never have to be the one sitting out here staring at these monitors all day. Watching these demons die would be really boring.” Riley shook his head. “No one really monitors them, at least not these. Once the Hostiles go down, there’s really no need to worry about what they’re doing.” Forest chuckled and added, “It’s not like they can get loose and even if they did, they’re dead.” “Who will be here to feed the demons since everyone is on break?” Buffy’s eyes met Spike’s and she pleaded with him to see what she was doing. ~ I’m asking because I plan on coming back! Please see that! ~ As soon as the sun went down, she would get Angel and they would come through the entrance at the cemetery and get him out. For the time he had left, he would be aboveground and would not die alone. Of that, she was certain. If he died, he would die with her or she would die trying. “There will be a couple of techs around and I’ll be filling out the feeding schedule” Riley motioned for Buffy and Forest to go down the ladder into the chamber and then pushed Spike through the hole. Spike climbed down clumsily, almost falling, and Buffy gripped him, squeezing his hand as she did. His eyes shot to hers as Riley climbed down and she shook her head slightly, telling him not to make a move. Forest pointed to the end of the tunnel, to the set of chains that had held the big glob of a demon that had seen her the night she had walked past. She watched as Riley secured the chains and then mouthed, “I will be back.” Barely nodding, Spike slumped to the ground, his arms above his head. If she would be back, then he had a reason to wait. He watched the black boy go up the ladder and saw Buffy follow, saying that she had to go home soon. Closing his eyes, he fell into sleep easily and for once, was too weak to dream. Buffy followed Forest to the table in a daze and watched him go over the names of the people who would remain in town. Her mind was unable to compute everything that had just happened in the past few minutes. Spike was dying faster than they thought. He was in the tunnel and she could save him that night. He was chained with large chains. He was dying. At that very moment, his time was almost up. She took a pen and added her own name to the list, then looked at Riley, anxious to get away and set the rescue plan into motion. “I was supposed to speak to Maggie before I left.” “Okay, give me a few minutes to fill out the feeding schedule for the Chamber and I’ll take you. She’s probably up at the Infirmary.” Buffy chewed her lower lip and said, “It’s okay. I know how to get there.” “You’ll have to use the stairs. Your elevator pass isn’t activated yet.” He nodded to Forest, who had moved to the other side of the room and was slipping his jacket on. “Want Forest to take you?” “Nah. He said he was going up top to take a nap. I’ll be fine. What better way to learn the place than walk it myself?” She kept her smile plastered on her face and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Will you be around here?” “I’ll be here or in the locker room. I’m going to go ahead and shower while you’re gone.” He kissed her forehead and pointed at the corridors. “You’d be better off going down the Implanting Aisle. That staircase is closest to the Infirmary.” “Gotcha.” She turned and walked away, feeling his eyes on her. Part of her, the part that wanted to be secure and have a healthy relationship, basked in the way he so obviously adored her. Another part of her, the part that wanted danger and a challenge, wanted Spike so badly she couldn’t stand it. Maybe Spike wouldn’t want her when it came down to it. She had not even considered that. ~ No, I can’t think that way. He will want me. He will want me like I want him and I am going to save him. ~ Right at that moment, her top priority was to somehow get into the Implanting Room and steal an implant. She could give it to Willow and let her play with it and see what she could do. If anyone could mess with it and stop it, Willow could. Buffy walked slowly, eyeing the various demons in their cells. Several stood and watched her make her way past and she shuddered, the sight of them being so helpless giving her a chill. Buffy walked straight past the Implanting Room and stepped through the door of the stairwell. If anyone was watching her, they would think she was on her way to the next level and go about their business. Counting to thirty, she cracked the door a little and peeked out. She could see back up the corridor and no one was around. The blinds were closed to the room and she figured if someone was in there, she would simply apologize for walking in and tell them she was lost. Darting across the hallway, she turned the knob and poked her head inside. It was empty. The bed that she had seen the vampire lying on had been stripped and pushed into one corner. The only light came from the various glowing power switches on the sides of the equipment. She squinted and saw a supply closet in the corner and made her way to it. It squeaked loudly when she opened it and she bit her lower lip, looking back at the doorway. ~ Please don’t let me get caught. ~ When no one burst through the door, Buffy scanned the various trays that contained instruments that she had never seen before. She didn’t see anything that looked like an implant and shut the doors with a sigh. Moving toward the cabinets over the sink, she noticed a wooden box that almost looked like an antique jewelry box. She paused and opened the doors, gasping when she saw several tiny drawers. Leaning close, she squinted at the labels and smiled. There were several different kinds of implants: universal, vampire, and sea dwelling topped the first row. Moving fast, she plucked out two universals and three vampire models, unsure of which one Spike would have. They were tiny and each one rested inside a small bag that sealed at the top. She leaned down and stuffed them into her sock before she started toward the door again. Voices could be heard directly on the other side of the door and she scanned the room. There was a bathroom in the corner and she dashed for it, almost tripping over a pile of cables as she went. Riley opened the door and flipped the light on, looking for some paperwork that had somehow vanished between the implanting area and the main office. He moved everything, checking the trash, lifting the tool trays and finally sighed, wondering when he would actually get the chance to shower. Rubbing a hand through his hair, he moved toward the restroom, intent on washing his face and hands at least. Turning the knob, he found it locked and knocked. “Hello?” Buffy was leaning against the sink and she capped a hand over her mouth, wondering if he had followed her and had seen what she was doing. Giving herself a couple of seconds to concoct a lie, she flushed the toilet and opened the door. Riley stared at her a second and said, “What are you doing in here?” “I went to the top level and couldn’t find Professor Walsh. I came back down and saw that the restrooms all had urinals and asked some guy where another bathroom was. He sent me in here.” Buffy bit her lower lip and did the only thing she could think to do to keep from explaining any further. She moved toward him, prissing a little, and ran her hands over his chest, telling herself that it was for Spike. “But I’m here and you’re here and we’re alone. Finally.” “Why, Agent Summers, my thoughts exactly.” His hands slid around her waist and he leaned down, kissing her neck. She smelled like flowers and something he could only identify as Buffy; strong and powerful and delicate and sweet. Smiling, he moved from her neck to her jaw and then to the other side of her neck, nipping playfully. She arched into him, urging him to go on and he did, lifting her and sitting her on the countertop. Hooking one heel behind his leg, Buffy pulled his body to hers and scooted closer to him. Her crotch rubbed against his lower stomach and he moved his hands down to her hips, holding her even tighter against him. Their kisses intensified, drawing out longer and deepening as their breathing quickened. Hands roamed, kneading toned flesh and rubbing against the most intimate places, going further and faster than either had anticipated. Riley pulled away and stared down at her, stared at the cleavage that was poking out of the top of her running shirt, and forced himself to say what he was thinking. “We need to stop.” “Stop?” Buffy ran her hand through her hair and squirmed uncomfortably. Despite the reasons she had for starting the whole thing, it had still effected her. Her body was screaming for him to keep touching her and she despised herself for it. ~ What is wrong with me? I should have stopped it right off the bat! ~ “I care about you, Buffy. I’m not going to make love to you on a countertop in a place surrounded by demons. When I make love to you I want it to be in a bed where you can fall asleep in my arms and I can wake up with you.” Riley leaned against her, burying his face in her neck and exhaled, doubting that he would be able to walk for a week. Buffy wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. He could not possibly know what it would mean to her to hear him say that he wanted to be there with her when she woke up. Her heart pounded against her chest and she sighed softly. “I understand.” Riley leaned back and was stunned to see her watery eyes. He had not intended to hurt her feelings. “I want you, Buffy, but not like this. I want to be able to take my time with you and do it right. We can’t do that here.” She felt a tear slide down her cheek and brushed it away absently, unsure of where it was stemming from. It was all too much. Spike was dying and here she was being moved by Riley’s kindness when she was supposed to have been using him all along. “I know. It’s just that- no one has ever said anything so sweet to me. I want to wake up with you too.” Looking incredibly relieved, Riley pulled her into his arms and lifted her, setting her on her feet. The door opened suddenly and Maggie paused, staring at them intently. “What are-?” When both of them turned ten shades of red, she held up a hand. “Never mind, please, never mind. Buffy, we’ll have to reschedule the meeting I was hoping to have with you. I do want to hear about the school, but something’s come up.” “It’s okay.” Buffy replied, not meeting her eyes. “I should get home anyway.” “I’ll call you.” Maggie gave a small smile and looked at her son. “And Riley, find that paperwork sometime today.” ~ Or none of us will live to see Christmas. ~ she added silently, hoping that the look she was giving him would speak volumes. “I will.” He stared at the floor, missing the urgency in his mother's face, until Maggie closed the door and left them alone. “Well, that was very uncomfortable.” Buffy said, looking up at Riley. “I’ve never been more uncomfortable.” “Uncomfortable,” He pointed at the bulge in the front of his pants and blushed again. “remind me to tell you about uncomfortable sometime.” Willow was sitting on the floor in Buffy’s living room when the Slayer bounded through the door. She moved her laptop quickly and stood, meeting her halfway. “Buffy, what’s going on? I can’t access any of the Initiative’s files anymore. I keep getting this weird message on my screen. Something is definitely wrong.” Buffy stopped walking and sat down on the foot of the stairs to slip her shoes off. “I don’t know. Maggie said something about them shutting down in a couple of days for Y2K work. She didn’t say anything about today though.” “I think I was onto something. There’s a secondary mainframe that I was able to hack through it and found some pretty weird reports. I didn’t get to download anything though because the right clicking feature was disabled there.” Willow nodded toward the living room and led the way. She picked up her laptop and turned it so that Buffy could see the diagram on the screen. “I was able to find the programming for the implants. The design and features are absolutely amazing. The poison that they’ve built into the implant continues to regenerate itself by feeding off the vampire’s DNA. That’s why it takes so long to kill it. The chips are small and they wouldn’ t be able to put in enough poison, but once the chip breaks and the toxin is released, it gets stronger and stronger as it mixes with more blood. I wish I could-“ “Have one?” Buffy asked, reaching into her sock and pulling out the five small bags. “I brought you three vampire and two universal ones. That way you have a small margin of error. Find out how to destroy them because Spike is coming out tonight.” Willow almost dropped her laptop and quickly shoved it back onto the coffee table, standing up so she could pace. “How did you get these?” “I walked straight into the room that they keep them in and took them.” Buffy shrugged. “Spike was moved today. The chip is working faster than we thought it would. I know how to get down to where he is and get him out without any problem.” “When do we go?” Willow asked, eyeing her with excitement. “We don’t. I do.” Buffy saw her friend’s face fall and pulled her onto the couch. “Willow, I can’t even begin to tell you how dangerous this is.” “Which is why you can’t go alone. These people make poisons that are so unbelievable and –“ Willow stopped talking and stared at the implants in her hand. “Buffy, slayer blood helped Angel when he was poisoned. It cured him. And this toxin is blood based just like the other one was.” Buffy’s eyes widened and she leaned forward. “You don’t think-“ “The poisons aren’t the same. I know that much for certain. Look, it’s unlikely that it would even work. I shouldn’t have suggested-” “We’ll try it as a last resort. You figure out how to stop the implants from releasing more poison. Actually, find out how to get it out of his head completely. And if you can't, he feeds.” She stood up and started out of the room. “And don’t tell Giles what’s happening.” "Giles has to know about this. He deserves to know!" Willow shook her head. “I don’t know if I can even do anything with these implants and you can’t go underground alone. Not with so much happening, Buffy. I mean, it’s dangerous enough without the-” “Angel’s in town. He said he would help me.” Willow looked confused and then squealed a little. “You have Riley falling all over you and Spike on the brain and now Angel thrown into the mix? This is ridiculous. This is dangerous and this is stupid. Buffy, you are insane! Angel could get captured by the-” “I *am* insane! This whole thing has driven me completely crazy.” Buffy’s voice rose several octaves. “Now I’m asking you to help me, Will. I don’t need to hear all the reasons it might not work because I don’t care. I have to try because it’s Spike. That’s the only reason I need.” Willow nodded, biting back the tears that threatened to pour down her face. She had probably caused this with the spell that made Buffy and Spike fall for each other. It had to still be working. Buffy would never put Angel at risk like this if she was thinking clearly. “I won’t tell.” she lied, holding her chin up defiantly. “But you damn well better come back here safe.” “Thank you.” Buffy sighed a little and glanced at the clock. “I’m going to lie down for a while.” /// “Buffy?” Spike slid the rose over her cheek and then dipped it lower, brushing down her neck and over her hardening nipples. He lay beside her, her head cradled in the crook of his arm, and he smiled when she opened her eyes. Buffy arched upward, against the flower and wrapped her arms around him, pulling his mouth to hers. His chest was bare and she ran her hands down his back, feeling the tight muscles just below the skin. Exploring lower, she found his bare hips and pulled away, propping herself on her elbow. Spike was naked, just like she was, and he grinned when she blushed and pulled her back into his arms. His touch was slow, rhythmic, and steady as he prowled over her flesh. Her first responses were tentative, almost afraid, and he calmed her with soft words whispered in her ear. One of his thighs moved between hers and his mouth captured a swollen nipple, rolling it with his tongue. She moaned, twining her fingers in his hair and begged him not to stop. Every inch of her skin came alive under his touch and every caress seemed to go on and on. “No more stopping. No more time.” Came his soft reply as he slid his hand over the smooth curve of her stomach and dipped between her legs. Buffy cried out, spreading herself wider for his touch, and touch her he did. His fingers, long and cool, slid into her folds, tracing her velvety lines and she shuddered with pleasure. Moving in slow motion, he dropped kisses down her chest, down her stomach and pulled his hand free, replacing it with his mouth. She pushed upward against his face as his tongue flicked across her sensitive flesh, his mouth molding to her. He gripped the backs of her thighs, pushing her legs toward her chest so he could devour her thoroughly and moved faster, covering all of her. Within seconds, she was screaming his name as her orgasm ripped through her body and she pulled him upward, whispering, “Make love to me.” “I’ve made love to you so many times in my mind, luv.” Spike positioned himself at her entrance and pressed forward, moving easily into her eager body. Buffy felt complete for the first time in her life. Her legs wrapped around him, willing him not to leave her and then she heard her voice begging him to stay with her forever. He caught her tears with his mouth, tasting the salt and sadness and grasped her hands, moving them over her head. They rocked together, both oblivious to anything except one another. Her legs tightened on his waist and she surged, sobbing his name as she came again Spike followed her over the edge, growling her name as she had done. He collapsed against her, his cheek pressed to hers and said, “Don’t cry, baby.” “Tell me you won’t leave me.” She sobbed, hanging onto him with her arms and legs. “I can’t tell you that.” Spike’s own tears mixed with hers and he raised slightly, staring into her eyes. “I will always find you, Buffy. I’ve searched for you for an eternity and if I have to leave you-“ His voice cracked and he forced himself to continue. “I won’t rest until I find you again. I’ll always be looking for you. Always.” “Spike, I-I-“ “I love you.” He brushed his lips across her trembling ones and closed his eyes. “I’ll always find you.” Buffy felt him being wrenched from her arms and screamed. The scream was loud and full of agony, ripping from her gut with such force that she writhed in pain. She reached for him, unable to move and saw him fading, his body withering to dust. And his promised whisper of finding her again echoed and then faded. /// Angel was thumbing through the books he had left in his old apartment when someone knocked on his door so loudly that he almost jumped out of his skin. Frowning at the clock, he registered that it was almost seven in the evening and it was almost dark. As soon as he opened the door, Buffy flung herself at him. He didn’t have time to see her tear stained face, but he felt it almost immediately through the front of his shirt. “Buffy, what happened?” She shook her head and squeezed him around the waist, unable to tell him. He pushed the door closed and led her to the leather chair that sat in the middle of the floor. “Sit down.” Buffy complied and buried her face in her hands. Angel stared at her and made his way into the kitchen, rinsing a glass and filling it with water. “Buffy, drink some water.” “Angel, why does everything in your apartment still work?” Buffy had composed herself somewhat and took the glass from his hand. “You have lights and water and everything.” “I – I never sold it. I keep the bills paid in case I ever need to come back.” He didn’t want to offer more reason than that, so he changed the subject. “Now, what happened?” “Spike is dying. He may already be dead and I dreamed- oh, god-“ She handed him the water and pulled her knees to her chest, sobbing again. “We had to move these demons into this thing called the ch-chamber. It’s a death chamber and Spike was one of them.” “What? They kill them all together?” He put the water on the table beside the chair and kneeled, urging her to continue. “Tell me, Buffy.” “The demons in there are in the last stages of the implant and they get really unpredictable so they put them in this network of tunnels ... thing.” Buffy leaned forward and gripped his arm. “Angel, you said that if I ever needed your help you would help me. Will you?” “That’s what I came here for, Buffy. What can I do?” She dried her face with sleeve of her shirt and took a deep breath. “I need you to go with me tonight.” “Where?” “We’re going to get Spike out if he’s still alive. I will not let him die down there, Angel.” “Buffy, I don’t think you should risk your-“ “You said you would help and I’ve never asked you for anything. I’m asking you to please, please help me, Angel.” Buffy’s voice was shaky, high pitched and almost childlike. “I don’t want to have to go down there alone.” Angel started to protest, but stopped himself. He had denied Buffy many things and he was not going to deny her this. If she wanted to rescue Spike, then he would damn well give her that and worry about why later. He owed her that much, and if this would make her happy, then he would do what he could. “I’ll help you.” She grabbed her bag and mumbled, “I’ve got the supplies we need, bolt cutters for the chains, flashlights, weapons. I know the feeding schedule and we’ll work around that.” He stood, pulling his coat on asked, “Do you have a backup plan?” She followed him out the door and started past him. “I do have a backup plan but I can’t tell you until we get down there.” “Why?” He grabbed her arm and stopped her, forcing her to look at him. “Because if I tell you, you won’t come with me.” Buffy shrugged a little. “I know that you trust me, Angel. I trust you too and I think it’s going to be fine.” “I know I’m not going to like this.” He let her go and followed her up the stairs, dread settling in the pit of his stomach. “I know that you aren’t either.” Michael waited patiently in his car, watching for Buffy to leave the building that she had gone into a few minutes earlier. He was going to make his move tonight. With Riley and the rest of the Agents partying the night away, he wouldn't have any obstacles to stand between him and vengeance. Frowning, he stared at his watch and then back at the doorway just in time to see Buffy step out. He started to open his car door and stopped as soon as he saw a very large man step out behind her. This was even better. She wasn't out with Riley because she was with some other man. It didn't really matter and he wasn't worried about the man presenting a problem. After all, his gun could paralyze an elephant. And tonight it would just work twice as hard.

Chapter #7 - 7

Maggie Walsh stared at her computer with a furrowed brow. For at least ten minutes, she had waited for it to load completely and when it finally had, the screen went blank immediately. She was about to restart again when a window popped up, informing her of an internal system error. Glancing at the paperwork that Riley had found, she typed in the system override codes and pressed enter, watching with a frown as the hourglass moved in a circle, indicating that it was 'working'. A new window opened, insisting that the override codes were invalid and she clicked out, trying the codes again slowly. After three tries, the screen turned white and something buzzed loudly. Maggie watched closely as a dancing cartoon monster entered from the right side of the screen and made its way across, ping-ponging back forth. “What in the hell is going on?” She tried several buttons and was ready to smash the screen, when suddenly, the dancing character finally and began to write, red lettering splashing against the white background. It leaped up and down after each letter it wrote, leering back and forth, and Maggie watched in shock as it scribbled out, “The system has been corrupted. Files and data have been breached. Security Code Blue has been activated.” Walsh grabbed the telephone, dialing the programming department. On the third ring, a man picked up and, very calmly, she spoke. “This is Maggie. Are you at your desk?” “Yes, ma’am.” The reply was swift and she closed her eyes tight. “Look at Panel C and tell me if there is a light blinking.” The technician sat his cup of coffee down on the desk and turned his chair away from the television he was watching. His eyes widened immediately and he stood, knocking his coffee onto his leg with the phone cord. “Dear God in Heaven, Maggie. Code blue is running.” Putting her hand over her mouth, in an attempt to curb the nausea, Walsh asked, “How much time do we have?” “It is currently at six hours and counting down. Do you want me to page the Agents?“ “Absolutely not.” Maggie snapped, not letting him finish. “The people inside the compound right now are the only people who know what to salvage. The Agents may as well be civilians in this case. Alert the Alpha team that we are to begin transporting the data that we have immediately. When that clock reaches four hours, you contact the Dean and have him evacuate the campus.” “Maggie? What could have caused this? It would take someone with the pass key to infiltrate the system.” The tech ignored his scalded leg and sat down again, shaking uncontrollably. “Is this really happening.” “This is not a drill.” Maggie cradled the receiver and gave the line time to clear before she picked up again, dialing Riley’s cellphone. “Agent Finn.” Riley answered and plugged one ear. He cocked his head to the side, trying to hear over the noise of the party and hoped that he would hear Buffy's sweet voice on the other end. He had been trying to channel party thoughts her way for over an hour. “Agent Finn, I have a special mission for you.” Maggie picked up a tissue and blotted her eyes, trying to remain composed until she could give him his orders. “I want you and Forest to round up Buffy and go get a delivery that is waiting for me in Los Angeles.” “What!?” Riley shouted, walking up the stairs two at a time so he could find a quieter place. “You do realize that this was supposed to be a vacation?” “Just do it. If the package isn’t at our Post Office Box then you stay there until I call you.” Maggie’s voice sounded strained, even to her, and she prayed he wouldn’t notice it. He did. “What’s going on? Mom, what’s really happening?” “Nothing, son. You go and do this. Get the others and go.” She hung up quickly and leaned her head against the desk, hoping Los Angeles would be far enough away to keep them safe. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Angel carried Buffy’s bag over his shoulder, watching her closely as she led him through the cemetery. She was wearing blue jeans, something he seldom saw her wear, and a t-shirt that fit snugly; exposing her belly when her jacket blew open. Her hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, indicating that she was expecting trouble. “I need to know, Buffy.” “I’ll tell you soon enough.” Buffy stopped walking and scanned the cemetery, going so far as to jump onto a headstone so she could see better. She felt like she was being watched and she had felt that way since she left Angel's place. “What is it?” Angel found himself even more unnerved and glanced around as well. “We’re here. I was making sure no one is around.” She leaped off of the Rose headstone and crouched behind it, flipping the button. The door to the small crypt made a clicking sound and she motioned for him to hand her the bag. She pulled out two flashlights and shoved a stake into her pants before she stepped through the door. Angel had to crouch to step inside and he let his demon slip free so he could see better. “What is this place? Something doesn’t feel right.” “It’s only going to get worse.” The lawnmower was back over the manhole cover and she said, “Help me push it aside.” Angel moved to her side and together; they exposed the grate. Buffy pulled it open and asked for the rope from the bag. As soon as she had the knot secured, she dropped it inside and leaped down into the tunnel. Angel was right behind her and he eyed the structure suspiciously. “This isn’t the sewer.” “Yay, you just won the jackpot on brilliant deductions. Don't spend it all in one place.” Flipping her flashlight on, she led the way. She was well aware that the faster they made it, the more time she would have to spend with Spike. And every second counted. Michael had seen Buffy leap onto the headstone and had hidden himself behind a large stone sculpture. She was a bright one, this girl. This, what was it that Maggie had called her, a Slayer? Whatever she was, she had somehow figured out a way to get around the security and was probably leading the man she was with down there to sabotage the Initiative. She was far too late. He had taken care of that too. He remained behind the statue until he heard a door open and close, then got to his feet and walked slowly toward the crypt. Giving them plenty of time to get out of the earshot, he tugged the door open and slid his night vision goggles into place. Just as he suspected, the entrance was open and a rope had been lowered. Agent Summers was taking the man inside the facilities and had not come here to have sex with him. Putting the gun strap around his neck, he stuck his head into the hole, checking the tunnel both ways. Seeing that it clear, he dropped inside and pulled an instrument from his pocket, putting one end into his ear and holding the other in front of him. Buffy was leading the man, who wasn’t registering on his heat seeker, straight to the base. Grinning, he followed their trail. “I can’t believe this place.” Angel said in a low voice. He and Buffy had gone so far underground that the air had dropped several degrees and the tunnels just kept going; an underground labyrinth. The cement looked new and had no cracks that he could see and the walls had small lights every few feet that were not on, but impressive nonetheless. She paused at the first juncture and tried to remember which way she was supposed to go. “If you think this is impressive, you should see what they have on the inside.” “No thanks. I got the distinct feeling that these people aren’t very vampire friendly.” He pointed to the right. “I feel something down there.” “That’s the way then.” She picked up her pace, thinking how hard it was not to run now that she was so close to getting Spike out. They walked in silence for a few minutes, until they came to the next juncture and she took a deep breath, flipping off her flashlight. Spike was right around the corner and she was terrified of what she would find. “We’re here.” Angel had not bothered with his flashlight and when he saw the lights flickering from the tunnel ahead of them, he let his demon fade. He waited for her to make a move, but she didn’t. “Do you want me to go first, Buffy?” “What if he’s already dead?” She swallowed hard and shook her head, replying to her own question. “No, he’s not dead. I’ll go.” He watched her step out ahead of him and stayed back a few feet, letting her have a few seconds alone to digest whatever she would find. None of what was happening made any sense, but he knew better than to keep asking. When she was ready to explain her friendship with Spike, he would listen. When he heard her talking in a low voice, he stuck his head around the corner and his eyes widened. Buffy had been frozen in place, convinced he was dead, when she saw him at first. He hadn’t moved at all and she kneeled beside him lifting his face. “Spike?” His eyes opened slowly, trying to focus on her, and unable to. He registered dimly that she looked like something seen through a kaleidoscope and wondered if he was hallucinating. “Slayer, is it you?” “It’s me.” She kneeled beside him and pulled him against her as best she could. His arms were still chained and his head lolled, rolling back a little. Angel dropped the bag and pulled out the bolt cutters, quickly snapping the links closest to Spike’s wrists. Spike realized that someone else was there and looked up, grimacing when he realized who it was. “Bloody hell.” Angel made no reply. He couldn’t have replied if he had to. Spike’s arms had fallen over Buffy’s shoulders and he hugged her lightly, burying his face in her neck. “I’m dying, luv. I kept waiting for you to come.” “I know. I waited forever to get here. I'm so sorry that I hit you the other day, Spike. I-I came here for you, to get you out. That's all.” Buffy choked a little and pulled away, running her palm over his pale face. The circles under his eyes had grown larger, shadowing all the way down to his cheekbones and she brushed her thumb there, remembering how chiseled and perfect he had been just days before. “But I have an idea, okay? Angel’s going to have to help though.” Too sick to object, Spike simply growled lightly and Buffy stood, reaching for Angel’s hand. She laced her fingers through his and looked up at him, her eyes big and panicked. “The implant in his head is releasing a blood based toxin. Willow thinks that my blood might save him, like it did for you.” Angel’s grip on her hand tightened and he shook his head. “No. Absolutely not, Buffy. I am not going to stand here and do nothing while he bites you. I know him. He doesn’t know how to stop.” Buffy closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them again, tears were streaming down both sides of her face. “He can’t bite me anyway. Angel, I need you to bite me and let him bite you. He can bite another demon and my blood will be fresh inside of you, right?” “Are you insane?” Angel gripped her upper arms and shook her a little. “If I did bite you and he bit me, that would make you drain faster. It would be like two vampires on you at once, pulling your blood. I can’t do that.” “You have to.” Buffy pleaded with him, glancing back at Spike, who was staring at them intently. “Don’t I get a say?” He rasped, his voice a whisper. “Angel’s right, Slayer. No.” “Willow just thinks it might work? She doesn’t know for sure?” Angel asked, his heart aching for the Slayer and breaking for what had become of Spike. He vividly remembered the time that Spike had been his most prized possession, more so than Drusilla, and more so than the thrill of the hunt. The only thing he derived pleasure from for years had been Spike. Not just sexually, but watching his eagerness to torture and destroy had been overwhelming. The memory was intoxicating, the pleasure, the pain, the gory gratification. The bond they had shared was unimaginable. Buffy turned back to Angel. “You have to at least try. I couldn’t go on living if I didn’t try everything.” The admission caused him to narrow his eyes, realization dawning on him suddenly. Buffy wanted Spike to live because she wanted him. She wanted Spike in a romantic way. “He’s a vampire. I left you so that you could have a real life with a human. Vampires don’t deserve to be saved.” “I saved you.” Buffy replied quickly. “I didn’t question it or second guess it. I did it because it was you and you were worth it.” She pointed a shaking finger at Spike and then added, “You can’t tell me that he isn’t worth it too.” “Yes, I can. He tortured me for that damn Gem of Ammara, Buffy. He tried to kill you with it and-“ “And you made him what he is.” Buffy hissed loudly, pulling her jacket off and grabbing a knife from her boot. “Now, you can either do this, or you can watch me cut myself and bleed into my hand and feed him. I think I'd lose more blood that way, but if that's how it has to be then that's fine." She stared at Angel in anticipation, willing him to move and deciding to piss him off when he didn't. "How can you be so selfish? You created him and you should help save what you created. Oh, who am I fooling? I'll always have to clean up your messes." Her words stung Angel. There was seldom a day that went by that he didn’t remember those that he had turned. Killing them was one thing, but damning their souls was another. How dare she say this to him? He watched her lift the front of her shirt and position the knife and stepped forward, taking it from her hand and dragging it over his own wrist. He kneeled, not saying a word and morphed, sinking his fangs into the tender flesh of her lower abdomen. Spike was horrified that Angel had actually done it and cringed when Buffy cried out in pain. He reached for her, wanting to knock her away from his sire, but he couldn’t find the strength. Buffy watched Angel lift his wrist, offering it to Spike and whispered, “Eat it, Spike. You’re so weak.” ~ Eat it, William. You’re so small. ~ Groaning out in shock, Spike was blasted back to his childhood and the way Elizabeth had always offered him her bread with almost the same words. He had to live. He had to survive for Buffy. He latched onto Angel’s wrist and sucked deeply, pouring what was left of himself into the familiarity of his sire’s blood and the power of the Slayer’s blood. With one of her hands on Angel’s shoulder and the other on Spike’s head, which was leaning against her hip, Buffy threw her head back and willed herself not to faint. The room was spinning and her breathing was coming in jagged spurts. She wanted desperately to tell Angel to stop, that she couldn ’t give any more, but the sound of Spike’s hunger kept her silent. He drank deeply, noisily, and she would die before she would deny him that. Angel could hear Buffy’s pulse weakening and pulled his fangs free, gently stroking the puncture wounds with his tongue. He was about to ask her if she was okay when something bright flashed through the darkness and hit him in the back. He was aware of falling to the side, aware of Buffy’s strangled scream, and then it went dark. Spike, who was still feeding, was jolted as well. The current that passed through Angel struck him, sending him against the wall. It wasn’t enough to knock him out, but it was enough to immobilize him. He could only watch as Buffy swayed dizzily and clutched her bleeding stomach. “Who’s there?” Buffy cried, laying a hand against the cement for support. “Agent Summers.” Michael stepped out of the darkness and shook his head. “I wouldn’t have believed this if I had not seen it myself. Two vampires, a bitch in heat and some blood letting. And you call yourself a Slayer?” “You don’t-“ Buffy’s world tilted and her ears began to ring. “You don’t understand.” “Oh, I understand perfectly well. This is even easier than I figured it would be. You’re already half dead.” He set his gun’s voltage to the least possible amount, so she wouldn’t be knocked out for the entire night, and aimed. “The next time I see you, we’ll be having a private party.” The rays were blinding, but Buffy visualized them snaking her way in slow motion, slicing the air and reaching for her like blue fingers of death. They struck her in the stomach and she fell back, her hand almost reaching Spike’s. Her mind tried to force her to fight, to see that the others were okay, but her body slept and soon her mind followed it into the black. Willow paced frantically, the cordless phone clutched in her palm. She had called Giles a million times and he was not answering. Xander and Anya were looking for him and she was stuck at Buffy's house, unable to do anything other than wait. Her heart had leapt into her throat, causing blind panic, thirty minutes before that. She had been trying to reload her computer so she could look at the Implant program she had downloaded before the wackiness. As soon as it booted, a tiny monster, some kind of crazy animated .gif, had danced across her screen and typed a very disturbing message. To make matters worse, the candle she had lit for Buffy’s protection had suddenly gone out, and there wasn’t a draft in the room. Her skin tingled and she knew that something dark was looming on the horizon. She was staring at the laptop screen again when someone knocked on the door. Yelping, she dropped the phone and scrambled to open it. “Buffy?” Riley and Forest stood on the porch and both of them stared at her for a second before Riley spoke. “Isn’t she here?” “No!” Willow started to cry and Forest moved past Riley, pulling her to his chest. She clutched him, scared to death, and said, “She’s gone. Something’s wrong. Very wrong.” “What happened?” Riley stepped in as well and shut the door behind him. “She told me she was staying here.” “I can’t tell you.” Willow brushed her the tears off her face and looked at him apologetically. “Buffy would kill me.” “If she is in some kind of danger then we need to know.” Forest replied, massaging her arms. “Willow, you know how I feel about her. I would do anything I could for her.” Riley moved closer to her. “Please?” “I can’t.” She whimpered and hid her face in her hands. Riley watched her and then glanced up at Forest. Forest nodded and Riley took a deep breath. “Willow, Forest and I are –“ He shook his head and looked back at Forest, unable to say it. Forest forced her to face him and cleared his throat. “He’s trying to tell you that demons are real, Willow. Buffy is a vampire slayer and we’re demon hunters.” “Duh!” Willow threw her hands in the air. “I’ve known about Buffy for four years! You guys are in the Initiative and Buffy joined to save Spike and now she is on her way down there to —oh, I didn’t just say that.” “To save Spike?” Riley’s eyes had widened and he moved to sit on the stairs, his heart thumping against his chest. Buffy had lied to him. No, that couldn't be right. “She was planning that all along?” Willow made a small noise in the back of her throat and nodded slowly. “He’s sort of like, a friend, of ours. One that you dread seeing because he’s so vile and mean. After he broke free from you guys, he came to us for help and he and Buffy are – friends.” She emphasized the last word, more for her own benefit than his, telling herself that Buffy would have told her if it was more. “How do you know about us?” Forest asked slowly. “We found a disk in the dumpster behind the Bronze. I uploaded it and –oooh!” She raced into the living room and grabbed her laptop, then returned to the two stunned men in the foyer. “I was trying to figure out how to disable the Implant in Spike’s head because I messed up two of the ones that Buffy gave me-“ “She stole implants?” Riley’s head snapped up and he gripped the banister, willing himself to calm down. “When?” “Just today.” Willow replied quickly, thinking that was a good thing. Riley bit his lower lip and nodded, not bothering to speak. He had probably caught her stealing the implants when he found her in the bathroom. He had been stunned by how she reacted to him, kissing him, groping him, and now he knew why. For Spike. She would have slept with him for Spike. Forest closed his eyes, trying to imagine how severely he would be punished for the disk being stolen. “You can’t disable the implants. We made it impossible.” “Well, I would have figured that out if this hadn’t appeared.” She turned the laptop around and pointed at it. "What does it mean?" Taking it from her, Forest read the words out loud. “The system has been corrupted. Files and data have been breached. Security Code Blue has been activated.” Riley shot to his feet and grabbed the computer, reading the words himself. He yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed the secure line inside the Initiative. The operator informed him that the number was no longer in service and he slammed his fist against the wall. “It’s real. The phone lines are already dead down there.” Forest ran his hand over his head and nodded, “I think Maggie knows. That’s why she was trying to get us out of town.” “Definitely.” Riley agreed, still staring at the screen. “Oh, fuck! Willow, you said Buffy was heading to get Spike?” “Yeah. She found a way into the tunnels through the cemetery somewhere. Giles has the map.” Forest put the laptop on the table and said, “Willow, where is your coat?” Willow pulled her coat off a hook behind the door and held it up. “Why?” “Put it on. You have to come with us.” “No.” Willow and Riley said in unison. “The hell she doesn’t.” Forest shouted, grabbing her coat and helping her put it on. “We’re going to go get Buffy and get as far away from here as we can.” The front door opened and Giles walked in, followed by Xander, Anya and Joyce. Riley stepped forward and spoke quickly. “Ms. Summers, I need you and your friends to take Willow and leave town.” “What?” Joyce dropped the grocery bag she was holding and scanned the room. “Where is Buffy?” “She went down to get Spike.” Willow said in a small voice. Giles’ voice boomed when he shouted, “What in the hell was she thinking?” “My thoughts exactly.” Riley commented, allowing himself to be sidetracked into thinking about the things Buffy had done. “Who are you?” Giles demanded, pointing from Forest to Riley. “We’re friends of Buffy’s. I’m Forest Gates and that's Riley Finn.” Forest held out his hand and then pulled it back when Giles simply glared at him. “Listen, you people have got to get out of here. Get on the highway and drive as fast and far as you can.” “Why?” Xander asked the question on everyone’s mind. “They all know the truth too.” Willow offered Riley, who was already looking incredibly tormented. The truth couldn't hurt. The truth could have spared all the trouble to begin with. “Fine.” Riley shrugged slightly and stood up tall. “There is a lab below the Sunnydale campus, underground. It’s furnished with the most complex technological devices you can get. It is also stocked with enough arsenal to blow up the whole structure and take half the town with it.” He motioned for the laptop and turned it so that they could see the screen. “Code blue has been activated. The system saw a breach in security and is disabling itself. Phones go first, the entire compound locks down and the cells can’t be opened. We have six hours to evacuate.” “Then what happens?” Anya asked, enthralled with all the possibilities. “It explodes.” Riley watched their faces and was stunned when they didn’t panic. Xander sighed and stretched a little. “That’s kind of a really big build up for such a small bang.” “It won’t be small.” Forest stepped toward the door and looked the boy in the face. “It will be big enough to ruin the college and possibly more.” “Been there, done that.” Xander narrowed his eyes. “Buffy will stop it. She always does.” “Buffy doesn’t know.” Willow offered. “Oh dear.” Giles began to clean his glasses and then shoved them back in place. “How do we stop it?” “The only way to stop it died with my father.” Riley crossed his arms, shoving the memory aside and going into business mode. “Time is wasting. Agent Gates and myself will do a search and rescue for Agent Summers. I need the information on where she will be accessing the tunnel system.” “The information stays with me.” Giles replied, digging the keys to his car out of his pocket. “Sir, I have to insist-“ Riley began. Giles held up a hand. “You may come with us, er, Initiative people.” “You can’t all just go traipsing through the tunnels. It’s dangerous and stupid.” Forest didn’t know what to do about the situation and tried to point out the obvious. “Yes, being in the Scooby Gang is often dangerous and stupid.” Xander clapped his hands together and plastered a goofy grin on his face. “But the Scooby snacks we get as reward make it worthwhile.” Willow grimaced and said, “What he is trying to say is that where Buffy goes, we go. It’s gotten us into trouble before, but we’re family, and if this town is going to blow up. We all go or none of us go.” “We’ll take two cars.” Giles stated as he headed out the door. Anya giggled a little. “We’d be better off in a horse and buggy as opposed to that thing you call a car.” “That is quite unnecessary, Anya.” Giles replied. “However, since these Initiative people have a nice big vehicle and Joyce has her car, we’ll take those two.” “Was that an admission that I’m right about you car?” Anya asked, walking beside him toward Joyce’s car. “Quite right.” He opened the back door and watched as she and Xander climbed in and then turned toward Willow. “Willow, are you coming?” “You can ride with us.” Forest took her hand and smiled a little. “I’m riding with Forest.” Willow told them, following Riley toward his Four Runner. Giles narrowed his eyes and said, “Joyce, I shall accompany Willow with these large men.” “Ohh! Can I come?” Anya poked her head out the window. “No.” Xander and Giles said together, both adamant for their own reasons. “Damn!” Anya sank back into the seat and crossed her arms. “But just so you know, Xander. If it looks like we’re going to get blown up, I want to die fucking.” “I’m so proud. You’ve made it to ‘F’ section.” Xander draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight. “I made it to ‘G’ too. Gangbang sounds interesting.” Xander pulled his arm off her shoulder and said, “Is that what you were thinking about when you wanted to right with those guys?” “No. It was more like a foursome. Without Willow, of course.” Joyce stared in her rearview mirror in shock and turned the radio full blast. If they all survived this night, then she was going to see to it that she had a nice long talk with Anya. Poor girl. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty Buffy was wet again, soaked to the skin and she was vaguely registering the freezing temperature on her shoulders, but no where else. Someone had her by the ankles and was dragging her through water that kept splashing over her face, threatening to choke her. Her eyes opened and she focused, seeing the familiar gun beating against the back of whoever was pulling her. “Michael?” Michael stopped walking and turned, staring down at her. “So, you’re awake.” “Why can’t I move?” Buffy cried, as her feet slipped from his hands and crashed down limply. Nausea engulfed her and she glanced up at her captor, wondering why he was fuzzy around the edges. He pulled a syringe from his hip pocket and smiled. “It’s sort of like man made paraplegic in a bottle. It will wear off -- but you’ll be too dead to notice.” She was barely able to hear him because of the water covering her ears and realized she could move her arms; though they felt like lead. Pushing herself up a little, she rested on her elbows. “Why are you doing this to me?” “You killed my father. I’m going to get revenge.” Buffy stared at him incredulously. “So, your name is Inigo Montoya?” “What is that supposed to mean?” Michael moved over her, putting his feet on either sides of her hips. “I’d be very careful about what I said if I were you.” “You think that you can get away with this?” Buffy used her hands to pull herself away from him and leaned against the curved wall of the tunnel. She had to keep him talking, buy some time. “I know I will. See, in about five hours, everything that the Initiative worked for and most of the people, will be blown to hell and back. It’s code blue, Buff. My father would have been so proud to see code blue. He always talked about it.” “I don’t understand.” “Of course you don’t. You’re nothing more than a smarmy civilian who slept her way into the organization. I’ll put it in the simplest terms. My father helped design the Initiative. He doesn’t get credit because Maggie Walsh is an evil glutton for praise, but he did. When he died, I found his passkey to the system and as of tonight, the Initiative is committing suicide.” Buffy stared at him blankly and he threw his hands in the air and continued. “It’s got a backup security system that views what I did, hacking into top secret files, as a breach in security. Without the passkey, you can’t stop it. The compound is laced with explosives and will destroy itself tonight. Am I not a genius?” “No, you’re an evil glutton for praise, just like Maggie.” “Now is as good a time to kill you as any.” Michael squatted across from her; opening his bag. “You seem to really like Riley and I know he likes you.” “That’s not a crime.” “No, but murder is.” “Which is why you will go to jail for a really long time if you hurt me.” Buffy willed her legs to move, struggling to wiggle her toes inside her shoes. “An eye for an eye.” He pulled a hook from the bag and held it up for her to see. “It’s gonna hurt all right. I’m going to insert this into your back and string you up. Then, I’m going to gut you while you’re still alive.” "Then it's a good thing I'm numb from the waist down." "Oh, trust me, you'll feel enough. This is going to be like one of those movies where the poor little ditz is so helpless. I'm going to be the villain and you'll be the young starlett, okay?" “And then in the sequel, you get sent to prison where some guy named Big Al packs your stool so tightly that you have to have daily enemas.” “I’ll never be caught. Do you want to know what the real justice of it all is?” “That I was justified in my first impression that you were a moron?” She asked, and quickly wished she hadn’t when he moved fast and slapped her across the face. “No. The real justice is the fact that Riley, assuming he lives, will think that this thing in the sewer killed you.” “If everyone is getting blown up then how will he find me, you idiot?” “Maggie will see to it that her pride and joy is safe and sound and we’re far enough away now that the blast won’t reach us. I’m going to mess you up so bad that he will have to live with that for the rest of his life. Riley will always wonder if he could have saved the wonderful Slayer from this thing; the one man *he* loved.” “What man?” Buffy suddenly felt a chill pass over her and looked down through the darkened sewers, away from Michael. She sensed a presence that made her skin crawl. “His father.” Something growled in response. Buffy jerked her head toward the voice and gasped. Standing behind Michael was the most horrible looking demon she had ever seen. It grabbed the boy around the neck and tossed him against the wall like a rag doll. Buffy heard bones snapping and saw that Michael lay motionless, before she looked back up at the demon. She half sobbed and tried to walk backwards on her hands, dragging her legs. “Please?” The thing crouched next to her and brought a deformed hand to her face, stroking the red mark that Michael had left on her cheek. “You know Riley?” Buffy was shocked at how soft the voice was, how human it suddenly sounded. She studied the face, the vampire ridges on the forehead, the horns that grew from the cheeks, the ears that hung like a basset hound, and nodded. “He- he’s m-my boyfriend.” “Don’t be afraid, child. I mean you no harm.” The demon scooted back a few feet, as if to show her that he was serious, then spoke again. “Riley is my son.” “Riley’s a demon?” Buffy cried, her eyes going as round as saucers. “No.” “Good. I didn’t want to have to slay another boyfriend." She clapped her mouth shut and shook her head. “I mean-“ “You are the Slayer, I know who you are. I always knew you existed.” The thing held out it’s deformed hand again. “Slayer, I am Hal Walsh.” She shook it softly, feeling the warmth just below the scaly skin. Raising her eyes to his, she saw something there, something real. “No offense, Mr. Walsh, but Riley doesn’t look a thing like you.” Hal chuckled and nodded. “I’ve seen him. He turned out beautifully, even though Maggie was his only influence for the past ten years.” “Ten? You’ve been down here ten years?” Buffy shivered in the cold and wrapped her arms around herself. “You’re cold.” Hal stood, towering over her. “I can help you if you will trust me.” She glanced back at Michael, wondering how far he had taken her through the sewers, and then nodded. “I don’t think anyone will stumble onto me before hypothermia sets in, so you win. I trust you.” Hal scooped her up, his arms wrapping around her like she was precious cargo. He turned, taking her down the tunnel, away from Michael and said, “You’ve lost blood, I can smell it. Were you stabbed, Slayer?” “My name is Buffy and no, I wasn’t stabbed. A vampire bit me.” She squeezed her eyes closed and pictured Spike, wondering if he had survived the attack. “I will heal you, Buffy. I know how to counteract everything they can manufacture.” He picked up his pace, his feet splashing through the sewer loudly. “How is Riley?” “He’s good. I mean, he’s great. He’s a teaching assistant at my college.” She had her arm around the thing’s neck and she could feel his pulse thrumming below his skin. “So, you’re alive?” “I am a man at the core.” Something clicked, a piece of the puzzle fell into place and Buffy sighed. “Maggie did this to you, didn’t she?” Hal stiffened and stopped walking. “What do you know about Maggie?” “I know that she runs the Initiative and I think that she’s doing something to humans, but I haven’t had the chance to find out what." She replied and the added, "Yet.” “You are an agent?” Hal growled low in his throat and his eyes glowed red. “How do I know I can trust *you*?” “If Maggie did do this to you then she has to be stopped before more people get hurt.” Buffy swallowed hard and tried not to think about the fact that she was pissing the demon/man off. “Riley could get hurt. As a matter of fact, Michael caused something called code blue. He has a passkey if that means anything to you.” “Jesus Christ!” Hal shifted her slightly in his arms and almost ran down the tunnel, praying under his breath. Buffy would have giggled at that, a demon praying to God, but something told her that now wasn’t the time or the place to find the fun. Spike and Angel were still in the chamber and she didn't know when or even if they would make it out. Willow was bound to tell Giles where she had gone eventually, but a million things could go wrong before then. She leaned her head against the massive shoulder of the thing carrying her and closed her eyes. Something bad was going to happen. Of that -- she was convinced. The first thing that Angel was able to register was the dull ache in the muscles of his shoulders. His arms were chained above his head and he dangled forward, causing his arms and shoulders to strain at an awkward angle. Fumbling to his knees, he took the pressure off, and glanced around the tunnel trying to remember what had happened. Buffy led him here, he fed on Buffy, fed Spike and then… Spike moaned out and his chains rattled as he turned to look and Angel. “So, sleeping beauty is awake?” “Who chained us up?” Angel tugged at the thick links that held him to the wall and slumped back, realizing how strong they were and how weak he was. “Where’s Buffy? Buffy!” “Hmm, even if I had not been awake for the entire thing I would still be able to put two and two together. It was the same person who shot you, Angel.” Spike saw the way his sire gave up after only a couple of yanks on the chains and shook his head. “You have to bust loose right now. He took Buffy.” “Took her where?” Angel struggled to stand and braced his foot against the wall, pulling as hard as he could. “Do you see that I am chained as well? How should I know?” Spike chuckled when Angel slipped and fell, jerking his shoulder out of place. “Still as graceful as ever, I see.” “Could you not talk to me?” Angel rolled a little and sat up again, his shoulder throbbing every time he moved. “These chains must be connected to some kind of support behind the concrete. I can’t do anything until I get my strength back. I don’t know what the hell he shot me with, but it weakened me.” “You’ve been weak for about, oh, a hundred years now. Give or take twenty.” Leaning his head back, Spike glanced up at the grates above his head. “Something is going on up there. I keep hearing shouts and people scurrying all over the place.” “Maybe they know that someone took Buffy.” Angel stared upward as well, keening his hearing. Buffy would not be able to fight with so much blood loss. She needed rest and a chance to heal. “Was it a demon?” “Whoever took her was a soldier boy. I saw his outfit and the weapons.” A sharp pain coursed through Spike’s head and he growled, his demon surfacing. “Bloody hell!” “Are you cured?” Angel turned and studied his childe, noting that the circles under his eyes had vanished. “You look cured.” “No, you soddin’ ‘git! I am not cured and don’t sit over there and act like you aren’t glad that I am still dying. Whatever was in the Slayer’s blood seemed to help me for a while, but this thing in my head is doing something again. I feel it.” “Well why don’t you concentrate on feeling it and not talking to me?” “Why don’t you concentrate on the fact that I intend to haunt you when I die.” “Spike, you should have learned something about demonology by now.” “What is that supposed to mean?” Spike inched closer to his sire, every movement draining his color more and more. “You’re already dead. You don’t have anything left in you to haunt me.” Angel saw him moving closer and said, “What are you doing?” Spike’s leg flew up and then dropped back even faster and he snarled. “If I could kick you as hard as I’d like to, it would decapitate you.” Angel used the toe of his boot to scoot Spike further away. “If you weren’t so pathetic, Spike, I *would* kick you that hard. Might put you out of my misery faster.” “That was bloody well uncalled for!” Enraged, Spike pulled himself into a better sitting position. “Where is the compassion that your damned old soul is supposed to be famous for? You fuckin’ ass, I’m dying over here.” “I’m sorry.” The words were simple, but sincere, as Angel stared at the blond. Throwing his head back a little, Spike chuckled. “You’re sorry? Sorry that you made me or sorry that you left me in Romania when I was still so young and needed you?” Angel’s eyes widened. “Needed me? If I had come back to our place in Romania unable to kill anyone, you and Dru would have skinned me alive." “No, I wouldn’t have hurt you.” Spike lowered his gaze and took an unneeded gulp of air. “I would have hunted for you, given you what you needed, and stayed with you. You were my sire and I was loyal. I didn’t know what it meant to not need you. I didn't learn that until much later.” “Spike, it’s not like I had a choice. I was scared. I knew that I would not be able to live with you and Drusilla anymore.” “For years I waited for you to come back. It was hell to know that you were out there and didn’t want to be with us. I didn’t find out what happened to you until the Sixties and by then, I hated you.” He leveled Angel with a cold glare, needing to tell him exactly what he thought before his time was up. “I hated you for giving me this life and then walking out on it. My real mother left me, Elizabeth left me, you left me, Dru left me and then the Slayer left me. I’m always being left behind and that’s worse than leaving.” He clamped his mouth shut and thought about that comment for several seconds before he added, “Actually, leaving is pretty damned bad too. I have to leave and it hurts just as bad as being left.” “Buffy came back for you.” Angel pointed out slowly. “She didn’t leave you.” “Yeah.” Spike softened somewhat and closed his eyes, remembering the way she had massaged his head as he fed from Angel. “She came back.” “I came back too, Spike. Buffy told me you needed help and I came.” Spike’s eyes popped open and he shook his head. “She made you come and she made you feed me.” “I didn’t have to come. I didn’t have to go along with it. I saw you here and I knew what I had to do. Spike, there isn’t a day that passes that I don ’t regret the things that I did. I remember you as a human; begging me not to hurt that girl, telling me that you would trade places with her, running from me. I remember your will to live and I am sorry that I took that from you. I am sorry that I made you into someone that can’t show his face in the light.” Angel paused for a second and stared at the wall before he continued, knowing that the truth was the only thing that would set Spike free. “But I can’t be sorry for what you meant to me afterwards. I didn’t know how to love you. Angelus can’t do that, can’t say that, but I can.” His gaze traveled to Spike. “I loved you like my son, my friend, my life. I know that in his own twisted way, Angelus couldn’t have lived without you. That’s why I didn’t come back to you and Dru. Angelus was gone, but I still knew you, Spike. I knew that if I came back I would have been forced to kill you, so I ran as far and as fast as I could go to keep you safe.” Spike was unable to move. A weight had been lifted off of him, something strong and powerful that had clung to him for decades. He had not forced Angelus away. His punishment for falling in love with his sister, cursing the Gods and being a drunk had not been to lose everyone. “I never knew any of that. I thought you left because you thought you were better than us, not because you wanted to protect us.” “When you and Dru came to Sunnydale, I ran into her in a park. I begged her to take you and leave town. I was already helping Buffy, but I couldn’t stand the thought of her killing either one of you. I asked Dru to leave, but she didn’t and I was so torn between the two of you and Buffy.” “I was torn too. You just kept on going even though you should have suffered too.” “Too?” “You moved on, put it all behind you and I never did. I was stunned to see you at the high school. I told you that you were my sire, my yoda. I wanted to take Buffy away from you so you would know what it felt like.” Angel’s jaw tightened and he studied his protégé closely. “Is that what you are still trying to do?” Spike watched the man thoughtfully and shook his head. “No. I don’t even know what the hell happened there. She was so mean to me when I came and asked for help. Giles wouldn’t let her kill me but she wanted too. She settled for torturing me instead; always running around baring her throat, tempting me with little snide comments and trying to provoke me so my head would explode when I went after her. Willow did this spell thing where we thought we’d get married. We were sickeningly in love. I would have gladly rolled over and played bitch for her if she had asked me to.” He leaned his head back as a pain slammed through his temples. “Then we got cured and I couldn’t get her out of my head. I couldn't stop remembering how it felt to love her.” Angel leaned his head back as well, not from pain, but from shock. “You fell for Buffy.” “You say it like it hasn’t been done, mate. You fell for her first.” “It’s not normal. You can’t feel things.” Angel sighed and looked back at Spike. “She deserves something normal.” “Normal by whose standards? Don't tell me I can't feel. I felt for Dru and you know that and when she left me, I said I would never, ever need anyone again. That night we were taken, Buffy said something to me in the sewers. She said that she knew how I felt because she had lost all her power once. She didn't laugh at me when I was so scared and something happened. Something clicked between us. I knew what it was like to need someone again.” Spike growled when the pain intensified and leaned his head against one of his arms, still over his head. “Doesn’t matter anymore, the poison is still coming. You will find her, yes?” Angel got to his feet and tugged at the chains again, leaning back with everything he had. He grunted, yanking and tugging and then squatted again. “It’s no use. I can’t get loose.” A new voice spoke from the mouth of the tunnel. “That’s because the chains are reinforced through the wall, not just stuck through a loop.” Angel turned to face the man who stepped from the shadows and appraised him closely. He was tall with sandy blond hair and had a large gun in his arms. Another man, black and not quite as tall, stepped in beside him and looked back and forth. “Where’s Buffy?” Angel was going to reply when Willow and Giles stepped into the light, followed by Xander, Anya, and Joyce. Willow moved to where Spike was and kneeled beside him. “Oh, Spike! You look even worse than Buffy said. Riley, unlock the chains.” “Buffy’s hurt, Red.” Spike mumbled, looking past her -- at the soldiers -- warily. “One of their friends shot her and took her. Said he wanted to have a private party with her.” “What did he look like?” Riley asked, dropping his bag to the floor and pulling out a set of keys. He didn’t have any doubt who had taken her. Michael. His threats were real. “He looked like every other pansy ass whelp in army clothes that I’ve been forced to stare at for days.” Spike said, watching as Riley set Angel free. Xander snorted a little and stepped past Anya, glancing down the tunnel. “Why are there demons chained to walls here?” “I heard that being chained is erotic to some people.” Anya said, fingering the set of broken chains that Angel had cut Spike out of earlier that night. "And I was a demon." Forest and Riley were talking in hushed voices and Angel gripped his bolt cutters, moving toward Spike. Forest saw what he was doing and stepped between him and the hostile. “Sir, you can’t let him go. He’s a vampire.” Angel looked down at Spike and morphed, then brought his face back up to meet the stunned boy’s gaze. “He’s also *my* vampire and I’m letting him go.” Forest stepped back, reaching for his gun and Riley raised his. Willow leaped between them and said, “No! Angel’s a good vampire. Look, I don’t have time to explain everything so you will just have to trust me. He’s on our side. Buffy came down here to let Spike go so, when we find her, we need to have him with us.” “I can’t believe this.” Riley shoved his gun back onto his shoulder and used his keys to free Spike. “I know who took Buffy and I have a pretty good idea of where he is taking her and why would Buffy come down here with a vampire to free another vampire? I hate this town.” "Riley, you're rambling." Forest clapped him on the back. Angel helped Spike to his feet and the vampire stumbled for several seconds before he sat again. The blond looked stunned, defeated and in pain. “I can’ t make it. You all, you go and find her. Tell her I said – well, Angel, tell her something poetic from one of those books you fancy and tell her I came up with it just for her.” Shaking his head, Angel gripped him under the arms and said, “You’re coming.” Something growled down inside the tunnel and Angel turned as he hefted Spike over his shoulder. What he saw chained to the wall almost caused him to drop Spike onto his head. Right there, staring at them from it’s green flesh, was the answer to all the problems. His guilt over creating Spike could be erased, he could give Buffy what she wanted, he could give Spike a second chance. Or he could do what he thought was best for Buffy and get Spike out of her life. Spike moaned and Angel closed his eyes. He had created Spike, made him what he was and it was time to prove that he had never forgotten what Spike had meant to him. With quick even strides, Angel strode down the tunnel and kneeled, putting Spike on the floor beside the demon. Spike glanced up at the thing and wrinkled his nose. “What is this? It stinks.” Angel pulled a knife from his pocket and cut the demon’s hand, then he grabbed Spike’s hand and cut his palm, before slapping the two together and holding tight. “This is a Marah demon, Spike, and you just won the lottery.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-One Spike wrestled weakly, trying to pull his hand from Angel’s grip. His sire had just cut his palm, cut a demon’s palm and clamped them together and Spike wasn’t happy about that at all. Something was making him dizzy and it had started with the blood mixing. “Angel, what the hell are you trying to do?” he growled, leaning away. “This thing stinks.” “Just hold still.” Angel gripped the front of Spike’s shirt and hauled him upright, pinning him with his leg to keep him from struggling free. “Trust me, it's going to be okay.” “I’ve heard that before and it usually precedes you screwing something up.” Spike stared at the blood that was dripping from the demon’s hand and recoiled again, heaving slightly. The others had followed Angel down the corridor and were watching with a mixture of shock and curiosity, whispering amongst themselves. Angel ignored them, gazing intently at Spike. He couldn’t remember how long it had taken for the Marah demon to make him human when he came into contact with it, but he was willing to wait as long as he needed to. The Marah demon grunted, trying to yank away, but it was no use, Angel was stronger than both of the dying demons put together. Suddenly, Spike’s eyes rolled back and he clutched his throat with his free hand, clawing at his flesh as his body came to life. He choked in mouthfuls of air, struggling to remember how to do it for life instead of habit, and then slumped forward, wheezing as his lungs expanded and deflated under steady human breathing. Willow was the first to kneel down beside the two vampires. She heard the blond’s breathing and looked at Angel in shock. “What did you do?” Giles moved closer to the demon that was chained on the wall and whispered, “It’s a Marah demon.” “We established that.” Riley pointed out, staring at the vampire on the ground. “What we haven’t established is what just happened.” Giles moved closer, studying the demon that was chained to the wall. “A Marah demon is considered by many to grant humanity to demons who were once human. Since it wants to be a superior species, it possesses the power to rid other creatures of that which makes them a demon. It’s supposedly untrue, something that can’t be done.” He ran his hand through his hair and looked back down at Spike, who was breathing steadily. “Has it been done, Angel?” Angel brushed his hand over the back of Spike’s head, feeling the warmth of his flesh and he smiled, letting his own demon slip away. “He’s human.” Spike coughed a couple of times and sat up, looking at Angel from a face rich with color. He had finally gotten a handle on the breathing and now he was coming to terms with the fact that he had lost his heightened sense. “What did you do to me?” “I saved your life.” Angel stood and held his hand out. “I did what was asked of me.” “I don’t recall telling you once that I wanted to be human.” Spike didn’t take the offered hand. He got to his feet by himself; surprised at how strong he felt and stunned when he had an urge he hadn’t felt in decades. “Bloody hell! I have to piss!” Willow reached forward tentatively, and placed a hand on Spike’s neck, checking his pulse. She felt the steady beating and backed away, shaking her head. “Oh my god. Is this really happening?” Spike turned away from everyone, staring back down the tunnel. This was insane. How dare Angel just assume that he wanted to be alive, a fucking human. He felt a rage begin to boil deep inside and spun again, glaring at his sire. “I’m going to rip your heart out.” Everyone gasped and Angel took several steps back, staring at Spike like he was suddenly deformed. Spike watched their faces and forgot about mangling Angel. “What? What is it?” “Y-your face.” Willow said, pointing at him. Spike ran a hand over his face and his eyes widened. The familiar ridges on his forehead were there, but he was missing the fangs that usually accompanied the change. He stuck his thumb into his mouth, feeling his teeth and looked back at Angel. “You defanged me!” “Something’s not right.” Angel looked at the demon on the wall and back at Spike. “It was supposed to make you a complete human.” Without thinking, Spike reached through the crowd and grabbed the nearest weapon, a crucifix that Anya was holding tightly against her chest. He smacked Angel on the head with it and shouted, “You fucking defanged me!” “Spike!” Willow pointed at the cross in his hand. Spike glanced down and tossed it quickly, clutching his hand to his chest. “Ahh! Ahhh. Wait a minute.” He raised his hand and looked at it closely. “I’ m not burning up. I’m not smoking.” Squatting down, he gingerly lifted the cross with his thumb and finger and held it up to Willow. “Press it to my forehead.” “I don’t want to.” Willow shook her head quickly. “I do.” Xander shoved his way to the front and held out his hand. “If it burns me and I yell, then you better get off me.” Spike growled. Nodding, Xander clutched the cross and pressed it onto Spike’s forehead. Nothing happened and Xander shrugged. “I don’t get it.” “I don’t want to get it.” Spike growled, snatching the crucifix again and throwing it at Angel. “What have you done to me? I could grow fangs before you did this and now I’m breathing and-“ He suddenly grabbed his crotch and bounced on his toes. “And my God, I still have to piss.” Xander rolled his eyes and pointed down the tunnel. “So go.” “Vampires don’t piss. I haven’t pissed in over one hundred years.” Spike groaned as he felt his bladder swelling more. “I’m going to explode.” “Do you need someone to hold it for you?” Anya stepped forward and held out her hand. “I will.” “The hell you will.” Xander gripped her arm and took her back to the opening of the tunnel. Willow looked at Giles and asked, “What are you thinking, Giles?” “Does anyone have a mirror?” Glancing at everyone, he saw Joyce digging through her purse and moved toward her, taking the mirror she held up. Turning back toward Spike, he held up the compact. “What do you see?” Spike snatched the mirror and stared into it. The hateful glare that had been there softened a bit and he brought his hand to his face. “Is that me?” “You see yourself?” Angel moved behind him and looked over his shoulder, squinting a little. He nodded and looked back at Giles. “He’s got a reflection, but it’s transparent. I can see the wall through him.” “You’re all going to drown in urine.” Spike snapped the mirror closed and handed it to Willow. “I’m almost crippled now from the pain. Dying felt better than this.” Giles stepped forward and motioned for Spike to follow him down the corridor and Willow blushed, quickly returning the mirror to Joyce and turning away. Angel turned his attention to the two men with guns and snapped, “You two work for this organization?” Riley nodded slightly and exhaled loudly, unable to comprehend the things he had seen and heard in the past two hours. “We do.” “Can you explain to me what’s happening?” Angel craned his head, listening to the string of profanity coming from Spike as he drained his bladder. “I don’t know anything about what just happened with the demon and the blood. The chip in his head, the implant, doesn’t harm human beings though. If he's human at all, he looks really fucked up.” Riley shrugged a little and glanced back at Spike, who was walking up the tunnel with Giles. He looked him over and shook his head, unable to see what Buffy saw in him. “We need to split up into teams and try to find Buffy. Forest will lead one team and I’ll lead the other. It’s best that we lead because we know the man who has her.” Forest cleared his throat and nodded. “His name is Michael. His father was killed in the explosion at Sunnydale High last year. Apparently he blames Riley for that and knows that Riley is in lo- likes Buffy, so he threatened to take Buffy away from Riley as punishment.” “Why didn’t you tell her that? Prepare her?” Giles demanded, staring at the tall blond boy in shock. “I did tell her.” Riley replied angrily. “God, do you think I would keep something like that from her? I made her promise me that she wouldn’t go out and would stay away from him. So much for her word. Now we need to-” “I’m not taking orders from you.” Xander piped up. “I don’t even know if we can trust you and time is running out.” “Do you have a better plan?” Riley crossed his arms and stared at the young man, recognizing him as the boy that Buffy had left a party with once. “Because I really would love to hear it.” “It doesn’t matter.” Joyce spoke up suddenly, her voice harsh. She moved to the middle of the group and stomped her foot angrily. “This is my child we’ re talking about. Talking isn’t going to get her back. Now, if we need to separate, then let’s do it and go. Riley, tell us what you want us to do and if any of you have any arguments with his plan, then you take it up with me.” “Thank you, ma’am.” Riley glanced at the people who were joined together by a desire to see that Buffy was safe and spoke quickly. “Willow, Xander, Anya, Giles, Mrs. Summers, you go with Forest.” He clenched his jaw a little tighter and looked at the two vampires. There was no way he would allow them to go search alone. He needed to be there when Buffy was found and make her talk to him. “These two are with me. Forest, you take your people and go to Michael’s house. Go through everything there and see if you can figure out where he has taken her. He could have her there, hidden somewhere, so be prepared to use force and I want you to stay in constant contact with me on channel fourteen.” “Where are we going?” Angel asked, eyeing the others as they started to walk away. He smirked a little when he heard Xander’s familiar grumblings and Giles’ urgings for him to ‘do be quiet’. “We’re going down into the sewers.” Riley dug through his bag, pulled out another gun, and handed it to Angel. He gave Spike a hand held device and said, “You watch that screen and you tell me if you see a small green dot.” Spike stared at the device in his hand and rolled his eyes. “Why does Angel get the gun? He’s a vampire! I can piss now, I’m human.” “I don’t know what you are, but it damn sure isn’t human.” Riley stared at the ridges on his head. “Besides, that is a heat seeker and we’re looking for Buffy’s body heat so you have a really important job.” The three men moved further down the tunnel and paused as Riley pulled a grate open and stepped into the sewer. He slid his night vision goggles on and scanned left and right. Angel pulled his demon forth and asked, “Which way?” “I think he would lead her away from Base. We’ll go left.” Riley set the pace, walking briskly. Spike looked at Angel, whose eyes were glowing yellow and at Riley, who had goggles on and promptly tripped over a pile of debris. “I can’t see a thing.” He growled, getting back to his feet. Staring at Angel pointedly, he added, “I used to be able to see in the dark. I used to be able to do a lot of things, like have fangs, hear things that humans couldn't and walk and not trip.” “Spike, I did what I had to do.” Angel brushed past him and caught up with Riley, who had continued walking. “Had to do, my ass.” Spike mimicked his sire, prissing down the tunnel behind him. “I’m going to have to kick your ass.” When he caught up with the other two, they were discussing Buffy’s slayer strengths and fighting skills. Riley took a deep breath and stopped walking. “You both should know that there is something down here. Something that kills for the sake of killing and not because it needs to eat.” “What is it?” Angel looked behind them in the tunnel and yanked Spike closer to him, instinctively protecting him. “Don’t touch me.” Spike pulled his arm out of Angel’s grip and glanced behind him as well. “Forget –what- it is, how –big- is it?” “Big enough.” Riley scratched the side of his face and closed his eyes. “It’ s my father.” “You’re a bloody demon?” Spike shouted, his voice echoing through the darkness. “Do I look like a demon to you?” Holding up his arms, Riley stood still for several seconds. “Yeah, as a matter of fact you do.” Taking a step forward, Spike glared at him. “And I’m going to-“ “That’s enough.” Angel stepped between the two and rolled his eyes. “Both of you are ruining the chances of finding Buffy and I’m sick of it. Now, if she is down here someplace, the best way to find her is to keep walking.” He turned his attention to Riley and added, “And I’d suggest you keep talking if you value your ability to walk. What do mean it’s your father?” Riley repositioned his bag and started down the tunnel again. “My dad is – was a human being. I was only thirteen when it happened and I don’t remember everything, but he supposedly uncovered some things that were happening here and my mo- uhm- people inside the Initiative took care of him. They turned him into some kind of thing.” “And you let Buffy get involved in that?” Spike asked, balling his hand into a fist and getting ready to strike. Angel caught his arm and moved between the two again, urging them to keep walking. “Why did you get involved with it, Riley?” “I had no choice.” Riley kept his eyes straight ahead and admitted the truth, something that he had never done to anyone outside of the organization. “My mother runs the ship. She would have had the same thing done to me if I gave her any trouble.” “And he’s a mama’s boy to boot.” Spike chuckled a little and shook his head. “What exactly did she do to your father?” Riley glared at the blond and shrugged. “I don’t know. All I remember is seeing them lead him into this room and then they led him out a few days and he wasn’t a man anymore. Sort of like you, Spike. Only uglier.” Spike’s eyes widened and he leaped toward the boy, only to find the business end of the boy’s gun aimed at his chest. “Oh, that’s perfect. You let your mouth overload your ass and then you shoot me?” Angel aimed his gun at Riley and said, “Looks like I’m the only one here with a set of priorities. Buffy is in danger. I will shoot you both if you keep this up.” “What do you care?” Riley asked the dark vampire. “She’s a slayer. What do you have in common with her anyway?” Spike laughed loudly and then pointed at his sire. “Buffy didn’t tell you about him? This is the great poof, the love of her little life. The man who took her virginity and then left her all alone.” Angel suddenly found himself the target of Riley’s gun and didn’t make a move. Calmly, he spoke to the man. “Buffy and I are friends. She trusted me enough to come down here alone with her and if I have to maim you to get her back ... I will.” Spike moved quickly, yanking Riley’s gun from his arms and turning it on him. “A-ha! How did you like that?” Riley looked stunned and glanced down at his empty hands. Angel nudged Spike with the barrel of his own gun and nodded his head at Riley. “Give it back to him, Spike.” “No way. He’s-“ “NOW!” Angel shouted, his voice as feral as his face. Spike shoved the gun at Riley and pointed down the tunnel. “Let’s go.” They moved as one, silently making their way out of town. Each man was lost in his own thoughts and each man’s thoughts were of the same woman. Angel was wondering if she would be okay with so much blood loss, Riley was wondering if she would ever look the same to him again and Spike was trying to figure out what to say to her when he saw her. Confessing his feelings for her seemed like the only logical thing to do. ~ Feelings? ~ Spike stopped walking and felt his forehead. The ridges were gone and he was suddenly overcome with a rush of emotion. He had killed people in this very same sewer. Clamping his hands over his ears, he tried to silence the memory of their cries for mercy. Angel looked back at Spike and whispered, “Spike, what are you doing?” “I’m sorry that I was mean to you before. I wouldn’t have decapitated you even if I had been able too.” He swallowed hard and ran a hand over the back of his head, before looking at Riley. “And you don’t look like a demon, but you are still a mama’s boy.” “What the hell is he doing now?” Riley asked Angel. “It’s my guess that he’s feeling guilt for the first time in one hundred and twenty-six years.” Angel moved down the tunnel and laid his hand on Spike’s shoulder. “I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to suddenly have this rush of—“ “Hunger.” Spike looked up at Angel and patted his stomach. “Now I’m hungry. And OW!” He cupped his mouth quickly and felt his teeth. “My fangs are back.” “But your ridges are gone.” Angel ran his hand over his own face and felt the way his flesh rippled over his brow. “I don’t know what happened.” “You fucking broke me.” Spike shrugged, no longer emotional or worried about hurting Angel's feelings. "Prick." Angel watched him walk away and shook his head, trying to rationalize why Spike was suffering Jeckyll and Hyde syndrome. When he was angry, the ridges came across his forehead. When he was hungry, the fangs grew, but the ridges vanished. When he was normal, he had emotions and what appeared to be a soul. ~ It’s going to a long night. Assuming we all survive. ~ Buffy winced as Hal sat her on a pile of cardboard and paper in one corner of a tiny room. She could still feel the bite mark on her stomach, even though she still had no feeling below her hips. They had gone through the sewers for what felt like hours, but a quick glance at her watch told her it had been less than thirty minutes. “Where are we?” “Old breakroom for the sewer workers. It’s not on any maps.” The demon/man was busy opening several small boxes and when he turned, he had a syringe in his hand. With wide eyes, Buffy watched him put the needle into his arm and draw out a small amount of blood. He started toward her and she scooted away, using her hands to move as fast as possible. Hal squatted in front of her and held the needle out. “My blood is an antidote. It will counteract whatever it was that Michael injected you with.” “Or make me a demon. No thanks.” Buffy replied, staring at the needle. “Besides, I’m scared of needles.” “I can promise you that it won’t make you a demon.” Hal moved closer and held out his hand. “Just give me your arm and within minutes, you will be okay.” “Okay, first of all, sharing needles is unsanitary. There’s this thing called HIV that you may or may not be aware of and second-“ “Buffy, I am immune to all diseases and infection. As a matter of fact, I don’t even have to eat to survive. My body takes care of itself by keeping my blood pumped with enough vitamins and minerals to sustains my life. I give you my word that you will be healed and much stronger for it if you will allow me to help you.” She weighed her options and asked, “How long before the paralysis goes away on its own?” “Depending on the dosage, I would say twelve hours. Considering that you are a Slayer, and probably have quicker healing agents, it could be six hours.” Hal raised a clawed hand to scratch behind his ear and whined out a little. “But we don’t have six hours. If code blue is in effect -right now- then we need to move -right now-.” “What is code blue?” Gripping one leg at a time, Buffy pulled herself into a semi-upright position and slumped forward, swearing under her breath. Hal pushed her up gently. “Code blue is when the computer tells itself that it has to self-destruct. It will blow up the entire compound and anything in it’s way.” Buffy immediately thought of Spike and Angel and the rest of the gang. “We have to do something now.” Hal held the needle up to the small light that hung from an exposed set of wires, letting her see the small amount of purplish liquid. “And now is what I can give you.” Taking a deep breath, she held her arm out and squeezed her eyes tightly closed. “Don’t hurt me.” Hal smiled a little and turned her arm over, exposing the vein. As he slid the needle into her skin, he asked, “How is it that a Slayer finds herself scared of needles?” “Long story.” Buffy said in a shaky voice. “Are you going to do it?” “I’m done.” Hal patted her on the hand and let go, standing again. “What?” She eyed the small drop of blood on her arm and said, “How did you do that without making me feel it?” “I told you. My blood is an antidote. All I had to do was rub a little on the area before I inserted the needle and you didn’t feel a thing.” “Can I keep you during flu shot season?” Buffy smiled and wiggled her feet a little. “I can move!” Hal reached down, lifted her under the arms, and put her on her feet. “Stretch out the muscles some while I look for the tools we will need.” “Need for what?” Buffy squatted and stood several times, feeling her lower extremities come back to life completely. “You and me, sweetheart. We are going to put a stop to this madness once and for all.” Turning, Hal held up a security pass and a bag full of disks and wires. “And make sure that you still have a college to go to while we are at it.” “Do we really have to save the college? I’d be willing to let that be a casualty.” She smiled a little and took the pass from him as he shoved a few more items into a bag. Hal laughed a little and then stood up tall, staring down at her. “I’ve been waiting a very long time for this. If I can get inside and get my programs running, I can be cured.” “Why didn’t you do it before now?” She followed him out of the small room and back through the sewers. “Because now is when a Slayer happened to grace me with her presence and gave me a reminder of my son.” Hal splashed through the water quickly and then paused, looking back at Buffy. “You feel okay?” Taking a deep breath, she nodded happily. “I feel like I’m stronger than I’ ve ever been. I almost feel … invincible.” “You are.” He motioned for the security pass she was carrying and handed her a large knife. “For the time being, until your blood flushes mine away, nothing can harm you.” “Why do I feel a ‘but’ coming?” Buffy took the knife and eyed it with apprehension. “But, when it wears off, there will be a time span of about ten minutes that you will be weak; weaker than you can imagine, as your human body overcomes the change.” “Change?” She tightened her ponytail holder and pointed a finger at him. "If I turn into something, I am going to kill you." “I’ve given you a gift, not a curse. It's only going to aid you for a small amount of time. I didn’t give you enough of it for it to last indefinately.” “How will I know when it’s wearing off?” “When you can’t hold that knife in your hand, it’s basically wearing off.” “And what happens if I happen to be holding this knife to fight off a really large demon of some kind?” Buffy’s anger was evident in her tone. Sure, she was able to walk and felt stronger than she ever had, but the price tag for it could be her life. “I suggest you yell loudly for me if that situation arises. Don't worry. We will be in and out before that could happen.” Hal winked one glowing red eye and moved on down the tunnel. “You know, I specifically asked you if this would make me a demon.” “And I specifically told you that it wouldn’t. You are not a demon.” “I’d have to be.” Buffy replied, brushing past him and stomping ahead. “Because only demons could entertain the thoughts I’m having and not feel guilty about it.” Hal followed her, his salvation, through the tunnels and glanced upward, praying that she would forgive him enough to listen to him when the time came for them to make their move. Their lives depended on her ability to listen and do everything he told her to. Glancing at his deformed hands, he knew that the future was out of his hands and completely in hers. She would have to be the one who worked the program, crawled into the gut of the structure and cut the wires to the explosives. The weight of the world was on her shoulders. And she seemed to be standing up just fine.

Chapter #8 - 8

Joyce Summers followed the others up the stairs to Michael’s apartment and prayed that she would find her daughter unharmed on the other side of the door. She watched as Forest knocked and stared with wide eyes as he pulled a key from his pocket and let himself in, explaining that the Initiative had master keys to every complex on campus and most of the stores in town. She was the last to enter the apartment and it took several seconds for her eyes to adjust when Willow found the light switch. The apartment was sparsely furnished; a chair, a table and a thirteen-inch television sat in the living room. What she could see of the floor, through the trash that was scattered all over, was filthy and she shook her head in disgust. Looking across the small area, she saw a bar that divided the kitchen from the living room and it was littered with dirty dishes and papers. Joyce saw the others go into the kitchen and begin rifling through the cabinets and drawers and she moved down a hallway to the right. The first door was a bathroom and she stepped inside, pulling back the shower curtain just in case something was back there. She cursed herself silently when she realized that she had been expecting to find Buffy’s body curled up there; blood splashing against the white tub and tile like a bad dream. Shaking her head in disgust, Joyce left the bathroom and tried the next door. Something coppery and rancid assaulted her nostrils the second she pushed the door open. Fumbling for a light switch, her hand connected with something slick and she flipped it on, gasping at what she saw. Bloody handprints littered the walls, some flat and perfect and others runny and splotched. She would have vomited, her stomach already tight and ready, if it were not for the tufts of blond hair she saw sticking out from behind a blanket in the corner. Everything titlted at once and she brought a hand to her mouth, silently praying. Willing her legs to support her long enough to see if it was her daughter, Joyce pushed away from the wall she had been leaning against and made her way into the room. Her shoes sank into wet spots on the thick beige carpet, but she didn’t care about anything other than getting to the body. Gingerly, she kneeled in front of the blanket and peeled the corner back. The scream erupted from the pit of her soul and shot forth, echoing through the confines of the room. To the people who were digging around Michael’s belongings in the other room, it was a cry of a tormented mother, but to Joyce, it was a cry of relief and compassion for some other mother who had lost a little girl. Xander arrived first and pulled Joyce away from the body, covering her face by pulling her to his chest to lead her out of the room. Anya and Forest were right behind him and Anya took one look and fled, bumping into Willow, who stumbled into the bedroom. “What is it? Is it Buffy?” Willow stared at the room, at the blood and gore and began to cry. “No, Buffy can’t die this way. This is a human being. She fights demons, right? Right?” Forest, still squatting beside the victim, shook his head and cleared his throat. “It’s not Buffy. It’s a little kid.” “Why?” Willow sobbed now, having had a clear view of the tiny body. “Why would someone do that?” Forest covered the tiny face quickly and stood, gathering Willow in his arms as he led her toward the door. “I don’t know.” Willow wiped the tears away and stopped short, staring at a book beside the bed. Forest watched her lift in and raised an eyebrow, “What’s that?” “It’s his journal.” She started to sit on the bed, saw the blood, and thought better of it. Taking the journal into the hallway, she flipped to the most recent entry and read it aloud. “Today is when the good guy finishes first for a change. Hearing Buffy admit that she was the one who blew up that damn school was the missing piece. That bitch is going down. Riley will be devastated when he discovers that his demon daddy has killed her and I’ll get the satisfaction of watching him go after Hal Walsh and kill him. I will be the one that tells Riley that Hal couldn’t hurt a fly if he had to. I will be the one who tells Riley that I did it all, the dead animals in the sewer, the dead bodies in the sewer, all of it. I’ll be the one to tell him that he murdered his harmless father with his own bare hands the same way Buffy murdered mine with hers. And just when he digests every bit of that and realizes what he has done, I will finish what I started and kill him.” She stopped reading and closed the book quickly. “We have to go back down there and warn Riley.” Forest shook his head and flipped his walkie-talkie onto channel fourteen. “This is Agent Gates, come in Agent Finn, over?” Loud static crackled over the small black device and Forest turned several knobs, trying to find a clear signal. He repeated the request several times and then sighed. “Looks like you’re right. I have to go down there.” “No. *We* have to go.” Willow stated, matter of factly. “Safety in numbers.” “Someone has to stay here and call the cops.” Forest looked back into the bedroom and closed the door slowly. “I can’t believe he did that. That’s the fourth girl in the paper. Two blondes and two brunettes were missing. Buffy found the two brunettes and one little blond was dead in the sewer. He took the other. God, Willow, I know him. I- he’s been there since the beginning for me.” “Sometimes you don’t know a person at all.” Willow offered, squeezing his hand lightly. “And even when you do know someone, you only know what they let you know. Everyone has secrets.” She glanced back at the closed door and shuddered slightly. “But not all secrets are homicidal maniac secrets.” "It doesn't feel real." "I know." Willow hugged him lightly and added, "But it is real and we're real and the threat that he is posing to Buffy and Riley is real. Later, we can try to figure out why he would do it, but for now, we have to stop him from doing more and we *can*." “Thank you, Willow.” Forest smiled slightly and looked at their locked hands, one dark and one milky white, that fit together perfectly. "You're amazing." Anya walked from the bathroom carrying a wet cloth and Willow and Forest followed her back into the living room. Anya handed the cloth to Joyce and kneeled beside her, patting her on the leg. Willow’s heart broke for the woman, who had obviously thought it was Buffy. She cleared her throat softly and said, “Someone needs to stay here and call the police while the others go down into the sewer to warn Riley.” She held up the journal and reread the entry out loud. “Riley is bound to walk straight into the trap.” "All he sees is Buffy. If he thinks that Hal Walsh did something to her then he'll kill him." Forest shoved the journal into a backpack and waited for someone to volunteer to stay. Joyce blotted her face and said, “I’ll stay here. You kids go on and help Buffy.” Anya watched Joyce closely, wishing she could remember what it felt like to have a mother’s love. Xander’s mother didn’t pay her much attention and could usually be found drinking something straight from a bottle and smoking cigarettes. Joyce was the only thing that came close to being a mother to any of the people she knew and she liked that. “I’ll stay here with Buffy’s mother. Xander, you go and help those two find Buffy and we’ll take care of things here.” Xander’s eyes widened and he smiled a little, not used to seeing her be so helpful or concerned for anything other than her sex life. “Anya, that’s very sweet of you.” “Well, reward me with an orgasm later.” Anya shrugged a little and turned her attention back toward Joyce. “Can I get you anything?” Willow and Forest headed for the door and exited quickly. Xander paused and looked back at Anya, who was still tending to Joyce, and smiled. She had said ‘orgasm’ and that wasn’t slang. But she was the most desirable woman he had ever seen right then. Angel scanned the tunnel and sniffed the air again. He had picked up the scent of human blood a few minutes before and it was stronger now. “I smell blood. Human blood.” “I used to be able to smell blood.” Spike announced loudly, directing his attention to Riley when he spoke. “I guess it’s a good thing that we brought our trusty hound along, huh, Soldier Boy? I like to call the old dog Peaches, but if you want to call him Angel, you can.” Angel glared at Spike for several seconds and shook his head. “You know, you didn’t just become part human, you regressed to a child.” “That’s what happens when half-wit poofs like you try to play mad scientist. You don’t know how to make something human so it’s all your fault. Therefore, you deserve every single thing that I-“ He paused and sniffed the air as well. “smell dinner.” “You can smell the blood?” Angel asked. “No, I smell … “ Spike sniffed deeply and then spotted the McDonald’s bag that was lying directly under a sewer vent. “Fries!” Angel stopped him from snatching the bag and pushed him away. “That’s disgusting. You are not eating sewer food.” “You ate sewer rats, didn’t you?” Spike’s stomach growled deeply and he groaned. “I’m going to faint from starvation.” Riley sighed loudly and continued down the tunnel, wishing that he had sent the two vampires with Forest. Because of their incessant ramblings, he had not been able to think enough about what Buffy had done to him. She used him and that was as obvious as the nose on his face. She had pretended to be interested in him just so she could get inside the Initiative and get Spike out. Willow had indicated that they had been able to access the Initiative’s files for quite some time, so Buffy probably knew all along who he was and what they were doing. What hurt the most though, was the fact that she had gone out anyway, putting herself in mortal danger after he had begged her not to. “Are you listening, man?” Spike punched Riley on the arm. “Angel says the blood smell is stronger here.” Angel nodded in agreement and said, “I think that whoever it is that is bleeding is right around that corner.” “Is it Buffy?” Spike asked, watching his sire’s face closely. “No.” Shaking his head, Angel stood straighter. “I smelled her blood just a little back there, but this person’s is different.” Riley stopped walking completely and turned. “How can you tell Buffy’s blood from any other human’s blood?” “It’s richer, sweeter.” Angel shrugged a little and brushed past him, not wanting to let him know that it tasted the same way it smelled. It wasn't something that he was likely to ever forget and the guilt of how much he enjoyed it caused the demon inside of him to subside and his features became normal again. “He thinks he’s a fucking connoisseur.” Spike said dryly and began to speak with a French accent, holding up his hands to show that he was imitating wine tasters. “This blood is circa eighteen years. Aged to legal, but just sweet enough to give you the feeling that she’s still a minor. We call it Slayer and you can’t afford it because it’s priceless.” “Can you shut up?” Riley shouted. “Just for five minutes could you not talk?” “Am I annoying you?” Spike asked seriously. “Very much.” “Then no, I can’t be quiet. Being an annoyance to you is the only thing that is keeping me going right now, soldier boy. Sort of like the way you and your friends annoyed me non stop for the past few days. And while we are on the topic of annoying, let me be the first to tell you how annoying it is to get a pain through your head everytime you try to eat something. Let me tell you how annoying it is to be shot with some kind of laser and while I'm still on a theme, let me tell you how annoying it is to be chained to a wall when you are dying.” "Are you finished?" Riley asked. "I'm sure I can think of more." Spike began walking when he realized that Angel had ignored them and was several feet ahead of them. "But I'll tell you those later." Angel was the first to make it around the corner and he squinted, staring at the figure that was lying against the wall. As he watched, one of the person ’s arms shot out and he heard a slight groan. He glanced behind him and said, “Whoever it is, they’re alive.” Riley broke into a run and arrived in time to see Michael pulling the pin on a grenade. Riley wrestled it free and shoved the pin back into place, then slammed his sneaker into Michael’s side. He cringed when his foot was met with no resistance and the broken ribs gave under the pressure, sinking inward. “Where is Buffy?” “You know where she is.” Michael rasped, clutching his side while he coughed up blood. “What do you think did this to me?” “Buffy whipped your ass, huh?” Spike smiled and kicked the boy in the groin. “I guess your private party turned out to be a real pain.” Wheezing and gagging, Michael gripped his testicles and rolled away. Angel shook his head when Riley and Spike both started to kick again. “He’s almost dead. You want answers, you let me handle it.” Spike looked at Riley and said, “Angel has to be the hero. He always has to be the hero.” Angel gripped Michael by the front of the shirt and propped him against the wall. The boy looked at him through glassy eyes and sneered, “I’m not telling you a fucking thing.” Angel’s face morphed and he saw the way that the boy recoiled, terror replacing the hatred that had laced his features. Smiling and baring his fangs, Angel said, “You will tell me what I want to know. See, there is this code among vampires and basically, it means that when I sire you, you do what I say, when I say. You’ll be a vampire, but you’ll tell me everything I want to know before I stake you.” He gripped the boy’s hair and tilted his head to one side, whispering, “I hope you won’t miss your reflection too much.” “No!” Michael screamed, struggling against the vampire. “I’ll talk.” Angel sat back on his heel, but kept his fingers in the boy’s hair, indicating that he would strike as soon as the boy said the wrong thing. “Go on.” “I brought her here. She woke up right here and started asking me why she couldn’t walk and I explained that I had given her a shot that would paralyze her.” He heard the vampire begin to growl and began to speak quicker. “But it would have worn off. I wasn’t going to hurt her. I wanted to scare her, scare Riley. I was just going to keep her here for a couple of hours, but she wasn’t supposed to wake up and see me. I- I was mad at him.” He lifted a weak hand and pointed at Riley. “It wasn’t supposed to get her hurt.” “Where is she?” Angel demanded, yanking the handful of hair and slamming the boy’s head against the wall. Michael yelped loudly. “We were sitting here talking and she seemed okay with it, y’know? She was telling me that Riley would probably treat her like a queen when we went back up top and that she would probably thank me for it later. Then, then-“ He forced himself to get emotional, hoping that they would buy his story. “Then she screamed and I looked behind me and Hal Walsh was standing there, slobbering at the mouth and growling, and oozing pus and goo. I didn’t have time to help her. I didn’t have time to do anything because he grabbed me around the throat and threw me here. I got knocked out and when I woke up, she was gone.” Angel studied the man’s face and smiled a little. “That was a chilling account of what happened. So chilling, in fact, that you forgot one small detail.” Spike chuckled and stared over Angel’s shoulder at the boy. “You forgot the part where she saw you before you shot her; the part where you called her a bitch in heat and threatened her. If she wasn’t supposed to know it was you, then why’d you do that?” Michael looked from one to the other and swallowed hard. They were going to kill him and the emotion that bubbled forth at the moment was not forced, the tears that were streaming were real. “I-I figured that she wouldn’t remember that.” “He’s lying.” Riley said, shaking his head. “He knows that the targets are fully aware of being shot and what happens to them for at least a few seconds afterwards.” Angel nodded at Riley and turned back to the man who had harmed Buffy. “So, I listened to you and now you get to listen to me. I’m going to tell you what I think happened. You don’t like Riley. From what I’ve been told, you have a grudge against him for something he had no control over. Riley likes Buffy so you decide to make a play for her and considering that she has taste, she rejected you. Am I getting warm?” He paused and smiled when Michael moved his gaze away. “Yes, I’m very warm. You can’t take rejection, can you?” “You go to hell.” Michael said quietly. "The whole Initiative will be going to hell in a few more hours." Angel was recalling everything that Riley had told them about Michael. He hated Riley because his father had been blown up in the Sunnydale High explosion. Playing the trump card, the boy’s father, Angel cleared his throat. “I bet your father rejected you. I bet you couldn’t do anything like Riley could. I bet your father compared you to Riley, telling you that Hal Walsh was lucky to have a son like Riley.” The boy tugged back, trying to get away from Angel. “Oh, I’m getting very hot now. You grew up being compared to Riley and the only thing you had that he didn’t, was you father and your father liked him more. Then one day, BANG, your father is gone and then here comes Riley with something else you don’t have; a beautiful girlfriend and you try to get her away, but she’s not having it. She rejects you just like your father. I’m so hot, I’m burning you.” Michael looked past Angel and glared at Riley. “You always had to be the best. I scored the highest on the rock climbing and you practiced for weeks and slammed me. You got to lead team one and go aboveground and live a life and I got stuck down here leading my team in the sewers. Everything you do sets the standard and we are expected to live up to it just because you were Hal’s son. Well, Hal’s gone, little man. And he’s got your lover.” “Lover?” Spike narrowed his eyes and glanced at the boy. “You don’t know that they were lovers.” “Bullshit. They took showers together and would sneak into the empty rooms for half an hour. Don’t tell me that they were just talking.” Michael smiled and lowered his voice. “And the locker room talk that our man Finn here was providing was more than enough. Seems Buffy got around to Parker and him. So, now you see why I thought I had a chance. She’s not famous for her taste in men.” Riley pushed Angel out of the way and slapped Michael across the face. “You don’t talk about her.” “It sure sounds like you did.” Spike shouted, shoving Riley as hard as he could and laughing when he fell onto his side. Michael beamed, satisfied that he had caused as much trouble as he could have. Angel saw the smile and pointed at him. “Knock it off, you two. Stop giving him what he wants.” Riley got back to his feet and said, “What do we do now? If my – if this thing does have her then there is a chance she isn’t even alive now.” “You think we should just give up?” Angel asked, shaking his head in response. "I don't know what to do, okay?" Riley snapped. "It won't matter soon. The Initiative is going to be blown to smitherenes." Michael chuckled and grinned with contentment. "You did this?" Kneeling beside the boy, Riley glared at Michael. "You started Code Blue?" "That's the one thing I can do that you can't do better or stop." Michael spit at him, his blood and saliva covering Riley's face. "Can I hurt him now?" Spike asked, trying to be inconspicuous as he stepped on Michael’s hand and twisted his boot around, snapping the boy’s fingers. Michael screamed and Angel slammed his head back again, knocking him unconscious. “How do we kill this thing that has Buffy?” “There is no we.” Riley looked at the bag beside Michael, the standard gear that was issued to the commandos, and picked it up, wiping his face as he did. “This thing is mine.” Buffy figured that she must have become a fool in the past few hours. Hal had led her out of the sewer and into a makeshift system that he had carved through the earth himself. He had explained that in ten years, he was able to create his own underground network by burrowing through the soil. Apparently, his system followed the Initiative’s system and he had access to different areas that had been left open for future renovations. With a lot of coaxing, she had followed him, sliding on her stomach through the mud down the narrow paths he had created. Buffy grimaced when her hand sunk into yet another slimy crevice and said, “What was so wrong about going the way I came in?” Hal was a few feet ahead of her and he paused, glancing back at her. “Do you want to get caught or do you want to get in and get it done?” “I don’t think we’re going to get in, Hal. We’re in dirt. We’re surrounded by dirt that could very easily cave in on us and smother us both.” She inched slowly upward and stopped then her head bumped against his backside. “And could you warn me when you’re stopping? You may be able to see in the dark, but I can’t.” “Do you always talk so much?” Hal began crawling and smiled a little. “Yes. Why?” Buffy felt him move again and followed. Every so often, she would catch a glimpse of his red eyes when he looked back to check on her, and every time, she would look away. It was so hard to fathom that this man, who, in the complete darkness was no different than any other man, was so deformed and demonic in the light. “I talk all the time, but I listen too.” “Riley’s very lucky to have someone who talks to him.” “Everyone talks to him.” “No, he’s never had a woman who really talks to him. His mother, for the thirteen years that I was in his life, never had much time to say anything to him. She was actually pretty mean to him.” Hal’s eyes glowed brighter and he locked in on the entrance that he had exposed a few years before. “We’re almost there.” Buffy breathed a small sigh of relief and pulled herself along, ignoring how gooey the earth was as she slid behind him, “So, why does he stay with Maggie? Why doesn’t he go back to Iowa?” “I’d imagine she has used all her famous techniques to get him to stay. Guilt, threats, tears, you name it. He loved her back then and I’m sure he loves her now, but the life she has given him isn’t what he has chosen. He was never given the option to choose.” He paused and leaned to one side so he could look back at Buffy. “I’d also be willing to bet that he wasn’t remotely happy until you came along.” Buffy blushed a little, feeling his eyes on her. Riley had definitely seemed happy with her and that made it even more complicated. “I guess. So, are we going to just stay here until we run out of oxygen and I die or are we there yet.” “We’re there.” He kept his eyes on her and spoke quickly. “When I open this doorway, we are going to jump straight down and immediately break to the right. There will be lights on and we’re going to go into the first door on the left and clean up some. There will be supplies in that room.” “How do you know?” Buffy asked skeptically. “I designed this facility from the floor up. I’ve made it my mission to spend countless hours sitting in these tunnels listening for them to alter anything. They haven’t. I’ve heard them changing things further up, but I still hear the same squeaky door opening and shutting in the room we’re going to.” “And what if you’re wrong?” “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Buffy sighed. “You know, I’m all for putting my ass on the line to save the world, but these people are pretty famous for mutating other people and I went through this once. I killed this thing, got an aspect of it, and went around for days worrying that I would grow a tail or horns. I’m not itching to piss them off and, no offense, have them give me a rash that a dermatologist can’t cure.” “Listen, Buffy.” Hal reached down and gripped her hand with his. “I know that you’re scared. I understand that completely, but I will not let one thing happen to you. Do you trust me?” “Yeah.” She replied weakly, but honestly. “Then I want you to keep that in mind, no matter what you see me do, I want you to keep in mind that *you* trust me and *I* trust you and I won’t do anything to hurt *you*.” “Is this your way of telling me that you might hurt someone else?” “Yes.” Hal squeezed her hand gently and pulled away, turning the handle on the doorway. “In ten years, my grudge has only gotten stronger. And so have I.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-Three Angel shook the unconscious boy with the toe of his boot and shoved his hands into his duster. He doubted that the boy would ever wake up. The amount of blood he had coughed up was terrifying and he had not appeared able to move his lower body. Irony, to say the least, considering that he had given Buffy something to paralyze her. Angel nudged Michael again and turned to look at Riley. “Any idea where your father would take her?” Riley narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, then shook his head. “I have no idea. We’ve covered every single inch of the sewer and have never been able to find out where he stays. We’ve used every flushing maneuver that is within our capabilities and had not luck.” “And that translates into no, which would have been quick, simple, and to the point.” Spike shrugged when both men glared at him and stared down the tunnel. He nudged Angel with his elbow and asked, “Can’t you pick up her trail? She’s bleedin’ and she’s wearing that vanilla musky stuff.” “No, Spike. I can’t just pick up her trail. We’re ankle deep in stagnant water and decay so that’s a little more powerful.” Angel scratched the side of his head and pointed the way they had been going. “We’ll keep going that way and if we don’t find something soon, we’ll go back and see how the others have done.” “I used to be able to smell one drop of blood on a pile of shit.” Spike announced, cracking his knuckles and glaring at Angel. “I was the baddest damn vampire who ever lived, until you came along and worked some kind of weird mojo on me.” Angel rolled his eyes heavenward. “What kind of vampire goes around smelling shit to see if it has blood in it?” Riley laughed and Spike shot him a hateful look before he lifted his chin defiantly. “I didn’t go around doing that, you bleedin’ wanker. It was a metaphor. It was me saying that when I was a real vampire, I could have smelled her down here. I was insulting you.” Riley chuckled again and brushed past the blond. “I think, Spike, that it’s better that you don’t insult yourself in the process.” “And don’t try to insult me either.” Angel smiled a little. “A shit smelling vampire has no room to talk about anyone else’s sniffing habits.” Spike growled, but it sounded more like a belch. Crossing his arms angrily, he leaned against the far wall and shook his head. “Yeah, go ahead. Get a laugh at my expense. We’ll see who is laughing when we find Buffy and she comes running to –me-.“ Riley’s jaw clenched tightly, causing it to pop loudly. Turning away from Spike, who was enjoying his reaction, he stared down at Michael. “What should we do with him?” Angel leaned down and felt the boy’s pulse. “He’s still alive, but it’s weak. I don’t think we have to worry about him.” “He’s a doctor now.” Spike mumbled, flicking specks of dirt off of his coat. “Hey, doctor? Can you figure out what this big poofy pain in my ass is? It’s Angel shaped.” The two men ignored Spike, speaking only to one another. It was decided that they would take the weapons and bags that Michael had, as well as anything else on his person, just in case he regained consciousness or anyone stumbled onto him. Spike watched them dig through his pockets and shove everything into a larger backpack. He grew interested when a large red key came out from beneath the collar of Michael’s shirt. Moving swiftly, he wrenched it free from the chain that it was hanging from and held it up. “What’s this?” Riley turned and stood, eyeing the key in Spike’s hand. “I don’t believe it.” “What?” Angel had shoved the rest of Michael’s belongings into the pack and stood, slinging it over his shoulder. “What is it?” Taking the key from Spike, Riley smiled. “It’s the break we need. This is a passkey for the entire Initiative. I’ll be able to override the codes with this and it won’t blow up.” “What are we waiting for then?” Angel asked, stalking back the way they had come. Spike watched Riley jog after him and shook his head in disbelief. “Who found the soddin’ key? Who is responsible for saving the Init- wait a goddamn minute! Hey!” He trotted after the other two, waving his arms. “Hey, I don’t want to save that hell hole! Do you hear me? Finders, keepers, you bitches! Give me that key back and let the place look like an atom bomb hit it! Hey! I’m talking here!” Buffy peeked through the mini-blinds, glancing left to right. They had been inside long enough for her to change out of her wet clothes and into a size extra-small set of surgical scrubs. When she had asked why there were scrubs, Hal had stared at her in shock and asked her how long she had been with the Initiative. When she explained that this was her first week, he told her that the Initiative employed real surgeons and real pathologists to work on the Hostiles and they had basic uniforms. Scratching a little, Buffy grumbled about the material and whispered, “I think it’s clear. I haven’t seen anyone for a while.” She squinted to see him in the dim light and moved to stand behind him, staring over his shoulder where he was crouched over the floor. “Hal, what are you doing?” Hal used a long, curved fingernail to pry up a piece of the floor, exposing a small armory, and held a pistol up. Buffy took it tentatively and immediately laid it on the counter. “That’s not a laser gun.” “Would you prefer a laser gun?” “I don’t kill people, Hal. I won’t kill anyone in here.” She moved around and squatted beside him. “And you can’t either. It’s wrong. You’re still a human on the inside and the guilt that you would have-“ “Guilt?” Hal stopped what he was doing and looked at her. “Buffy, guilt is something that I live with every day of my life. I’ve seen what these people can do, what they have done, and I helped make it possible by providing the base plans and layout and programs. Sweetheart, I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring it down.” “Then why not let it blow up?” “I have already told you.” Hal squeezed her leg and handed her a laser gun, flipping it on to make sure it was charged. “I need time to cure myself. My cure relies on my ability to overpower these people, take control, and treat myself. I am still human on the inside, Buffy. And it’s the human in me that longs to come out at any cost." Buffy eyed the laser gun and sighed. “This won’t kill a human, right? They shot me and I ached all over, but I’m a Slayer. What will it do to them?” “Knock them out for about two days.” Hal stood and motioned for her to check the window again. As soon as she turned, he shoved a loaded pistol into his bag and quickly closed it. “I’m so damned clumsy and large that I’ll pull the blinds down.” Moving slowly and dreading what was bound to come, she got to her feet and scanned out the window again. “It’s still clear. Do we have a plan?” “Open the door, go down the hall, shoot everyone that moves, stop the Code Blue, find my cure.” Hal shrugged. It was funny to watch such a grotesquely deformed demon have such human mannerisms, but the knot in Buffy’s stomach prevented her from giggling. She opened the door and stepped out, tightening her hands around the cold metal of the gun. Her finger rested lightly against the trigger as she made her way down the hallway. She remembered something suddenly and stopped, turning to look up at Hal. “Up in the infirmary, they have these people under quarantine. I’ll help you all the way through this, if you’ll help them.” "Quarantine? That's a lie. That's a really old lie. I uncovered the truth about what they do to the people in quarantine and look what happened to me. They use people, test victims, to see how people become demons or how certain demons kill them. They make monsters, allow it to happen.” Hal shook his head, not believing that Maggie was still telling herself that it was okay to sacrifice humans for her cause. “I won’t let there be another victim to their madness.” "Thank you." Buffy began walking again; relieved that Hal was carrying a laser gun instead of the pistol he had earlier. The target loomed dead ahead, the main control unit, and she swallowed hard when she heard voices. She heard Hal whispering for her to do it and she moved fast, rounding the corner. Four men walked toward her and she zapped them all, holding down the trigger and moving from one to the other. Within seconds, the coast was clear and Hal came in behind her and handed her a bright red key. “Now, you have to listen carefully to me. My hands are too crippled to do this, but you can.” Hal motioned at one of the larger machines and said, “Take that key and insert it right under the blue light.” He watched her do as he said and nodded when a panel opened. “Now, pull the key out and type in MAGGIE1970.” Holding his breath, he watched the blue light stop blinking and exhaled loudly. “Good girl. Now, there’s a compartment just off to the left of the keypad there. Pull it open and take out the small toolbox.” Buffy could feel a line of sweat on her forehead and realized that she was only seconds away from a full-blown panic attack. Her hands shook uncontrollably as she retrieved the tool kit. “Got it.” “Come here and open it. Let me see.” Hal stared down at the kit in her hand when she pulled it open and smiled. “That’s what we needed. Take the screwdriver out and unscrew the handle.” He put a hand on her shoulder when he saw how hard she was shaking and then tilted her head up to face him. “Don’t be scared.” Buffy was about to relax when she heard more voices. She grabbed her gun and squatted, taking aim over the tabletop at the corner aisle. Two men walked through and she zapped them, sending them flying back into the hall out of sight. “Don’t be scared? We’re going to get caught, Hal. In case you missed it, this thing is kind of loud.” “We only have fifteen minutes, Buffy.” He motioned for her again and said, “Now, unscrew the handle and pull out the chain.” She did as she was told and gripped a chain in her hand, eyeing the tiny gold star on the end. “What’s this?” “It’s the main key. Get the tool kit and follow me.” Grabbing her gun and the kit, she moved fast behind Hal toward another room that had an Authorized Personnel Only sign on the door. He used the passkey on the door, pushed it open and motioned her inside. Buffy’s legs went weak when she saw what was inside the room. Wall to wall explosives lines the room and right in the middle of the floor was a round canister with a large clock. It was currently at ten minutes. “I thought you said that it had several hours from Code Blue.” “The minute you put the passkey in the mainframe, it starts counting at fifteen minutes.” Hal lumbered toward the bomb and leaned down low, staring at the assorted wires. “Ten damn years and it’s still the same.” “Is that good?” Buffy fidgeted, staring at the bomb. “Cause I’m seriously having a Wile E. Coyote moment here. You know, where he uses the Acme bomb and gets himself blown up?" “Wile E. wasn’t a real super genius. I am. All I need is for you to be my hands.” “What!?” “Get the screwdriver out of there again and come here.” Buffy set the kit in the floor, digging through it and then whimpered a little. “We left it out there.” “Dammit.” Hal growled. “Run get it. I’ve got you covered.” There were a million things she wanted to say to argue why she shouldn’t run get it. Instead, she nodded softly and cracked the door open. Slipping out quietly, she made a mad dash for the main frame and grabbed the screwdriver. A man in a long white coat chose that moment to come around the sidewall. He stopped walking when he saw her and looked at her closely. “Hi.” Buffy fidgeted a little, slapping the screwdriver into the palm of her hand. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing down here, right?” “Yes.” The man walked closer to her and stared down at her. “You’re Agent Summers, yes?” “Yep, that’s me.” She dared a glance toward the door and could see Hal peeking out. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to blast the man, she continued talking. “I’m down here because I forgot my purse earlier and— “ “How did you get in?” “How did I … uhm … Michael let me in. He’s around here someplace.” Buffy chewed her lower lip and glanced back toward the room. Hal stuck his hand out and motioned for her to hurry up. “I better call Maggie and let her know you’re here.” The man pulled a walkie-talkie from his pocket and started to speak. Buffy did the only thing she could think of and knocked the gadget from his hand. He stared at her in shock and she gritted her teeth, punching him as hard as she could. His head rocked back and he fell to the floor. Buffy waited long enough to see that he wasn’t getting up and ran back to the room. Once inside, she turned to glare at Hal. “I thought you had my back.” “I couldn’t get my finger to fit into the trigger hole.” Hal pushed her toward the canister and said, “Unscrew the back panel.” Buffy took one look at the clock and decided not to argue. It was at six minutes. She took deep breaths as she worked the screws out and lifted the piece of metal that housed several different colored wires. Hal immediately handed her the wire cutters and squatted behind her. Resting his hand on her shoulder, he gently said, “We’re going to take this nice and slow. We have two wires to cut and five minutes to make sure we do it right.” “Right.” “Okay, push that thick black wire to the side and reach around it. Really carefully, and not touching the metal screws on the timer, lift them up.” “What happens if I touch the metal screws?” Licking her lips, Buffy dared a glance over her shoulder at him. “Just don’t and we won’t have to worry about it.” “I don’t like this. I don’t this in movies where the idiot bomb squad guy goes to do this and I don’t like it now.” “On the bright side, the next time you see a movie like this, you’ll be able to really feel what the actor is trying to express.” “I also don’t like your logic.” Buffy turned back to the bomb and flexed her fingers. Moving slowly, she pushed the black wire out of the way and steadied herself on her toes before reaching around the timer and tugging on the pile of wires. “Steady now.” Hal kept his eyes on her tiny hand and nodded. “That’s it. Just push the bundle of wires to the left and pull it upward.” Buffy’s heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. She could feel the blood pumping furiously through her veins and was almost afraid to breathe. The wires did not want to cooperate. “I have to pull harder.” “Know your own strength, Slayer. If you yank any of them loose, that’s it.” Closing her eyes, Buffy recalled the day that Spike had been taken and the way she had ripped the pipes out from under Giles’s sink accidentally. Her hand moved on it’s own and she followed the path of the wires, feeling where they were hung beneath a metal rod. She worked it out from around it and the wires fell freely from the side of the canister. “Good job.” Hal stretched up and looked at the clock. “Three minutes.” “Which ones do I cut?” Buffy began to count backwards from sixty, trying to estimate the seconds. "First, put the star shaped key into the timer pad, right there." He waited and watched as she pulled the star off the chain and secured it in place. "Now, press it." Buffy did as she was told and gasped when a new panel opened in the back of the room, exposing a computer. "I hate this place. Hidden doors, wall to wall demons, bombs and now computers that appear out of nowhere." "Concentrate." Hal squinted and stared at the wires. “I think it’s the yellow one first.” “You think!?” Buffy cried, putting a hand over her face. “Hal, don’t think. Know!” “You’re going to have to peel back the coating on the yellow one and let me see what color the wire is.” “Oh god!” Buffy lifted the wire cutters and clamped them onto the wire, in the circular part made for peeling the coating. "I hate this! It's so dramatic!" “Don’t sever it!” Hal shouted. Buffy jumped and almost squeezed her fist down on the handle. “Will you not do that?” “Hurry!” She gently sliced into the coating and peeling it away, revealing a silver wire. “Silver.” “Cut it! Quick!” Buffy moved the wire forward and quickly sliced it into. The bomb beeped and Hal said, “Now, clip the blue one.” “Which blue one?” She pulled up two blue wires and waited. “The darker one, I hope.” “You’re doing this on purpose.” Her hand was shaking again as she placed the cutters on the dark blue wire. Closing her eyes and dragging in a deep breath, just in case it was her last, Buffy clipped the wire and moved away, slumping against Hal. “Are we dead yet?” “No. Not yet.” Hal helped her to her feet and pointed at the back of the room. “We aren’t done though.” “What now?” “We have to override this computer.” A new voice spoke from behind them. “You will not be going near the computer, Hal.” Hal turned and stared at the woman in the doorway. “Maggie, it’s been a long time.” “Not nearly long enough.” Maggie repositioned the laser gun in her arms and looked at Buffy. “Agent Summers, I hereby order you to step away from the Hostile.” “Order me?” Stepping to the right, Buffy put herself between Maggie and Hal. “It is a general rule with me not to take orders from people that I can’t trust.” “I don’t know what he has told you, but he is a monster, Buffy.” Walsh stared at the girl. “No, the monster has a laser gun.” Buffy moved like lightning, throwing the wire cutters in her hand and striking Maggie in the wrist. Maggie shrieked and dropped her gun, cradling her wounded hand. Buffy grabbed the passkey and moved to the computer in the back of the room, shouting, “Is it the same password?” “Maggie1970.” Hal nodded and focused on Maggie, who was leaning against the wall. “Isn’t that ironic? I loved you enough to make the year we were married the password.” Buffy tuned them out and quickly inserted the key and typed in the number. When the blue light stopped blinking, she turned away with a smile on her face. The smile faded quickly when she saw Maggie suspended in the air and blue in the face; her throat clutched in Hal’s hand. “Hal, no!” Hal turned to look at her and held up his free hand. “Don’t try to stop me.” Biting back tears, Buffy moved forward. “You can’t! Hal, that’s still Riley’ s mother and he loves her. This is wrong.” Hal regarded the small Slayer for several seconds and dropped Maggie on the ground. “Thanks a lot. Did I ruin the dramatic climax of the bomb cutting for you?” Maggie wheezed and stumbled to her feet. Buffy moved to help her, but the woman pushed her away and started out the door. She stopped abruptly and spun, holding a pistol in her hand. Hal’s eyes widened and he shoved Buffy behind him, taking every shot she fired in his chest. Riley stopped inside the chamber and gasped. They were back where they had started and he had been about to climb the ladder into the lab when shots rang out. “That was gunfire.” Spike, who was busy glaring at the Marah demon that had caused him to become a half-breed, nodded absently. “You’re so perceptive.” Angel chuffed the blonde on the back of the head and followed Riley up the ladder quickly. Spike shook his head and stared at the Marah demon. “My sire, or whatever the hell I’d call him now, is an idiot. He just went straight into that death trap.” The Marah demon made a croaking sound and slumped forward. Spike tapped it on the head and then kicked it in the leg. “You’re dead? I guess it’s all a death trap, but if you don’t mind, I’ll take my chances here.” He sat down in the tunnel and waited, for what he wasn’t sure. Angel and Riley rushed down a corridor that opened into a larger area and Angel paused, drinking in the sights around him. He stumbled when he realized that he had walked straight into the anti-vampire lab that had poisoned Spike. Reeling dizzily, he shook his head and followed after Riley, hoping that the boy would keep his partners off of him if it came down to it. Riley saw Maggie back out of one of the restricted rooms, firing a pistol at something and he shouted, “Mom!” Maggie heard her son’s voice and spun, not thinking about the danger behind her. As soon as she had averted her gaze, Hal was on her again, snatching the gun and tossing it aside. His big hand gripped the back of her coat and he held her off the ground again, intent on finding a cell to put her in. Riley froze when realized what the demon was and shook his head. “No.” Buffy was behind Hal and stepped to the side, trying to see how badly he was hurt. She rested one hand on his chest, eyeing the blood and looked up at him. “Hal, are you okay?” “Buffy!” Angel cried, starting toward her. Riley blocked him and shook his head. “She’s been exposed.” “What?” Maggie nodded, an idea forming as she heard what Riley said. “Riley, Buffy’s gone. This thing killed her and reanimated her. She came here to try to kill me.” “That’s a lie.” Buffy turned away from Hal, noticing the way the wounds had closed and shook her head. “That’s not true. She’s crazy or something. She did this to him, Riley. She turned your father into a – thing.” The words were blurted before she realized how it sounded and she stared guiltily at Hal. “I’m sorry. You aren’t a thing.” Hal nodded and turned his attention to Riley. “I can’t contaminate anyone, son. They’re all lies. They’re keeping people in quarantine for nothing. Don ’t you remember? Don’t you remember what I told you not to forget?” “You’re a killer.” Riley aimed his gun at his father and gritted his teeth as Buffy moved between them. “All I need to know is that you’re a killer.” “He saved my life.” Buffy said. “Michael was going to kill me, probably rape me, and Hal saved me, Riley. Michael had poisoned me and Hal gave me a shot of his blood to make me better.” Maggie’s eyes widened in shock and she played that card. “See? Son! She’s contaminated. Her blood is no longer clean!” Angel tried to move around Riley again, tried to get to Buffy, but the boy turned the gun on him and said, “Don’t make me use it, Angel. Just stay back.” “Riley, I have never killed anyone.” Hal reasoned, moving around Buffy and stepping toward his son. “You have to believe me.” “I don’t.” Riley stated dryly, his eyes back on Buffy as she moved between them again. “Move, Buffy.” “No.” She shook her head angrily and kept her place in front of Hal. “I can’ t let you hurt him. He stopped the Code Blue, Riley. Does that sound like something a killer would do? Demons get off on mass murder and if that bomb had gone off-" Maggie interrupted, “I stopped the Code Blue! I caught the two of them trying to set all the demons loose and once we had them contained, we used Hal’s key. Then they broke loose and shot all the technicians. Look around, son.” Riley glanced left to right, taking in the unconscious bodies on the ground. “Buffy, you did this?” “You know me better than that.” Buffy replied, hoping she sounded convincing, despite her guilt at actually doing it. “Do I?” Riley took a step closer and glared at her. “You’ve been completely honest with me?” “Yes.” “Is that right?” “Yes!” She answered, louder that time. “Then how is it that I came to find out the real reasons you joined the Initiative from Willow? How is it that you, in all your honesty to me, left out the part about coming here to save Spike? Why was I the last to know about what your ultimate plan was? Stealing implants, biding your time, pretending to like me … ” Buffy sagged and felt hot tears well up in her eyes. “I wasn’t pretending to like you. Yes, I came here to get Spike out because I couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering. I thought that I could use you and brush you off and yes, I intended to. I didn’t intend to fall for you. Riley, please? Believe me?” “Oh, this is pathetic.” Maggie cried. “Riley, shoot the fucking gun.” Forest and Willow burst through the stairwell door and Forest waved the journal in the air. From his vantagepoint, he could see that Riley had his gun fixed on someone, but he couldn’t see who. “Riley, man! Michael killed those kids. We found a dead girl in his apartment and he admits that he killed the one in the sewer. He plans to—“ He screeched to a halt, causing Willow to bump into him, when he saw Maggie dangling off the ground in a demon’s grip. “frame your father. Is that your father?” “Yes.” Riley nodded, not registering everything that Forest had said. Willow rushed to where Angel was and looked up at him. “What’s happening?” “I wish I knew.” Angel moved toward Riley again. “Let’s just put the gun down and handle this reasonably.” “Why don’t I just shoot him, save my mother, and then talk reasonably.” Spike’s curiosity was getting the better of him. The gunshots had stopped and now loud voices could be heard up inside the area. Gathering the nerve to face it like a man, even though he was only part man, he climbed the ladder and peeked out. When he saw that no one was around, he climbed free and headed toward the voices. "If anyone asks, I'll just kill them." He peered around the corner and his eyes widened. A big scaly demon was holding the woman who ran things off the ground and was apparently holding Buffy in front of him, preventing Riley from shooting him. Everyone was standing around and doing nothing, especially his sire, who should have been doing something. He glanced left to right and squinted when he saw a sign on a door that read ‘weapons’. Nodding, he entered the room and picked out a real rifle with real bullets, not one of those laser things that they commandos were so fond of. Moving back down the hallway, he peered around the corner again and took aim. He had been a revered marksman in his day and if no one was going to shoot the demon that had Buffy hostage, then he damn sure would. Through the scope, he could see Buffy crying and alternating between talking to Riley and talking to the demon. The Walsh woman was struggling, spinning slightly as she dangled. He watched for several seconds, waiting for a clear shot. What happened next seemed to happen in slow motion for him. Buffy moved forward several inches, the other lady moved to the side, and he had a clear shot of the demon’s chest. He pulled the trigger and watched through the scope as the demon moved back a few feet and Buffy turned to look up at him, walking toward him. Spike shouted her name, but it was too late, the bullet struck her in the back. He was aware of Willow’s scream. Even more aware of Angel shouting her name and then the gun dropped from his hands and he backed away, shaking his head. “What have I done?” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-Four Riley saw the blood begin to trickle down the medical scrubs Buffy was wearing and dropped his gun, racing forward to catch her before she could hit the ground. “No! God, Buffy, NO!” Buffy opened her eyes, not understanding why she had fallen, and stared up at him. “Riley, I – I’m sorry. I can’t help the way I feel about--.” “Shh, don’t talk.” Riley could feel her blood seeping through his pants and looked at Forest. “Get the truck.” He turned his attention back to Buffy and rocked her gently, brushing the hair off of her face as he sobbed softly. “It’s going to be fine, Buffy. We’ll take you to the hospital and you’ll be fine. You have to be fine.” Forest grabbed Xander, who had come down with them, and said, “Help me get a stretcher and get it loaded in the jeep.” The pain hit Buffy at once and she closed her eyes. So much for Hal’s theory on being invincible. She was dimly aware that Angel had moved beside her and was mumbling about keeping her still and she could hear Willow crying and repeating her name. It was almost like she was being forced to go to sleep, as her body slowed against her will. She fought hard to stay awake, fought hard to ask Angel how Spike was, but her vision tunneled down into one small point of light and then all was dark. “Her body is shutting itself down to heal because of my blood in her. She doesn’t have enough of my blood to complete the process though. She can’t survive that long.” Hal had watched the two boys dart away to find the truck and leaned down, grabbing Riley’s gun. He held it out toward Willow and said, “Please, help me save Buffy.” Willow took the gun and stared at the demon. “What?” Hal set Maggie on her feet and motioned at her. “Shoot Maggie so I can save Buffy. Please? I know how to help her, but I must do it now. The gun won’t kill her, only knock her out.” “Willow, don’t listen to him.” Maggie pleaded, reaching out her hands toward the redhead. Willow stared at the gun in her hand and then back at Maggie, remembering everything Buffy had told her and what Michael had written about Riley’s father being harmless. Then, her mind replayed the day Maggie had told her off about wanting Oz to remain on role call and she narrowed her eyes. She lifted the gun, aimed and pulled the trigger fast, crying out as the power forced her to stumble. Hal let Maggie slump to the ground and nodded, “Thank you, child.” Angel, who was still kneeling next to Buffy and Riley, stared at Willow in shock. He saw her knees buckle and jumped up, catching her as she fainted. He held her against him and watched as the demon, a being like nothing he had seen before, lifted Buffy from Riley’s arms and moved through the building. Riley stared at the blood on his pants and hands and then realized that Buffy had been taken from his arms. He drew his palm over his face, streaking it with her blood, and stood. “What is he doing?” “Helping her.” Angel lifted Willow and followed the demon, hoping that the thing really could do something. Riley had no choice but to follow and jogged after them. He found Angel staring through a glass into one of the exam rooms and paused beside him. Hal looked up from the other side and motioned for Riley. Taking a deep breath, Riley let himself into the room and closed the door. “What are you going to do to her? Change her? Make her like you?” “No. I’m going to save her life, son.” Hal stared down at Buffy and rolled her onto her stomach, quickly ripping open the back of her shirt. “Set up an oxygen tube and get an IV line going to her.” Riley yanked open the supply closet and did as he was instructed and within minutes, was taping the IV into place on the back of her hand. Hal pressed her hand, making sure that Riley had gotten it into her vein and nodded. “Good. Now, I’m going to roll her and I want you to check under her shirt and see if you see an exit wound.” Swallowing hard, Riley lifted the front of her shirt as soon as she was on her side and ran his hand over her soft flesh, feeling for any wetness. “There’s nothing.” “You have to get the bullet out of her then.” Hal pushed the cart of supplies around the bed. “Where is your friend?” “Forest?” Riley glanced at the window and saw that Willow had woken up and was staring at them intently, as was Angel. “I don’t know.” "Ask them to come assist.” Hal hoped that the redhead would be able to help without fainting again. Riley motioned for them and opened the door. “We need help.” Willow stepped in, drying the tears on her face and nodded. “Anything.” “We need to get the bullet out. What is your name?” Hal looked at Willow. “Willow.” She replied, staring down at Buffy’s limp form. “Go to the cabinet and get a syringe and a bottle of Etomidate, Willow. Riley, you wash up and put on gloves and you, Vampire, you do what I say and get this breathing tube down her throat.” The three moved fast, Angel nervously attempting to help her breath with a tube, Willow rifling through the cabinets and Riley washing up. Within minutes, Buffy was on her stomach again, attached to a heart monitor and various pieces of equipment and Willow was injecting the measured dosage of Etomidate, an anesthesia, into the IV. Hal watched the clock, hoping against hope that Buffy wouldn’t weaken before it was over. If she could survive the surgery, he could heal her immediately, but the bullet had to be removed. The Initiative didn’t deal in regular bullets, and if this was what he thought it was, then she would be dead before they knew it. Riley accepted the orders his father gave him, using a scalpel to make the entrance hole larger. Hal commented that she had super healing strength on her own, but his blood had had aided that, which was why the bleeding had stopped and the wound had almost closed. Willow asked why it was still so dangerous for her and Hal admitted solemnly that most of the bullets that the Initiative used were not normal and left it at that. When the wound was opened and Riley could see, he listened carefully and used long tweezers to pull the bullet from her flesh. Hal stretched his hand out and took the bullet, eyeing it closely. “This is very good. Just a regular bullet with no poison.” “Poison?” Riley bit his lower lip and looked back down at Buffy. “I should stitch her up, right?” “No.” Hal glanced at Willow and said, “Please hand me a clean syringe.” Willow pulled open the wrapper on one of the hypodermic needles and handed it to him, watching with wide eyes as he stuck it into his arm and pulled out a vial full of blood. Without warning, he positioned the needle over the wound in Buffy’s back and expelled the content, then drew more blood. Angel started to protest, but the words died on his lips as the wound closed, leaving nothing more than a large bruise and red welt. Hal held up the second vial, which contained a small amount of blood, and said, “Put it into her IV.” “I don’t think—“ Willow started. Riley took the needle, his eyes meeting his father’s as he stuck it into the IV. “You saw what his blood did to the wound.” Hal rolled Buffy onto her back and trailed a hand down her face. “Sleep it off, little one. Sleep it off.” “Who shot her?” Angel finally asked, listening to her steady heartbeat over the monitor, and laying on a hand on her leg. He would have to have a long talk with her about scaring the hell out of him. “I don’t know.” Riley pulled off his gloves and stared down at Buffy’s pale face. “But when I find out, they’re dead.” “I don’t get it.” Willow looked up at Hal. “What did your blood do?” “My blood did what the Initiative was originally created to do.” Hal motioned at the chairs in the corner of the room and waited for them to get comfortable. “Back in the seventies, we were testing animals left and right, trying to find the cures for cancer and parkinson’s and every other fatal disease you can think of. We always knew demons existed, but it wasn’t until I encountered one that we realized the genetic markup of demons was something that modern science had never seen. I was attacked and it was a bloody mess. Out of curiosity, I put a specimen of the demon blood under a microscope and – well – I was stunned. Most demons, vampires included, have healing agents that humans could only dream of possessing. They are immune to all diseases and infection. It isn’t because they are immortal, or because they can only be killed certain ways, it is because they have a component in their blood that makes it so. We decided to stop testing animals and focused on demons. We trained Agents to trap the different kinds, always searching for one better, one bigger, one more complex. We made amazing discoveries along the way. Alheimer’s Disease can be prevented with DNA from some sea dwelling species. Babies born with water on the brain can be drained without the shunt that hospitals use by injecting a small amount of a certain demon’s bone marrow directly into the head. Liver disease, heart transplants, even people with deformations could be helped. It was amazing and we were on the brink of something unheard of. We discovered that Sunnydale is a magnet for demons and came here, using all of our funds to make this underground facility. I designed it, programmed it from the floor up and we were doing great. It was during that time that I realized that Maggie had instructed the Agents to bring back any humans in the vicinity of the demons. She concocted some sort of story about humans being infected, contaminated by exposure, and they believed her. See, we employed a method where we only told people just enough to get the mission done. Questions were practically unheard of. I guess most men, even grown men who are trained to be strong, weaken when they realize that demons are real, and can’t think to add two and two together. And Maggie was nothing if not persuasive. Back then, the infirmary was hers. She had a medical degree and played nursemaid to most of the boys who would get injured. She was in charge of everything hands on and medical and together, we worked the scientific area.” Hal cleared his throat and looked at Riley. “You mother was brilliant, Riley. She knew how to splice genes and mix DNA to get the results she wanted, but that wasn’t enough for her. It wasn’t enough that we had terminally ill patients who volunteered for the project, donated themselves to us for what we wanted to do. It wasn’t enough that we had people who went to rest homes and hospitals and pitched ideas to potential candidates. It wasn’t enough that in the eighties, when we came here, we had over two hundred active recipients of treatment. Maggie had to have an endless supply of humans. For every demon we captured, she wanted a human to go along with that to even the numbers and experiment on both. I couldn’t allow that. I couldn’t allow her to make healthy people sick, just so she could see what would happen. When we entered into this organization, we based it on the fact that we wanted to help people, not take innocent lives. I realized what she was doing when I saw a friend of mine, healthy as a horse, being led into one of the labs. Maggie tried to tell me that he was sick and had offered himself to the cause, but I knew that wasn’t true. It was the height of the HIV scare, right when it was making headline news, and she had injected him with the virus. I knew this because I hacked through his medical records and saw that he was perfectly fine. She stole his memory, made him rely on machines to live and before long, what he had been, a man, was replaced with something as bad as me. Oh, Maggie tried so hard to convince me that it was for the greater good, that mistakes would happen and people would suffer damages and mutate, and that was fine. She tried for days to tell me that it was all okay and that taking innocent lives to save more innocent lives was justifiable. The blood of innocents is never justifiable.” Hal looked back at Buffy and moved to stand beside her. “Thank God the Slayer showed me that it’s true. I almost ruined it all and became like Maggie. Buffy wouldn’t let me kill anyone.” He moved away and continued talking. “Anyway, I overheard Maggie telling some of the other technicians that I was an obstacle. I was standing in the way of everything she had achieved. They made plans to lure me down here and use me as an experiment, make me sick. That whole day, I worked to save files into a secure system, but that’s not all. You see, while Maggie was devoting all of her time to harming people, I had linked a few things together. I swapped the fluids that I knew she would inject me with. I changed labels on bottles and I set about making myself into what –I- had been working toward. A cure. I wanted to have the antidote to sickness and disease inside of me, where I knew Maggie would never look to find it. That night, Riley, you showed up unexpectedly and almost thwarted them. Do you remember me stopping you in the hallway and hugging you?” Riley could only nod and Hal continued. “Do you remember, son? Do you remember what I said to you that night?” “You said, ‘Never forget what you just saw and don’t you let her make you proud of what you do.’” Riley spoke slowly, stunned at what his father had just told him about his mother. “What did you see that night, Riley? Remember what you saw.” “I can’t.” He closed his eyes, trying hard to recall what it was that had made him so terrified. “I don’t remember.” “Yes, you do, Riley. It’s in there, in your head. It’s locked away and it scares you, but you remember. Think. Why had you come down into the lab that night?” “Michael and I were supposed to meet for a late dinner at his house and—,” Riley trailed off as memories began to come back to him, a piece at a time. “He wasn’t there and I thought he was down here helping his dad with some special project he had been bragging about. I came down here and Michael was … “ Putting a hand over his mouth, he shook the image away. “No, that can’t be.” “Michael was what?” Hal urged, shambling to kneel in front of the shaking boy. “You know this.” Images flashed through his head. Michael taking injections. Michael always popping pills. Michael submerged in water; wrapped in some kind of cocoon. Michael with jagged scales popping up down his back. “He was down here and he was writhing on the ground and I heard his bones snap while he was changing into something and then they injected him and he came back. He was naked and the demon went away.” “They caught you, didn’t they?” Hal asked, his hand moving slowly and resting on Riley’s leg. “They caught you and threatened you and were making you leave. You bumped into me and I knew what you had seen and I told you that they had done it, remember?” “Mom was shouting at them to take you away and I didn’t want to let you go.” A sob choked in his throat and Riley stared at the ground. “They pulled you away and I kept screaming for you not to leave me here with her. I was so mad when you just went and then she was there and locked me in one of the observation rooms. It had to be days before she came for me and she convinced me that I had it all wrong. She kept telling me over and over again that I had seen you change into a demon instead of Michael. She made me believe that you were some kind of beast that tried to kill me. It was never you.” “Michael had been diagnosed with lymphoma when you were both just ten. Maggie convinced his father to let us treat him since there was nothing medically that could be done above ground. The treatments worked, the cancer went away, but he was given a worse fate than death, Riley. He was given a demon half.” “It was Michael in my memories and not you. Mom somehow convinced me that I had seen you in his place and that you were a monster.” “She knows her psychology, son. It’s not your fault. She could convince an Eskimo to buy central air conditioning because it’s too hot at the North Pole. She’s that good.” Hal stood. “After the change, after they injected me and my DNA was altered to this point,” He pointed at himself. “I used an escape hatch that no one knew existed and made my way into the sewers. I tunneled all over the place in there, making routes that would lead me all around this complex and I could hear things. I tried desperately to make a move. I would come so close and then back away. I know what this place is capable of and I was a coward. I saw you all the time, down in the sewers, growing into a man. I longed to reach out to you, but you were always so adamant about finding ‘the thing’ in the tunnels. Someone convinced you that I was a killer.” Willow piped up unexpectedly and nodded. “It was Michael. He admitted in his journal that he was killing things and putting them in the sewer to make Riley think his father had done it. Apparently, he wanted to make Riley kill you and then he was going to tell him that you were actually harmless.” She looked at Riley and shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry for telling you that way. But it’s all in his journal and Forest has it.” “It’s okay.” Riley gave her a small smile and looked back at his father. “Why now?” “For ten years I waited, too afraid to move, and then the Slayer showed up. Out of the kindness of her heart, she helped me, trusted me when she was so weak I could have killed her in a second. You should have heard her telling Michael off, telling him that you would find him and kill him for what he had done to her.” “I did find him and he’s dead.” Riley stated with no inflection. “You beheaded him?” Hal asked, running an EKG on Buffy just to be safe. “No, but he was coughing up blood and trying to kill himself when we found him and his pulse was weak. He wasn’t even conscious when we left.” Riley stood and stared at the print out of Buffy’s heart. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong with her.” Hal shook his head and sighed. “But we do have a huge problem. Michael is a hybrid type four, capable of conscious thought only when he has medicated. He was ‘doctored’ with a Tralgar demon’s DNA and can only be killed with beheading. And Tralgar demons are not known for their ability to give up once they set their minds to doing something. Maggie never anticipated that her patients would become more and more of what she treated them with and I doubt that she even realizes it now. He didn’t die in that tunnel.” Spike had somehow made it back down into the chamber before he dropped to his knees. For what felt like an eternity, he sat slumped in the floor, replaying what had happened in the past few weeks. Being kidnapped the first time and showing up at Giles’ house on Thanksgiving had started it all. There she was at the door, arguing with him about whether or not to let him in. Buffy had tortured him, keeping his food from him, tempting him to hit her and he had hated her. Then the witch had done the spell and he knew what it felt like to love her. To push away the demon and love the Slayer. To need her. To need her mouth on his to make him want to smile. To need her arms around him to make him happy. To need her heart, her living heart, to make him feel like his dead one had a purpose. Why couldn’t he have forgotten how good it felt? The gears shifted and he was slammed with newer memories. He remembered the night in the bathroom with the broken water pipes and how hard he had fought with himself not to laugh at how cute she was soaking wet. He remembered shoving her into the door, trying to knock it in with her and quickly pushed it away; unable to dwell on hurting her. He shook away the image and thought about Buffy kissing him in the sewer, telling him that she wouldn’t laugh at him. Buffy brushing away his tears when he was crying and comforting him. Her lips on his. Her body cupped against his, fitting perfectly. Her body going limp in his arms when the soldier boys shot her. Her body going limp when he himself had shot her. The vampire in him was rejoicing that he had bagged another Slayer, but the human was sobbing; wracked with guilt. He reached a hand up and touched his face, feeling the warm tears, then he stared at the moisture on his fingertips. His hand, the hand that Buffy had squeezed that day, the hand that she had held, had pulled the trigger on the gun that had ended her life. It was only fair that it end his own. As soon as he decided that he had to die, he realized that he had left the gun up in the hallway and got to his feet. Moving in a daze, he climbed the ladder and trudged down the corridor. He lifted the rifle and turned, only to come face to face with Xander, who had a large gash on the side of his head and was leaning against the wall. Xander wheezed and said, “You got to help me.” Spike nodded and dropped the gun, wondering why he even cared if Xander needed help. “What happened?” “I was going with Forest to get the jeep to take Buffy to the hospital and this man jumped us. He knocked me out and I can’t find Forest now.” Xander pulled off the baggy button down shirt he was wearing, leaving him with a ratty T-shirt, and wadded it up, wiping away the blood on his face. “How bad are you hurt?” Spike eyes the blood on the front of Xander’s T-shirt, wondering if he had been stabbed too. “I’m okay, ow, I think. We just have to go find the others and let them know that somebody else is down here and they’re pissed.” “Is Buffy dead?” Spike clenched his jaw, making his cheekbones more prominent. “She looked pretty bad, but she wasn’t dead.” Xander put a hand on Spike’s shoulder and added, “She won’t die. Buffy can’t do that.” “She’s only human.” Spike replied, looking at his hands again. The hands that had hurt her. “Humans die.” “No, she’s not only human. She’s the Slayer.” Xander moved away and limped up the hall. “And we need to find her before my concussion gets worse and I forget who I am.” Spike picked up the gun again, letting the small thread of hope that Xander was right propel him forward. He wasn’t sure what he was anymore. Vampire, man, neither. But he knew in his heart that Buffy was the only thing he would ever want. He had wanted her as a vampire, and he wanted her now. He wasn’t nothing anymore. He was something. And he was something that would put an end to everything that had hurt her, including himself if she didn’t make it. Willow realized how much time had passed since Forest and Xander had gone for the jeep and cleared her throat, interrupting the three men who were talking about Michael. “Riley, how far away is the jeep? Shouldn’t they have made it back by now?” Riley’s eyes widened. “I completely forgot about that.” He whipped out his walkie-talkie and spoke into it. “Agent Gates, what is your position?” He waited a beat, adjusting the various knobs. “Willow, do you know what channel he was on?” “You told him fourteen.” She replied absently, staring down at Buffy. “And why hasn’t she moved?” “She has to heal.” Hal stated absently, watching as Riley fumbled with the transmitter. “Try channel nineteen. It used to be spliced to go to every channel. If his talkie is on, he’ll hear it.” Riley flipped the channel and repeated his request. When it crackled and nothing happened, he looked back at the others and started to speak. Then it happened. A voice spoke over the airwaves with a crisp clarity. “Why, Agent Finn. Did you misplace your buddy? That’s not very wise of you. The last time you misplaced something, she wound up kidnapped by your father.” Riley’s face was devoid of emotion as he said, “Michael, you don’t want to play with me.” Michael chuckled. “I’m playing with Forest right now. Want to hear?” There was a loud thud and a scream and Riley closed his eyes, listening as Forest begged Michael to stop doing whatever he was doing. “It’s me you want. Leave him alone.” “Let’s play, Riley, just like old times. Down here in the compound together again. Hide and seek. Tag, you’re it.”

Chapter #9 - 9

Giles walked across town, having excused himself from the group as soon as they cleared the tunnels. He had concocted a story, something about needing a book from home, and as soon as the others had headed off for Michael’s apartment, he headed toward Buffy’s house. The others had a method of dealing with their concern for the Slayer and he could not bear to hear the jokes from Xander, the reprimands from Willow and the stating of the obvious from Anya. Most of all though, most of all, he could not bear the looks that Joyce kept casting his way. As he climbed the stairs of the modest house on Revello Drive, he kept reminding himself that it wasn’t his fault that Buffy was the Chosen One. Every time he lifted his foot and stepped higher, he told himself that Buffy would be fine. Opening the unlocked door brought memories of her previous battles and when he stepped into her bedroom and flipped on the light switch, his own method of dealing with his concern for her kicked in. Giles cried. When he had worked as a librarian and would send her on a mission, he often found himself watching her leave and then rushing out into the hallway to watch her until she was out of sight. He rationalized it by telling himself that he was checking to make sure she had her coat or her Slayer’s bag, but it wasn’t. It was because he didn’t want to someday have to wonder what she had been doing the last time he saw her. Like now. He couldn’t remember if he had been angry with her. He couldn’t remember if he had told her to be careful or said anything to her to indicate that she meant so much more to him than just a Slayer. Perched on the edge of her bed, he rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head, wracking his brain to recall what his last words to her had been. Had she known that, despite his agitation and anger at her, he loved her like a daughter? Was she able to understand that since she came into his life, he had not longed for a family, that she was his family? That she, and her friends, were his children and his life? Or had he failed to show her how he felt and would his punishment for that be to always wonder if she felt it? Shaking his head, he stood and stared around the room, a blend of woman and child and always, her femininity. Smiling at the daintiness of her bedspread, he turned to pick up a stuffed animal and his boot hit something under the bed. Kneeling down, he slid a box out and reality slammed into him. It was a box full of weapons and stakes and Holy Water. His fingers skimmed the various items and he leaned his head against her bed, struck by how remarkable she was, how adept she was at hiding what she was. And how sad it was for her to have to hide anything about herself. Giles drew strength from that. Looking at her weapons and seeing her love for life convinced him that she would not just give up. The Slayer, his slayer, would survive. He pushed the box away and stood, ready to leave and go to the tunnels to find her. He felt guilty for not insisting that he stay and help with the search. As he strode toward the door, something caught his eye on her desk. He turned and lifted the brightly wrapped package, noting his name on the tag. He wrestled with himself, wondering if he should open it and then sat it back down. It would be wrong to do that. Having failed her in a million different ways, that would be too much. Setting it back on the desk, he noticed an open card, one that was addressed to him. It wouldn’t be too bad to read through that. After all, it was just lying out in the open, right? Her perched on her chair, lifted the card and closed it, eyeing the cover, a picture of an English countryside. Buffy had written Merry Christmas in the corner and as he opened it, he adjusted his glasses to read her handwriting, which covered both sides of the blank card. It read: Dear Giles, For so many years, I have looked to you for guidance, wisdom and strength. You have always been there for me and never once, not even when I made so many mistakes that you should have hated me, did you turn your back on me. I ’ve made mistakes in our relationship, Giles. I told you once that if you touched me, I would kill you. Remember? I was just mad and sometimes I wake up remembering that and want to call you and tell you. I’m telling you now. I love you, Giles. I’m sorry for saying that to you. My dad called me a couple of weeks ago and told me that he wanted to take me to England. A father/daughter trip together for Christmas. It’s something we talked about for years and I would always picture him taking me to dinner on one of those little sidewalk cafes. I had these images of him dancing with me and showing me the sights. I used to get so excited when he would mention it, but on the phone, I was impassive. I told him that I’d love to go, but I know how he is and wouldn’t hold my breath. He got mad and hung up and then I got two tickets in the mail. First class all the way. He sent me a stupid note about letting him know if I wanted to see England with my father so he could take time off from work. Well, I don’t want to see England with my father. I want to see it with my ‘dad’. I want to take you, Giles, because I realized something. In the past few years, every time I would see myself at one of those cafes, I was with you. I want to see it through your eyes and I want you to show me where you grew up and everything. Anyone can be a father and anyone can parent a child. But you’ve been a dad to me and I can’t imagine seeing England with anyone else. I wouldn’t want to. Forever, Buffy Giles quickly pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes. He read through the card again and then put it back the way he had found it, lying open on her desk. It was overwhelming. Certainly, he knew that she regarded him as a friend and she had proven time and again that she cared for him, but it was a shock to know that she loved him. He had never been more convinced that his Christmas gift to her, the gift that he had worried about and agonized over, would be absolutely perfect. Now he just had to find her and make sure she was alive and well. And he would be damned if he didn’t do just that. Grabbing one of her bags, he loaded it full of weapons from under her bed and set off back down into the tunnels. This time, he would march right into the Initiative and let them know exactly what he thought of their organization and demand that they help locate the soldier who had taken Buffy. They had caused the entire mess and he would force them to rectify it. Giles grimaced as he eyed the bag, wondering how well a stake and a vial of Holy Water would intimidate a military of armed guards. Sighing, he decided it didn’t matter. He had not been called Ripper for nothing. And nothing would bring out the Ripper faster than a threat to his Slayer. Riley closed his eyes as he listened to Michael’s threats over the walkie-talkie. It was all too much to process. Buffy had lied to him. His mother had lied to him. His father was here and wasn’t trying to kill anyone. Buffy had been shot and now Michael was a demon and had Forest hostage. The sound of Michael’s voice crackling over the talkie was the final straw. The pressure was almost unbearable. It felt like someone was standing on his shoulders just waiting for him to break. Riley snapped. He laid the talkie on the supply tray carefully and walked out of the room, where he promptly slammed his fist into the nearest wall. He didn’t feel anything, no pain and no welcome tearing of his skin, so he did it again and again until his hand ached. Every blow against the wall made him madder and he finally leaned his head against it, breathing hard and struggling not to cry. Hal watched from the doorway and held his hand up as the vampire, the one called Angel, started to brush past him to go toward Riley. Angel backed away and Hal shambled to lay a hand on Riley’s shoulder. “It will be okay.” “It’s never going to be okay.” Riley said, almost growling the words. He spun and stared up at his father. “Everything I have believed is a lie. Everything about Buffy, everything about you and everything about me. If Maggie did this to you, did this to Michael, then who is to say she didn’t do something to me? What if I’m not a man at all?” “You are.” Hal held the boy at arm’s length and tightened his grip. “I can smell a demon a mile away. You are absolutely a human being, son. A man.” “I’m pathetic. I’m weak. I’m out here beating up the wall when my best friend is in the hands of some fiend. And God help me, I’m scared.” “We’ll help your friend. We will get him back.” “No, I will. Michael’s fight is with me. It’s always been with me.” Riley backed away and walked toward a supply closet, intent on finding a weapon. Angel stepped out of the room and glanced at Hal. “He can’t face this thing. Whatever it is, it will kill him in the frame of mind he’s in.” “How do you feel about helping me, then?” Hal stared at the vampire, wondering at the emotion he possessed. “Riley can stay with the girls, locked in that room, and you and I can find Michael.” “Sounds like a plan to me.” Angel nodded toward Riley who was coming back with several guns and two long machetes. Hal turned his attention toward Riley and said, “Angel and I will go and find Michael. You need to stay here and keep an eye on the girls.” Riley stared from one to the other, his jaw tightening. “Absolutely not. This is my fight.” Angel cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice. “Then the answer would be for you to make sure he doesn’t go after Buffy again. He’s going to go after those closest to you.” “You don’t know this place. I know it like the back of my hand.” Riley stood his ground, unwilling to back down. “I know it even better.” Hal said. “You forget that this place was my creation, my baby. Besides, Buffy may wake up afraid and she’ll need you.” The thought of Buffy needing him caused him to snort, but Riley knew that the girls would need protection. Hal was too clumsy to use a weapon and he wasn’t sure about Angel, so that left him. With a sigh, he handed over the small arsenal he had rounded up and stepped aside. “Don’t just kill him. Make it hurt.” “That won’t be a problem.” Angel frowned as he glanced back over his shoulder at Buffy, who had not moved again. “Something tells me Michael is the one responsible for this. He shot her and I will cause him pain for that.” Riley followed the vampire’s gaze and nodded, convinced that the demon could make good on his word. It was taking all of his will power not to insist that he go and fight for himself, but Buffy and Willow’s safety had to come first. Lying on the bed, Buffy looked almost childlike, a tiny lump under the covers, and Riley felt responsible for what she had been through. “I’ll take care of the girls.” Willow appeared suddenly with the wakie-talkie in her hand. “Riley? There’s something going on. I think it might be Morse code.” Riley took the device from her hand and turned the volume louder. Sure enough, there was morse code being sent across the waves. Angel cocked his head to one side, clearly lost, but Riley nodded. “It’s Xander. He’s saying that Michael attacked him, took Forest and that they are … somewhere in a room near the place where Spike was being held captive. Where did Xander learn Morse code?” “He was a soldier once.” Willow replied simply, as if that made sense. “But he’s only, what, nineteen?” Riley shook his head. “This could be Michael. It could be a trap.” Willow looked thoughtful. “Tell him that Willow wants to know what club he was Treasurer of.” Riley made a long sequence of taps on the walkie-talkie and waited for the reply, which came almost immediately. Riley’s brow furrowed and he asked, “The We Hate Cordelia club?” “It’s Xander.” Willow sighed with relief. “He’s still alive.” “We hate Cordelia?” Angel looked perplexed; wishing he could tell the girl how much Cordy had changed in her time in Los Angeles. Willow shrugged. “We did. Or at least, I did. He couldn’t have considering what all he did with her.” Hal glanced around the large facility and said, “You know, if we can hear this, then Michael can too. He may go straight for the boy.” “We better go now.” Angel hefted a machete and slung one of the guns over his shoulder. “Yes.” Hal nodded and looked over at Riley. “When we go, you barricade the door and shut off the lights in there so he can’t see you. Keep your weapon handy and keep an eye on Buffy’s vitals. We’ll contact you on channel twelve.” “Be careful.” Willow offered, taking the gun that Angel held out to her before she followed Riley back into the exam room. Once inside, Riley shut off the lights, blocked the door, and paced toward the window. He watched as Hal led the vampire down the corridor and around the corner, before he turned his attention to Willow. “Are you okay?” The redhead moved to Buffy’s bedside and took her friend’s hand before she nodded at Riley. “I’m fine. Are you?” He ran a hand through his hair and leaned against the wall, squeezing his eyes closed. “No.” “She never meant to hurt you.” Willow pulled the cover up over Buffy’s shoulders and moved around the bed. She sat on one of the chairs and motioned for Riley to sit in the other one. “I know it’s hard for you to understand why she would want to save Spike and I know that it hurt you a lot to know that she knew everything from the get go, but she isn’t a bad person. Riley, she cares for you. I know she does.” Riley flopped into one of the chairs and stayed silent for a few minutes, just staring at the blond who had turned his life upside down. “I can’t have this conversation right now, Willow.” “You need to--.“ “I need to think, okay? It’s not all about Buffy. My mother is a psychopath. My father looks like some kind of swamp thing, my best friend is in mortal danger and the girl I love betrayed me for a demon. What I need to do is think. Process it all.” Willow pursed her lips together and sat further back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. For several seconds neither spoke, and then Willow cleared her throat softly. “I suppose I can see where all of that would be, well, hard to digest.” “You suppose?” “But, in Buffy’s defense—“ “Willow, if it’s all the same, I’d rather hear Buffy speak in her own defense.” Before Willow could argue, Michael spoke over the airwaves again. “Agent Finn?” Riley lifted the small black device and said, “What?” “I see London, I see France,” He sang, in a nasally voice, as he watched Hal and the dark vampire run into the blond and the boy that had been with Forest. “But I don’t see you with your friends. And would you look at Hal? My God, you’re the spitting image of your grotesque father.” Angel’s voice crackled next as he took the piece from Spike, “So, you can see us but we can’t see you?” “That’s right.” Michael replied. “It’s called Hide and Seek.” A new voice, Spike’s voice, chimed in as he snatched the talkie back. “I’m not known for my patience, so why don’t you come on down here and let me kill you for what you did to Buffy.” “What about me?” Xander piped in. “Head wound!” “Maybe it knocked some sense into you.” Spike replied, leaving his finger on the button so that the entire conversation was broadcast. “Both of you, be quiet.” Angel snapped and he grabbed the talkie from Spike’ s hand. “So, Mikey. If it’s a game you want, it’s a game you get. But we make the rules.” Michael watched from the monitor room as the dark haired vampire motioned for Hal to head toward the main frame. He switched to a different camera and watched as Hal instructed the blond vampire which switches to push. The lights flickered off and the monitors went blank. Michael glanced at Forest, who was regaining consciousness. “They don’t play fair.” His smile widened. “I’m having fun already.” Once the compound was completely silent and dark, Angel turned to face the others. “Where would we find weapons and night vision goggles for Xander and Spike?” “Right this way.” Hal led them down a short hallway and pushed a door open. He could see perfect in the dark and knew that the vampire could too. He handed Spike a pair of goggles and paused, eyeing the man up and down. There was something familiar about him, something he couldn’t put his finger on. “Son, have we met?” “I think I would have remembered. No offense, but what the hell are you?” Spike strapped the goggles in place and blinked several times as his eyes adjusted. Hal studied him closely, recognizing the voice. The vampire he had injected years ago was standing before him, but something wasn’t right. Leaning closer, he sniffed the air around Spike and shook his head. “You aren’t in a position to be asking me what the hell I am, young man. What the hell are you? A vampire? You don’t smell like a human, yet your heart pounds steadily in your chest.” Spike squared his shoulders and stood up straighter. “Yeah, well, you think I like that? Bugger off!” Hal watched him as he stalked to lean against the wall and motioned for the human boy, who seemed leery of getting too close. “Come here. Xander, is it?” “Yeah.” Xander took a tentative step forward and reached for the pair of goggles in Hal’s hand. “Come closer and let me see your head.” Xander glanced at Angel, who urged him forward, and he swallowed hard. “I think it’s okay.” Hal walked forward and tilted back the boy’s head. “You need stitches.” “I’m left my sewing kit at home.” Xander quipped nervously. Moving back, Hal lifted a machete and brought it upward. Xander’s eyes widened and he shouted, “No! Hey! I’m not lame, okay? No reason to kill me.” Angel smacked him on the back of the head and watched Hal draw the blade across his hand. Blood seeped through and then the wound closed almost immediately. Hal stepped forward and reached for Xander, who tried to squirm away, but Angel pinned him and held him in place. As soon as Hal pressed his palm against Xander’s head, the pain was gone. Xander gasped and ran his fingers over his scalp, pressing delicately, and then with more pressure. “What did you do? I’m healed!” Spike had stepped out of the corner to watch the entire exchange and his eyes were wide. “Did you do that for Buffy?” “Yes, she’s going to be fine.” Hal patted Xander on the arm and started for the door. “But don’t worry. I won’t be doing the same for Michael.” Giles made his way back through the tunnels, pushing his glasses further up onto his nose, and eyeing his surroundings with apprehension. It had been less ominous when he had come down with a group. Now, he was alone and every one of his senses were going haywire. He breathed a sigh of relief as he entered the area that Spike had been kept hostage in and moved toward a ladder. As he climbed, he ran over his options. Infiltrating a well organized and weapon toting group of soldiers did not rank high on his list of things to do, but here he was and there was no turning back. He had decisions to make though. He had to decide how to approach the people inside and how to demand that they help, without annoying anyone. Getting shot also ranked very low on his list of priorities. He poked his head out of the manhole and then ducked below, registering what all he had seen. Which was … nothing. Sticking just the top of his head free, he scanned left to right, pondering the darkness. It had been his experience that good things did not happen in total darkness and inside a facility known for housing demons. Bemoaning the task at hand, Giles pulled himself free and pressed his back against the wall. Now his options were left or right and since he couldn’t see three inches in front of his face either way, he chose to go left and put his right hand on the wall. Right hand rule. All around him there was silence and he listened to his own heavy breathing as he made his way through the darkness. For ten minutes, he followed the wall, bumping into various tables and that stood flush against it. After he had successfully made as much noise as he could, he sighed and stopped walking, ready to announce that he was there to anyone who could listen. That was when he heard something off to his left and he whispered, “Hello?” Nothing. “Hello?” He spoke louder and stumbled forward, running into something that flashed blue and shocked him. “Bloody Hell!” Giles shouted. That was when the lights came on. The next exclamation that escaped his mouth was also from shock, mental shock and not physical. All around him, there were demons behind pieces of what appeared to be glass. And the glass was slowly sliding sideways, allowing the smaller demons to step into the corridor with him. “This won’t do at all.” He mumbled and fumbled for a stake from the bag as the demons surrounded him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-Six Hal could feel it. As soon as the lights had come back on, he knew that something had happened. Deep in his gut, he knew that Michael had opened the cells and let the demons out. His enhanced ears could pick up their howls and moans and his skin tingled. Moving fast, he grabbed the human boy and pointed at the main computer. “Flip that red lever and type in SYSTEM LOCKDOWN.” Xander did as instructed and then jumped a little as loud crashes could be heard all over the building. “Whoa! What just happened?” Hal quickly explained. “We overrode the system. Anything Michael wants to pull next will have to come from this computer. The monitors don’t work during a lockdown, neither do the phones or elevators, but that works well. I have a feeling that once his comfort level has been stripped, he’ll come to us. The lights will automatically shut off and on during lockdown. It was a bug that I was never able to iron out, so even if they do go off, don’t put too much stock in the shelter that provides because they will come back on randomly.” Angel had also experienced the same feeling of unease and as he looked around, the feeling intensified. “Where is the lady that Willow blasted?” Hal arched an eyebrow and glanced behind him, to the spot that Maggie had been lying in. The empty spot. “Son of a bitch!” “We need to split up.” Angel said. “Some of us need to go find that woman and the others need to search for Michael.” “I’ll deal with Maggie.” Hal stated, no emotion in his voice. “You three stay right here and wait for Michael to show. Odds are, he’s going to come down here and try to mess with the mainframe. When he does … “ “When he does, he dies.” Spike said simply “Well. Shit.” Giles announced to no one. Demons flanked him on every side and he threw a cursory glance over his shoulder to confirm that he was indeed boxed in. None of the demons appeared to be advancing closer; they simply stood staring at him, sizing him up. He knew that he did not appear to be an intimidating person, considering his slacks, sweater and dress shoes, but he did have a bag full of weapons over his shoulder. Moving carefully, slowly, he slid the bag around under his arm and pulled a stake free. One of the demons growled low in it’s throat when it saw the stake and moved back, the growl deep and resonant through the quiet compound. The others stood their ground, their demeanor unfazed by the sight of the small wooden weapon. Giles scanned each, mentally cataloguing the different breeds and species that stood before him. Clearing his throat, he said clearly, “Do any of you speak English?” “I do.” A vampire told him, flexing his fingers as though he couldn’t wait to ball a fist and pummel someone. “But it won’t help you any.” “You must believe me when I say that I mean you no harm.” Giles scanned the demonic faces, pausing at several of the more feral looking ones to emphasize his words. “I am here on a mission that is of no consequence to you.” “Oh, it is of consequence if you seek to do us more harm.” A horned demon replied, inching closer. “A stake? What have you in your bag to stop an army?” Giles stood his ground, unflinching. He knew that he would have to fight them all or bluff his way out of it and at that moment, bluffing was comforting. “An army is what you will all have to fight if you do not make your way to freedom now. There is an opening around the corner that leads to the sewer and it has been left open. If you go now, you may have a chance at getting away from the people here.” The vampire who had spoken first straightened his shirt a little and glanced around at the other demons. “He’s offering us a deal. Am I the only one here who isn’t moved?” One of the vampires, hearing Giles’ blood pumping fresh and alive through his veins, leaped forward and attempted to bite him. As soon as he made the move, he clutched his head and howled in pain and shock. Another demon, thinking that Giles had somehow hurt the vampire, lunged at the man, only to have the same results. It happened several times, with several breeds, and Giles stood in the center, flinching every time claws raked him and the demons retreated in pain. Chaos ensued as Giles, and more importantly, the demons, began to grasp what was happening. The creatures were unable to harm any living creature. Demons being demons, the ones that were not in pain began to taunt the ones that were, and soon, Giles was forgotten as the creatures waged a war with one another. He used the distraction to his advantage and moved quickly away from the melee that was beginning in the main hall. He sighed with relief when he saw that the new corridor was demon free and walked briskly, keeping his mind on the task at hand. He had to find a human being and let them know what was happening. Helfting his bag, Giles clutched the stake tighter and moved further into the compound. A movement caught Giles’ attention suddenly and he sighed with relief to see a young man dressed in fatigues supporting another young man. One was trying to open a door and the other was slumped against him, probably injured. “Excuse me, sir. I think I need your help.” Michael turned slowly and eyed the older man up and down. “Really? How so?” “My name is Rupert Giles and I am here to seek aid in locating Buffy Summers. She seems to have been kidnapped by one of the boys who work here and I fear for her safety.” His gaze left the young man and he took in the state of the injured boy with him. The black boy was gagged and his eyes were open and wild, clearly trying to send a message to him. Giles sagged a little and backed away as he realized that the boy was Forest, Riley’s friend. “And of course, this situation could not get worse.” “Yes, it actually could.” Michael dropped Forest and slammed his fist into the boy’s face, effectively knocking him unconscious. “Worse for you, I mean. I need a new hostage.” “Well. Shit.” Giles said again, dropping his bag and raising his fists in boxer fashion. “I must warn you, I won’t be taken alive.” “I must warn you.” Michael smiled. “I was counting on you saying that.” “Well,” Giles clenched his jaw and motioned with his hand for the boy to make a move. The lights went out again suddenly and he added, “Shit.” Maggie rubbed the back of her neck, trying to work out the tension. It was a good thing that her jacket, although appearing nothing more than cotton, was lined with a material that protected against shock. She had been knocked unconscious by Willow’s laser, but the blast had been deflected enough that it didn’t put her out for too long. She slid her pass into the door of the Infirmary just moments before the lights went out again. The back up generators inside the ward kicked in, enabling the machines to keep working and the various lights on the machines lit the room enough for her to see. She moved fast, collecting blood and saliva from the people strapped on the beds. Her thoughts were jumbled, probably from the shock she had received, but she was capable enough in her task to perform it quickly, fluidly. Too many years of research, too many hours of blood, sweat and tears, had been invested in the Initiative to let it go. Even if she did not survive the night, the samples would be preserved in the deep freeze and Riley, sweet Riley, would see to it that her dream lived on. Marking the vials of blood and the swabs of saliva with the proper numbers and codes, she moved quickly into the next room to file them. The blast from the freezer drowned out the sounds of the door opening behind her and when she stepped out of the freezer and closed the latch, she saw a reflection in the stainless steel. Her heart seemed to skip several beats and she sagged against the cool metal, not turning to face her creation. Hal stepped further into the room and eyed her up and down. “I knew I would find you here. I couldn’t help but notice that your victims in there have gotten younger over the years. Honestly, Maggie. Children?” She turned slowly and lifted her chin. “They were exposed to dangerous toxins because they were kidnapped by demons. We are merely-.” “Oh, save it.” Hal crossed his arms and leaned against a counter in one corner of the room. “Is that what you tell yourself to get you through the night? That they were exposed? That they were mentally damaged enough by their encounters with demons that they could never live productive lives? That it’s all for a greater cause?” Maggie’s eyes never left his, but she didn’t speak. Hal continued. “You know as well as I do that it doesn’t happen that way. You could make them forget what happened and they would be perfectly normal. You made Riley forget, didn’t you? That’s okay. I made him remember.” “Riley is-“ “Aware of everything. He knows that it was Michael he saw that night and not me. He knows that you made me what I am and he hates you for it.” “He would never hate me. I am his mother.” Hal chuckled. “You used every mental torture you could on him. Making him call you Maggie instead of Mother and punishing him with the strap if he slipped up. You insisted that he be named Finn instead of Walsh so you could have the perfect soldier and no one would ever know he was your son. You separated yourself from him since his birth. You aren’t a mother to him.” “He loves me.” “Love? How many times did I hear that spoken endearment from you, Maggie? Look at what love did to me. Look at what your love for your job has done to innocent people. Is that the love you speak of? Because if it is, you’ve perverted it.” Maggie swallowed hard and started to move past Hal. His massive body blocked her and she stared up at him. “What exactly is it that you want from me? You could have killed me when you had the chance, but you didn’t. Why?” “Buffy.” Hal replied, staring down at her. “She’s the reason you’re still breathing right now.” A smile curled the corners of his lips and he leaned lower. “But, the idea I just got is all mine.” Stumbling backwards, Maggie grabbed a long metal rod off the filing cabinet in the corner and swung at him. His hand, easily three times larger than a human hand, caught it and twisted, causing her to release it and cry out. “You bastard! You could have broken my wrist.” Hal said nothing for several long minutes and then he grabbed her, tucking her under his arm and taking her into another room off to one side. It was hard, with his crippled hands, to hold her in place on the chair and strap her down, but he managed; fury and determination pushing him through any obstacles. As soon as she was strapped, he gathered supplies and kneeled in front of her. With a smile on his face, he used one sharp talon to cut into an alcohol swab and pressed it to her forearm. “Now, Maggie, this is going to hurt me more than it does you.” “You’ll never get away with this, Hal.” Maggie tried to wriggle away as he picked up an IV and shoved it into her skin, roughly searching for a vein. “What are you going to do? Inject me with poison?” “No.” He shook his head and reached for her other arm, using another alcohol swab before repeating the process. “Why are you giving me two IV’s, Hal? What are you going to do to me?” “You know the answer to that, Maggie. Think really hard.” Hal walked to the freezer and flipped a light on, leaning down low so he could walk into the small room. He scanned the shelves before finding the mixture he needed, all the way in the back. As he shut the door again, he spoke. “You know, I told Buffy earlier that I would need time to find my cure. Time to research and time to create a serum, but I realized that isn’t true. My serum was attainable all this time. You see, Maggie, you can never erase what something was. The human in me, has been here all along, waiting for release. It’s like a vampire. The demon takes over, but the human is always still there. The body, the face, the mind, the memories. It’s weak, but it’s there. You made me a monster. You didn’t realize that anything you do can be reversed. Anything you put in me can be flushed out. With a vampire, it’s demonic possession that grabs hold of the host and won’t let go, but with science, it’s numbers and equations and formulas that grab hold. The problem with me has been that the human components of the equation were suppressed. All I needed, all along, was enough human blood to counteract the foreign materials you injected into my body.” He paused for effect and took a bow. “You can hold your applause since you seem to be tied up.” “What does this have to do with me, Hal?” Maggie felt a bead of sweat trickle down her back and took a deep breath. “What I am right now is a medical miracle. I can heal wounds, stop the spread of disease and can’t be harmed. If I give myself a transfusion of human blood, then all of that is gone.” He turned his back to her and tinkered for several minutes at the counter. When he turned again, he had an IV in his arm and smiled. “But, if I give you my gift, then it goes on and on.” Xander squinted through his night vision goggles as he poked his head up over a row of boxes. He scanned left to right and then ducked back down when he didn’t see Michael. “I don’t like this. We should be mounting some kind of offensive. I can do it, I have military memory.” “There are three things wrong with that plan.” Spike replied. “One, we don’t know this area. Two, if you planned the offensive we would die and three, the thought of you mounting anything sickens me. So sit over there and be quiet.” Xander exhaled loudly and looked toward Angel. “Isn’t he supposed to be a kinder, gentler demon now that he isn’t a real vampire anymore.” “I’m not sure what he is supposed to be besides quiet.” Angel said softly. “You two are supposed to be concentrating.” “God hath spoken.” Spike mumbled, staring back out at the darkness. His goggles were in his hands and he refused to humble himself enough to wear them. "This is ridiculous." It was quiet for several seconds and then Xander spoke softly. “Do you think Buffy’s okay?” “I don’t know. They operated and she was still asleep when we left.” Angel replied absently. Spike jumped a little and stared at Angel in shock. “Operated?” “They had to get the bullet out of her.” Angel closed his eyes, trying to wipe away the memory of seeing Buffy so helpless. “She looked so small and fragile.” Swallowing hard, Spike turned his back to the others and drew in a deep breath. It was obvious that everyone just assumed that Michael had pulled the trigger that almost ended Buffy’s life. The sound of the gun firing, the sound of his sire’s voice screaming her name and most of all, the look on her face he had seen through the scope of the gun was too much. No matter what he was right then, man or vampire, he was still a killer. And she deserved better. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He could leave town and not look back or he could stay and confess to her that he had done it. Either way, the pain he would feel would be gut wrenching and he would probably not be able to live with himself. Running his palms over his jeans, he exhaled softly and decided not to think about it until he had to. Xander spoke again. “I don’t get it. What exploded to make Hal a Swamp Thing? You know? The movie? The lab explodes and instant Swamp Thing.” “It’s a long story.” Angel said, eyeing Spike and wondering why he had become so sullen. “Not that I’m complaining. He did fix the gaping wound in my head and all, but he’s a Swamp Thing, only without the grassy covering. He’s more like Scale Thing. Dermatitis Thing. Possibly even-.” “Shh! Get back!” Angel crouched when he heard the sounds of a scuffle coming from around a corner. “Someone’s coming.” In the darkness, where he had not been able to see well, Giles had been easily overtaken. He knew that the soldier he was fighting probably had some sort of night vision enhancements that had enabled him to catch him so quickly, but he was furious with himself for being such an easy target. Years of training with the Slayer should have taught him how to handle the darkness. He had drilled that into Buffy’s head so she could be aware of everything, even on the blackest night. He currently found himself pushed along with a knife of some sort at his throat and the boy holding him firmly. “You will never get away with this.” “No? I think I already have. See, my intention was to kill Buffy and guess what? She’s dead. I saw it with my own two eyes.” Giles felt his knees try to buckle and shook his head. “That’s a lie.” “She got shot, man. Right in the back and it was beautiful.” Michael leaned low, right at the man’s ear and added, “And I stopped them from getting her to the hospital.” Giles threw his elbow back into Michael’s gut and then slammed his head against his face, smashing the goggles he wore and sending him down to his knees. The lights flickered once, twice, and then shone brightly. Angel stepped to one side of Michael, Xander stepped to the other and Spike and Giles closed in as well, forming a circle around the psychotic soldier. Xander smiled brightly. “We won’t have to worry about taking you to a hospital.” Angel slammed his fist into Michael’s jaw and yanked a handful of hair, tilting the man’s face to his. “Mostly because there won’t be enough of you left.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-Seven The impact of Angel’s blow sent Michael staggering back toward Xander, who used the man’s momentum to propel him into a wall. The four men stood back and waited patiently for him to rise again. Michael stayed down low and turned slowly, looking from one to the other. Two of the men had machetes and he had no doubt that they knew exactly what he was and how to kill him. Springing forward, he tried to skirt around Giles and run away, but the man brought a knee up into his abdomen and shoved him away. Firm hands gripped the back of his shirt and held him steady while the blond, the vampire, moved to stand in front of him. As soon as Michael made eye contact, the blonde’s fist slammed into his face once, twice and then a third time; marring his vision with trails of blood that leaked into both eyes. Xander pushed Spike out of the way, mumbling something about hitting him where it hurts, and brought his boot up hard, right between Michael’s legs. Smiling with satisfaction, Xander watched him pale and did it again for good measure. Angel, who was holding him in place, shoved him forward and pounded his head against the wall several times, then dropped him. Giles cleared his throat and spoke first. “Shall we confine him someplace until we can send him to the proper authorities?” “He’s not human.” Angel replied. “Are you Michael? Is that why your father didn’t love you?” “You go to hell!” Michael screamed. Xander smiled at the man and said, “Apparently you don’t know old Angel here. He’s been to hell. They sent him back.” Spike rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “He was probably trying to turn all the demons into humans. Are you going to kill this asshole already?” Michael swallowed hard and stumbled to his feet to face his attackers, wiping the blood off his face. “Looks like the odds are slightly in your favor.” “They’ve always been in our favor.” Angel shot back, staring the man from head to toe. “You didn’t really think you would get away with it, did you?” “Oh, I did get away with it. I wanted to hurt Buffy and she’s hurt.” Michael smiled, refusing to let them see that he was terrified. “She’s really hurt. And I’m the man who-“ “You think shooting someone in the back makes you a man?” Xander moved in and gripped the front of his hair, slamming his head against the wall. Michael groaned and shoved the boy off. “You think I shot her? Please! That’ s so anticlimactic.” Spike’s eyes widened when the man turned his gaze to him and started to speak. Moving swiftly, he grabbed the machete from Angel and rammed it through Michael’s gut, then pulled it free and looked at the others. “What? Talking never did solve any problems.” Michael slumped to his knees and clutched his stomach. “You won’t win. Maggie has a bigger plan that none of you will stop. She’s-“ “Turning people into demons and claiming that it’s for a good cause?” Angel asked. “Okay, you know what she’s doing, but you won’t stop her.” Michael stared at the blood on his hands and began to heave, every movement causing the pain to intensify. “They won’t have to stop her.” Hal stepped from the stairwell and smiled at the others. “I saw to it that she won’t be a problem. Now, what do you say we get rid of this problem and go see how that adorable Slayer is.” Spike needed no further prompting. He drew the blade back and brought it through the air quickly, deftly severing Michael’s head. As soon as he did it, a surge of pain shot through him and he dropped to his knees. Angel moved beside him and said, “Spike? What’s wrong with you?” “My hands.” Spike held them up, expecting them to be gone. “I can’t feel my hands.” Angel gripped one of his hands and then turned to Hal. “Look at this.” Spike’s fingernails had grown longer and turned black around the edges. Hal squatted beside the man and tilted his face toward the light. “My god. He appears to be aging.” “Aging?” Giles moved to the other side and stared at Spike closely. “Of course! Angel mixed his blood with a Marah demon, but the demon was dying and therefore, wasn’t strong enough to counteract the vampiric possession in the human vessel.” “Marah? I’ve heard legends that a demon called the Marah can turn a vampire into a human. He came in contact with one?” Hal slid his fingers along Spike ’s neck and felt for a pulse, but was unable to feel anything through the thick layers of his skin. “His blood mixed with a dying Marah demon. It was almost dead at the time it happened.” Angel provided the information, watching Spike closely. Hal nodded. “And the vampire blood has obviously been corrupted to the point that it can’t sustain youth and immortality.” “We have to do something.” Angel said quickly. “Is there another Marah demon here?” “I don’t think that’s the answer.” Hal motioned for Xander to get a gurney and lifted the blond onto it. Already, his own strength was failing as the human blood inside of him began driving away the demonic enhancements. “Spike, can you hear me?” “Yeah.” Spike moaned and opened his eyes. “Ow! My head!” “Listen to me, young man. If you were to be given the choice, would you choose to become human again or be returned to the darkside?” Angel shook his head angrily. “No one would choose this life and he isn’t in a position to decide that! Look at him.” “I am looking!” Hal snapped. “He’s dying. Right before our eyes, he is going to age and die. Now, I don’t know if there is another Marah demon here. I don’t know if that would even work at this point. What I do know, is while he is still in this stage, I can remove the chip in his head and turn him back into a demon. I can't offer more. My mission here was about saving people. Not turning people into demons or demons into people." "But there has to be a way." Angel closed his eyes and thought about Buffy and her love for his creation. "You don't understand. Without that chip, without being forced to stop killing, this man is one of the worst creatures alive. He will kill Buffy the second he gets a chance if he is able to harm the living." "Do you want him to die?" Hal asked, strapping Spike into place. Spike shook his head rapidly. "Don't give him a vote, dammit. He's thinking about himself and how good it would be to get the rock out of his shoe. He wants me to die!" "No." Angel replied, laying a hand on Spike's chest. "I don't want you to die and come back as what you were. Buffy deserves more than that and so do you. I wanted to give you back what I took away from you when I mixed your blood. I wanted you to be able to take her into the sun and give her a family. Everything I couldn't give her, I was giving to you. I wanted to live through you and if you are just a demon, you can't give her any more than I can." Hal laid his hand on top of Angel's and shook his head softly. "Young man, he was never just a demon. Ever." “I- I don’t understand.” Angel looked down at Spike and saw that he looked just as confused by Hal’s statement. “Could you elaborate?” “I will later. First, we need to get Spike taken care of. I don’t know how long it will take for him to begin to deteriorate completely. Can I count on you to find a vampire who will sire him?” Hal stared out over the compound. “I’m sure there has to be one here who would do it for their freedom.” “Okay.” Angel moved away and stared at the floor, his mind fumbling to make sense of what had happened in the past fifteen minutes. Spike stared at the vampire in shock. “Okay? No, I don’t think so, Angel. You did this to me and you will undo it. You sired me once and you will damn well do it again!” Angel started to protest, but Hal held up a hand and began wheeling Spike away. “I need help in here. My hands are still not capable.” “Help doing what?” Xander asked, already following to offer assistance. “Getting the chip out. It should take less than ten minutes.” Hal pushed the gurney into one of the back rooms. “Can we chop his head off to do it?” Xander lifted his machete and leered at Spike. “Can I, huh?” “I heard that!” Spike growled. “Don’t forget, pissant, I’m about to be restored and when I am-“ Xander laid the machete on the counter and glanced over his shoulder at Giles and Angel, who had come into the room as well. “You guys heard that, right? Is anyone else thinking that this is a bad, bad idea?” “This isn’t a bad idea.” Hal replied, turning to fit a metal device around Spike’s cranium. “Bad ideas are when you turn people into demons.” “Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Xander pointed at Spike’s rising and falling chest. “It’s alive!” Pausing, Hal scratched the side of his head. “It’s just half alive, right?” “You said it’s dying. What other alternative is there for it?” Giles was watching intently, staring at the equipment in awe. “It’s not an it!” Spike shouted. “I mean, I’m not an it! And I’m mostly dead which is only slightly alive.” Xander’s eyes widened. “You’ve seen the Princess Bride!” Spike growled. “I wouldn’t watch that sissy stuff.” “You quoted it!” “Bugger off!” “Can we stay focused?” Hal asked. When the others became quiet, he began doling out orders and soon, a strategically placed magnet was draining the power out of the chip. “In about ten minutes, we will make a small incision and insert this clamp that will remove the chip completely.” Spike cleared his throat. “Shouldn’t I be given a numbing medication? Be drugged? Knocked out? Given alcohol?” Hal smiled a little. “You’re mostly dead. You won’t feel a thing.” “Bloody hell!” Willow gazed out the window at the compound and slumped back into her seat. It had been far too long since they had heard anything from the others. She sighed and glanced at the walkie-talkie that was resting beside Buffy’s bed on a table. She had already asked Riley several times to speak into it and ask the others if they were okay, but each time he refused, telling her that if he did that, it would put them at a disadvantage. If they could hear, Michael could hear. Willow didn’t care what his reasons were and she was about to sneak it into her palm and blurt out something when it crackled to life. “Riley? Willow? This is Giles.” Leaping from her seat, Willow grabbed it and said, “Giles! Are you okay? Why are you down here? What’s going on? Did you kill Michael? Did you find Forest?” Riley held out his hand. When she made no move to give it to him, and kept talking, he pried it out of her fingers and pointed a finger at her. “Willow, you have to give him a chance to reply.” “Sorry. I’m just excited.” She smiled weakly and glanced at Buffy as Giles spoke again. “First, how is Buffy?” Giles glanced over his shoulder at the others, who were removing the chip from Spike’s head slowly. “Is she all right?” Riley cleared his throat and pressed the button to speak. “Is this line secure, sir?” “Michael is dead.” Giles replied. “He is no longer a threat. Please, how is Buffy?” “She’s fine. Sleeping comfortably.” Riley stared at the small lump that was Buffy and sighed. “Any word on the condition of Agent Gates? Forest?” “I saw him when I came in. Michael left him in a –“ Giles’ eyes widened and he slapped a palm to his forehead. “Oh dear! In all the commotion I forgot to tell anyone that quite a gaggle of demons have been freed from their, er, holding pens. The glass just slid to one side and out they went.” “Do you know where, sir?” Riley stared at Willow and then moved back to the window. “Which hall?” “Uhm, if you come up through the tunnel where we found Spike and Angel and go left when you climb the ladder, it was right down there.” Riley handed Willow the walkie-talkie and grabbed his laser gun. “You lock this door behind me and if anything tries to get in, you shoot first and ask questions later.” “Please don’t leave us!” Willow cried, clutching his arm. “Your dad said for you to stay with us.” “You’re going to be fine.” Riley replied, squeezing her hand. “I won’t be gone long.” Giles’ voice crackled again and he added, “They were harmless. Couldn’t hurt me at all and then wound up fighting each other. I did tell them how to get out and since we haven't seen them, I assume they left.” Riley took the gadget back from Willow and spoke quickly. “How many?” “Fifteen at the least.” Giles watched closely as Angel slid the clamp back and held the small implant up to the light. “Is that it? Are you done?” Hal nodded and began instructing Xander how to close the wound. Giles remembered that he was speaking to Willow and Riley and shook his head. “Apologies. We’ll be there shortly.” Willow watched Riley take a deep breath and start toward the door again. “You heard him, Riley. They were harmless! Implanted or whatever. Let it go.” “I need to do this, Willow. It’s my job.” “And what about what Buffy needs? She needs you here when she wakes up because she’s going to be scared and she’s going to—“ “Want to see you.” Buffy spoke suddenly, struggling to sit up. “Ow, god.” Riley hurried across the room and held out a hand, pulling her into a sitting position. “Buffy, maybe you shouldn’t be sitting up.” “Where are the others?” She choked a little and glanced at Willow, who was staring down at her from the other side of the bed. “Willow, can you get me some water?” Riley watched Willow go into the bathroom, let go of her hand and said, “The others are okay. A-are you okay?” Buffy picked at one of the small knots on the blanket and kept her eyes down. “That depends on you.” “On me?” “Are you waiting for me to say that I’m okay so you can yell at me some more?” Riley sighed and stared down at her small hands, nervously tugging at the blanket. “No. I’m not.” Her eyes filled with tears and she slowly raised her head to look at him. “What are you waiting for then?” The sight of her hazel eyes brimming with unshed tears ripped through his gut and he lifted his hand to her cheek, catching one before it could course it’s way down. “I’m not going to yell at you.” He slid closer and pulled her against him, careful not to touch her back. "But I am going to hold onto you for a while.” Spike sat on the edge of the gurney, delicately pressing the small incision that held two stitches on the back of his head. In one hand, he held the device that had ruined his life. It was so tiny that he had to squeeze it between his thumb and forefinger to believe that it was actually there. It bit into his flesh and he flicked it at Angel, then grinned. “I feel like a new man.” Angel glanced at the others and said, “Leave us alone, please?” Giles nodded and motioned for Xander to follow him out of the room. Hal paused beside Angel and handed him a box. “Angel, you won’t be able to ingest his blood. One thing I have learned in my time is that a vampire gives half of himself to the offspring he sires and the human blood he takes makes him stronger. It wouldn’t be a fair exchange and I fear that it would make you ill.” “What are you saying?” Spike practically yelled. “He can’t do it?” “No, he can do it.” Hal pointed at the equipment on the table. “Angel, you’ ll have to run an IV and not cap it off to drain the blood from his veins. When he’s almost blooded, you feed him. There will be no exchange for you so you need to stop him before he takes too much from you.” Spike scowled at the prospect of being drained through a tube. “We can’t even do it the old fashioned way. Are you satisfied now, Angel? You screwed me up so bad that I can’t even get sired right!” “This might work better if you don’t talk.” Angel sighed and nodded at Hal. “It’s okay. I’ll stop him.” With a nod, Hal stepped out into the hallway and Angel turned back to look at Spike. “Take your shirt off.” “Ooh, kinky.” Spike unbuttoned his shirt and slid it over his arms as Angel began opening an IV. “Last time it was my pants you wanted off.” Angel stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the other man. “Last time I was an animal. I was a thing with no conscience, no remorse and everything that you are about to become. Spike, I know that there’s a part of you in there that feels human feeling. I saw it in the tunnels when you lost the ridges and experienced guilt earlier, but when I change you, it all stops. What you feel for Buffy will die along with you.” Spike wadded the shirt up and laid it beside him. “Bullshit. What I felt for Buffy was there before this stupid human thing got me. All I had was that damned chip in my head that stopped me from killing her. It didn’t make me feel though.” “When I reverted back to Angelus, I was worse than I ever was before.” Angel closed his eyes, picturing Jenny, then pushed it away so he could focus on Spike. “What if you come back as something worse because you did feel for her? That’s what happened to me. I wanted to punish her for making me feel. Moreover, you can’t control it, Spike. You can’t. No matter what you think you feel now or how strong you think you are, you will lose the battle.” “It’s a battle I’m willing to fight.” “Not with so much at stake. She’s going to trust you, Spike. She’s going to welcome you into her life and you will have every opportunity to kill her. Are you willing to let that be on the line?” “If I come back as some kind of thing that can’t feel and can’t think, then kill me. But don’t deny me the chance. You took away my life once before and now I’m asking you to give it back to me. As a human, I had nothing. I tasted love one time and she was robbed from me. As a vampire I have tasted love twice and this time, I won’t let her be taken away.” “This time?” “Elizabeth died. The girl I loved as a human. Somehow, some way, someone saw fit to send her back to me. Not her, exactly, but Buffy brings me the feeling that only Lizzy brought me. Am I willing to let that be on the line? Yes, I am. Because I know how strong it is and I know that I won’t let her be taken again. I’d die for her.” Saying nothing, Angel reached for Spike’s arm and slid the IV into his vein, then put the open end over a large trashcan. Red blood began to trickle through the tubing and he watched it for several seconds. “Spike, I’m going to trust you, but I won’t just leave after this. I plan on staying to make sure she’s fine and you’re fine.” Lying back, Spike swallowed as a wave of dizziness crashed into him. All his words had convinced Angel to change him, but it had done nothing to convince him that he deserved the change and the chance that came with it. A ball of raw emotion wedged in his throat and he choked back a sob. “I shot her, Angel. I shot Buffy tonight.” “Wh-what?” Angel, who had been trying to reconcile himself to the fact that there was no turning back, was too stunned to move. “You?” “God help me, Angel. I saw that demon hanging onto her and thought he was going to kill her. She stepped out of the way and I had a clear shot of his chest and took it. I’m not a good man, I'm not a man at all.” Spike drew a hand over his face and stared up at the ceiling as his life slowly drained away. “I hurt her and I ran like a coward. Like a killer. I can't be that again.” “It was an accident. You didn’t mean to.” Angel stared at the puddle of blood in the wastebasket and shook his head. Spike was dying and he was confessing what he thought was a sin. “It’s okay. You didn’t mean to and she ’s fine.” “Please tell her I’m sorry. Please-“ Spike’s hand fell away from his face and he exhaled loudly. “Forgive me.” Angel realized that he was almost dead and cut his wrist, placing it over Spike’s mouth. At first there was no reaction and then he felt Spike push the blood out of his mouth, trying to prevent the change. Angel gripped him and held his wrist in place. “Drink it! Do you want me to have to tell her that you were a coward who shot her and then couldn’t face it? Is that what you want?” Spike was in a haze, a deep fog that made Angel’s words seem a million miles away, but he heard them. The cool blood burned the back of his throat, threatening to choke him, and he relaxed into it, swallowing deeply. He was vaguely aware that tears were streaming down his face and then Angel’s wrist was gone and he felt a shift and a whisper, “I forgive you, Spike. She will too. Come back to us the way I know you can. Come back … come back … come back … ” And then there was nothing.

Chapter #10 - 10

Giles watched as Xander and Hal hoisted Forest onto a stretcher and wheeled him away, then he turned and went back to the room that Buffy was in. He knocked lightly and Riley asked, “Who is it?” “It’s Giles.” He replied, moving to the window so they could see him. Willow pulled the door open and practically leapt into his arms. “It is so good to see you.” Giles hugged her lightly and nodded, “Yes, it is very good to see you too. How’s Buffy?” “Itching to get out of this bed.” Buffy called. Patting Willow affectionately, Giles walked past her and paused when he saw Buffy sitting up in the bed. Riley was in a chair beside her and stood when Giles walked in. “Sir.” “If you two will excuse us,” Giles glanced from Riley to Willow. “I’d like to talk to Buffy alone. Your friend is being taken to a sick bay in the east wing and he seems fine.” “Forest?” Willow’s eyes widened and she motioned for Riley. “Come on, Riley. Let’s go yell at him for scaring us.” Riley took Buffy’s hand and squeezed it. “I won’t be gone long. I think we should really talk later.” “Okay.” Forcing herself to smile at him, she watched him join Willow and waved as the two left. Really talking to Riley would mean admitting things she didn’t want to admit and facing things she didn’t want to face. At the moment though, the way Giles was staring at her was enough to make her forget everything. “Giles, I-“ “How are you?” He interrupted her and moved to the side of the bed. “You’re so pale.” “I feel fine. Better than fine. Are you okay?” “I am now.” He sat next to her and pulled her hand into his. “I was frantic with worry over you.” “I’m sorry, Giles. I am. You were right. I was in way over my head here and I should have been better prepared for things.” She swallowed hard and looked him in the eye. “I was frantic too. Giles, is Spike … I mean … did Spike suffer when he died?” With a deep sigh, Giles shook his head. “He’s not dead.” “He’s not?” Buffy’s eyes widened and her eyes filled with tears. “Hal saved him, didn’t he?” “No. Angel did.” Giles dug through his pocket and handed her a tissue. “I won’t go into the details, as those are better left told by Spike, but he is going to be just fine.” “Can I see him?” Pushing the cover off her legs, Buffy started to get up, but Giles shook his head. “What is it, Giles?” “Now would not be a good time to see him. You just have to trust me on that.” Staring at the floor, Giles wondered if he should tell her the truth. Would it be better for her to know that he had tasted life again only to have it taken away or would it be worse for her? He forced himself to smile and take her hand. “You can see him later. First, I want to talk to you about something.” Buffy bit back the questions that wanted to tumble forward and nodded, “I know what you’re going to say, Giles. You’re going to tell me how stupid all of this was and I know, okay?” “Actually, I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry that it took you almost dying to make me realize a few things.” He stood and paced toward the window, then turned to her again. “When I got fired from the council for helping you on your eighteenth birthday, it was because I had a father’s love for you. You heard that, but I have neglected to tell you that it is true. I neglected to tell you that I couldn’t want for more than you. I’m sorry that you didn’t know that.” “Giles…” Buffy didn’t know what to say. The tight knot in her throat was threatening to choke her and her heart was fluttering in her chest. “I-I know. You didn’t have to tell me. You show me all the time.” “I went to your house tonight and I sat on your bed trying to remember the last thing I said to you. I couldn’t remember if I had been cold to you or not.” He dug through his pocket and pulled out a velvet bag. “I don’t ever want to feel like you doubt for one second what you mean to me. I’m not good at emotions, I never have been, but I love you, Buffy and I want you to have this.” Buffy rubbed her eyes, trying to clear her blurred vision and took the bag he was holding out to her. She untied the ribbon that held it closed and turned it upside down, spilling the contents into her hand. A heavy round locket and gold chain landed in her palm and she gasped, running her fingers over the intricate G on the front. “Giles, it’s beautiful.” “My grandmother was a watcher. She never got the chance to work with a Slayer, but she was well known for her knowledge and eagerness to involve herself in the battle against evil. She only had sons and she used to long for a daughter or a granddaughter, but she never got that. On her deathbed, I went to her. I was just beginning to accept my calling as a Watcher and she asked for me.” He paused, collecting his thoughts and then took a deep breath. “She told me that she knew I would be a good watcher and I would have the Slayer that she never had. This was her good luck charm and she wanted me to have it.” “Giles, I can’t take this. It’s like, a family heirloom or something.” Buffy squeezed his hand and handed him the locket back. “But thank you.” “Buffy, it is a family heirloom. Passed down from one Giles to the next.” He unclasped the chain and put it around her neck, fastening it in place. “And you are my family. You’re not just the Slayer that Granmother never had, you ’re the great granddaughter that she never got to meet.” Buffy stared down at the locket on her chest and wrapped her fingers around it. “I don’t deserve you. I was horrible to you when we first met and I’ve caused you so much pain.” “And stress and worry and I think I have an ulcer with your name on it too.” “I’m really sorry, Giles.” He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face. “But you also caused me to have a purpose and I wouldn’t trade one thing for that.” “Nothing?” He stared at the wall for a second and then his brow furrowed. “Yes, I would. I’ve given you what was intended to be your Christmas present and now I have to go shop again. I hate shopping.” “You don’t have to shop again, Giles. Just promise me something and that will be enough.” “Anything.” “When I give you your present for Christmas, please promise me that you’ll say yes.” Giles remembered the card he had found on her desk, telling him that she wanted him to take her to England instead of her father. He was tempted to blurt out that he would love to take her, but he forced himself not to spoil her surprise. He had no doubt that, when the time came to read the card again, he would be able to muster every ounce of emotion to show how much it meant to him. “I promise.” Riley and Willow tried to go through the door of the sick bay at the same time. She frowned up at him and barged forward, stumbling into the room. Forest glanced up and smiled, waving the hand that wasn’t in a cast back and forth. “Hey, you two.” “How are you?” Willow blurted, speaking before Riley could. “Are you in pain?” Forest pointed at his IV and shook his head. “Morphine. I’m perfectly content to have my limbs removed with a rusty butter knife at this point.” “Michael’s dead.” Riley held a chair out, motioned for Willow to sit down, and stood behind her, eyeing his best friend critically. “Any permanent damage?” “Your dad says I should be back on track in about eight weeks. The sick fuc- “ He glanced at Willow and grinned sheepishly. “The sick bastard broke my arm in two places.” Clearing her throat, Willow chimed in. “By all means, call him what he is. A sick fucker.” She glanced up at Riley and added, “We didn’t get a chance to tell you that we found a body at his apartment. That fourth little girl that was missing. He planted the first one in the sewer, staged it so you would find her for sure and think if was your father and everything.” “I don’t understand why he would do that.” Riley ran a hand over his forehead and sighed. “I’d rather he would have just killed me instead of some innocent child. And he went after Buffy on top of that.” Forest squirmed slightly and groaned a little. “According to his journal, he had some kind of pact with the demons that we went to capture that first night Buffy was on the mission with us. The ones by the drive-in. Anyway, he arranged for that field agent to be kidnapped and released so we would go out there. He hadn’t been counting on Buffy being a bad ass. You were supposed to freak out about your father killing humans instead of dogs and go after him that night. He was going to backtrack you and kill you. Seems Buffy thwarted his plans though.” Willow nodded and handed Forest the glass of water he was reaching for. “Also, he was eavesdropping when Buffy admitted that she had been responsible for the explosion that killed his father. He still hated you, but wanted her to suffer. The plan was, get her to the sewer, gut her or whatever, make it look like your father did it and force you to kill him. Then he was going to tell you that you had killed an innocent man, let you hurt, then he would kill you.” Forest whistled a little. “Is it just me or is this a badly plotted soap opera wanna be?” “It’s not just you.” Riley mumbled, trying to grasp everything that had happened. “Where’s Ha- my father?” “Right here.” Hal said, coming into the room with Xander. “The demons that had escaped are all back in their cells. We simply activated the homing portion of the chip. They all returned to their cells without incident.” “Like demon pigeons.” Xander saw Willow and rushed to her, giving her a quick hug, then turned to look at Riley. “How’s it going?” “Been better?” Riley replied, staring at his dad. Somehow, he looked more human. The tusks that grew from his cheeks were almost gone and his ears were shorter than he had remembered. “You don’t look the same.” “I need to explain that to you, Riley. Would you come with me?” Hal handed Xander the bag of saline they had retrieved and mumbled something about a morphine shot in twenty minutes, and led Riley out the door. Riley shoved his hands in his pockets and his shoulders sagged. “What’s going on?” “I did something that you probably won’t like.” Hal stopped walking and turned to face his son. “When I first came down here tonight, I had every intention of killing your mother. Buffy stopped me, wouldn’t let me harm her. I found her earlier, saving all the samples from those poor people in the quarantine and she indicated that nothing I could do would stop her. I stopped her.” Leaning back against the wall, Riley bent at the waist and took several deep breaths. “You killed my mother?” “No.” Hal laid a hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t kill her, but I did stop her.” “H-how?” Standing slowly, Riley felt the blood rush to his head and squeezed his eyes closed. “I was talking to that vampire earlier. Spike. I recognized him from a time long ago, when we were first experimenting on demons. I could tell by looking at him tonight that he was in trouble. The creature he had been was compromised and there was a battle within him for humanity or the demon to regain control. There has to be advantage. A tipping of the scale in one favor or the other. It was the same with me. I didn’t have enough human blood to override the materials that had been injected into my blood stream." Hal stopped talking and began walking again. Riley followed dumbly, stumbling over his own feet. “You gave yourself a blood transfusion and now you’ll be human again?” “Something like that.” Stepping into the elevator, Hal pressed one level up. “Your mother is in the infirmary. You saw what my blood could do tonight, Riley. You saw me save Buffy, close Xander’s head wound and I explained what the original goal was for the Initiative. I couldn’t let that be wasted.” “I don’t understand.” “You do understand, you’re just choosing not to.” The elevator opened and Hal led him down a hallway, then paused in front of the windows. Maggie was strapped onto a bed and she was thrashing wildly, screaming and shaking her head back and forth. As Riley watched, her jaws elongated, snapped back into place, then grew wider. Her hands were clenched tightly and he could see that her usual pink flesh was replaced with greens and grays. “What have you done?” “Let’s just say, your mother had a transfusion as well. She’ll be fine. She’ ll live, save lives and be a better person.” “She never was a person.” Riley watched his mother and shook his head. “Are you going to put a chip in her head? Alter her behavior? Give her a lobotomy?” “If need be.” “You’ve made her look like what she is. A monster.” Riley shook his head and pressed his fingers over his eyelids. “At least she can never fool anyone again.” “Well, you’re taking this better than I thought.” Hal watched him closely, fearing that he would break down. “I almost wish you had killed her.” Riley ground his teeth together and looked up at Hal. “What kind of man does that make me?” “A smart man. A man who was hurt. A man who suffered. I haven’t forgotten what she did to you all those years, son. The whippings, the drills, the way she detached herself from you.” “And the way she made me feel like I was nothing more than a foot soldier. I was never a person to her, I was another creation, one she actually had the power to mold and I wasn’t allowed to feel anything.” He looked back through the glass. “And now, when I should be feeling sorry for her or love for her … I just feel relieved.” “I understand.” He tentatively place his arm around his son’s shoulder and squeezed him slightly. “She’ll never hurt anyone again.” “Are you back for good?” Riley realized that he hadn’t felt the urge to push his father away and that shocked him. “I am. We have a lot of missed time to make up for.” “I missed you.” Turning to face Hal, Riley wrapped his arm around him and hugged him tightly. “Welcome home, Dad.” Do not seek death. Death will find you. But seek the road which makes death a fulfillment. -Dag Hammarskjöld Spike floated, unable to close his eyes against the sights before him or stop the chills that wracked through his naked body. Hellhounds bayed, howling at him as he floated past them, each one snapping and nipping at his flesh. Demons, in various stages of rot and decay, threw things at him and tugged at his body, forcing him to kick with his bare feet. Flying bugs buzzed through his hair and then raked spiky legs down his cheeks, piercing his skin and causing him to swat wildly. And the hissing, the hissing of the snakes that lined the walls and floor, followed him, even as he covered his ears and floated through. There was something else too, something behind him, stalking him, and it was coming fast. It watched his every move, laughing silently and pausing to run it’s pale fingers through the blood droplets that fell from the cuts on his skin. When it tasted his blood, it smirked, ready to reclaim the home it had known for over one hundred and twenty six years. ** Angel knew this well and closed his eyes when Spike’s dead body convulsed and jerked on the table, then stilled. Spike was facing his own demon, warring with it in Hell. What he currently was, was nothing more than a lost soul, a disjointed specter that had been damned to hell. The soul would float, visiting the crevices and caves of that dimension, until the demon chasing it caught up and won. When the soul was gone, the demon would follow the path it had taken and possess the human body. It could take hours or days. Angel shifted on the stool and crossed his arms. He would wait. ** Spike journeyed deeper, trying to control the way he drifted so he would not hit the demons that reached for him. He used his bare feet to push off a blood soaked statue and moved through a new cavern. A bright light loomed on one end and he saw Buffy, sleeping soundly with her hair fanned across a pillow. He pressed both palms to the barrier and screamed her name. He never heard the chuckling from the darkness or the silent urgings for him to keep calling her. Spike never remembered that only a demon could entice a soul out of a body and into the netherworld. All he saw was her and all he wanted was to feel her in his arms Straight into Hell. ** Giles smoothed Buffy’s hair back and frowned as she shifted in her sleep, crying out. Her heart monitor beeped loudly and Giles looked at it, trying to figure out what he was seeing. He lifted the walkie-talkie when it beeped again and spoke Hal’s name. The reply was swift and Giles told the man to come immediately, then turned his attention back to Buffy. “Buffy, wake up.” She was motionless for several seconds and then she made a choking sound. Her eyes opened wide and she stared at the ceiling, clearly unseeing, and then she was still again. The monitor beeped steadily several more times, then flat lined. “No!” Giles yanked the cover down and listened for her heart beat. “Don’t you do this to me, Buffy! You come back! Come back right now.” Pulling the pillows out from under her head, he tilted her back and breathed into her mouth, then clasped his hands and began to press her chest. ** Buffy was disoriented. She sat on the edge of the bed, peering at the room and then looked over her shoulder at Giles, who was sobbing and breathing into her mouth. She reached for him, but her hand went right through him. Gasping, she tried again, only to have the same results. “I’m dead?” She grabbed her ears when she didn’t hear herself speak. “I’m deaf too!” “Buffy!” Her name ripped through the silence, causing her to leap from the bed. One wall of the hospital room had vanished, replaced by a lacy looking web and Spike stood just behind the milky film. “Come to me.” Giles was forgotten, her life was forgotten and she knew nothing except that he was there. And the urge to go to him was strong. ** Hal and Riley had run down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. Xander saw them sprint past the open doorway of Forest’s room and his heart fell into his stomach. Willow stood and mumbled one word, “Buffy.” Forest watched them race out of his room and shook his head. “You go ahead, don’t help a man to his feet. I'll get there eventually.” ** The minute Buffy was in his arms, Spike stopped floating and dropped to the ground. She caught him before he could fall all the way and smiled at his state of undress. “Why, Spike, are you cold or are you happy to see me?” “Cold has reverse effects, Slayer.” He smiled, licking his lips. “So it’s the other choice.” “I was so scared I would never see you again.” Pulling his head down, she kissed him hungrily, deeply, then pulled away. “Where are we?” “I think we’re dead. Lost souls, maybe?" Spike turned and glanced back through the caverns, feeling something lurking there, dangerously close. “I don’t like this.” “Wait, you don’t have a soul.” Buffy felt it too, a sense of dread and foreboding. Something darted past her and she jumped, clutching Spike’s forearms. “All living things have souls. I was alive.” Spike took her hand and pushed her back toward the opening. “You don’t belong here. The minute you came in, it’s like everything shifted. Everything here that is evil is coming to claim you. Don’t you feel it?” “Feel what?” She held her ground, not budging. “All I feel is you. I finally feel whole. Spike, I lo-.” “Buffy, you’re a Slayer. This is Hell. Not just the loose term of that word. This is literally Hell. Slayers don’t go to hell. No matter how many vampires they shag.” “Oh, you bring that up?” “Just go. Now. Buffy, something is coming and I pulled you into this.” He gripped her and tried to shove her out the way she had come in. “I’ve hurt you once, I won’t do it again.” Buffy pushed against his hands and stepped to one side. “Come with me, then. I’m not leaving you.” “Don’t make me force you.” Spike narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. “Oh, like you could. Look at you. Baring your arse as naked as the day you were born.” There was a sharp clapping sound and a being stepped into the light and pointed at his exposed flesh. “You going to poke me with that little splinter?” Buffy felt faint. She stared from one to the other, exact duplicates. The only difference was one was clothed in a robe and he had the face of a vampire. And he was currently closing in on the naked Spike. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to decide which side to be on. Riley made it first and threw the door open, then promptly froze when he saw Giles’ attempts at CPR. Hal pushed him through the doorway and to one side and moved into the room. “What happened? Riley, get the crash cart.” “I don’t know.” Sweat was dripping off of Giles’ brow and he dared a glance at the man. “She just thrashed about a bit and then the machine went crazy and stopped.” “I was afraid of this.” Hal saw Willow and Xander arrive and turned to Willow, handing her the paddles. “Be ready to help me. Now stand clear.” Riley put safety pads on Buffy’s chest, which he had just exposed, and held his hands up. Willow, pulling on every episode of ER she had seen, pressed the paddles in place and squeezed. Buffy jerked on the bed and Riley shoved the stethoscope into his ears. “Nothing.” “Again.” Hal said, rubbing his hand over her hair. “Charge again.” “Wait!” Riley had pressed his fingertips to her wrist and then moved the stethoscope back to her chest. “Her heart’s beating.” “Is she breathing?” Hal looked at Giles, who was leaning his head on the bed. “Mr. Giles, is she breathing?” Giles brought a shaky hand up to her nose and waited several seconds, holding his own breath. When he felt nothing, he choked on a sob and whispered, “No.” “Life support.” Hal pulled his gaze away from Giles, feeling the man’s pain and looked at Riley. “Let’s get it done.” Willow shook her head firmly. “No. She doesn’t want that.” Hal closed his eyes and spoke slowly. “My blood did this to her. I explained to her that there would come a time, after the injection, that she would become weak while her blood countered the effects of mine. I never dreamed she would be this weak, but this is what we’re faced with. She is fine. She will be fine. But we have to keep her alive until the effects subside.” Xander stared at his friend’s limp form. Her breasts were exposed, but he had not even noticed. All he noticed was the fact that her chest wasn’t rising and falling. “Bring her back. Just bring her back.” On the heart monitor, the pace was steady, then it tapered off and flatlined again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty-Nine It is only death that stings my body And all that I am afraid of Only death, that parts us in this life But death will not stop true love Will you meet me when it's over And the journey has been made Death is but a moment And our love will never fade... ** Spike whirled to face the voice and his eyes widened. He knew instantly what the demon before him actually was. It wore his appearance, the same shock of blond hair, but the eyes were black, souless orbs set into a ghostly white face. The ridges of the demon’s forehead were more prominent and his fangs were longer than those of an earth-walking vampire. Spike didn’t move an inch as he cast his gaze toward Buffy, willing her to back away. Buffy felt a sharp pain in her chest and a tugging back toward the entrance she had used to join Spike. She ignored it and launched herself at the Spike who wore the robe and demonic face. He caught her by the throat and threw her against one of the walls as if she were a rag doll. The other Spike, the one who was naked and shaking, watched in horror and moved to help her to her feet. Vampire Spike shook his head and held up a hand, blocking him from her. “You tainted me, boy. You let yourself have feelings for her and fought me. You’ re a disgrace.” “Buffy, get up!” Spike screamed, trying to push aside the clawed hand on his chest. “Get out of here!” Buffy rose slowly, not sure what was happening. Here, in this place, she had no strength, no Slayer abilities. Quaking a little, she moved slowly to one side, hoping she could tackle the good Spike and topple them both back through the opening. The demonic creature clucked his tongue and stared her up and down. “When I claim her and then claim you, William, I will come back as the most powerful vampire that ever lived. Overtaking souls in Hell is a noble thing. To have the honor of casting a slayer’s soul to the Ether will be rewarding.” “I won’t let you hurt her. It’s me you want.” Spike moved fast and shoved the demon aside. His hand found Buffy’s and he pulled, but the demon was faster and caught her by the waist, sinking his fangs into her neck. It was not blood that poured from the wound, it was her life’s essence, funneling out in tufts of fog, straight into the demon’s body. Willow shocked Buffy again, crying out as her friend’s body convulsed. She watched the monitor hopefully and then shook her head. “It’s not working.” Xander, who was squeezing a breathing bag over her mouth, spoke loudly. “We’ re not stopping.” Riley charged the crash cart again and nodded. Willow closed her eyes and shocked Buffy again, ignoring the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Buffy felt weak. She saw Spike move forward and strike the demon with some sort of stick he had picked up, then she was thrown aside. The demon moved back and got stuck in a thatch of thorny vines, giving her a reprieve, and she stumbled to her feet, rushing toward Spike. “Spike!” “We have to get out.” He gripped her arm and pulled her, leading her toward the opening. Behind them, the demon raged, calling forth help to stop them from running. “Are you coming?” Buffy turned, staring up at his face with anticipation. “You first.” His voice trembled and he forced himself to smile through the lies he was telling her. “I’ll be right behind you. Don’t look back, okay? You can’t look back.” “Why?” ~ Because I can’t bear it. ~ “You can’t take the memories of this. If you look back, you’ll be haunted by it for the rest of your life.” “You promise you will be behind me?” Buffy asked, leaning her head against him for a split second. “I promise.” The demon roared and broke free, his heavy footfalls causing the entire cavern to shake. Spike pulled Buffy to his chest, protecting her against the falling rocks. “No matter what, I love you. Never forget that.” Buffy looked up, trying to figure out the tone of his voice and gasped when she saw tears on his face. “Spike?” Spike kissed her once, fiercely attacking her mouth, and then he closed his eyes and shoved her back through the portal as hard as he could. She screamed, the sound echoing through his mind, and he turned away, covering his ears and staring face to face with the thing that would go back in his place and kill her. He couldn’t let that happen. Buffy’s heart began to pound, causing the monitor to beep loudly, but the scream that erupted from her throat drowned it out. The Slayer sat bolt upright in the bed, staring at the wall that she had come back through. She shoved the cover off her legs and leapt over the railing, then rushed toward the wall, slamming her fists into it. “Spike! Spike, come back! You promised me! You promised!” Giles reached her first and wrapped his arms around her, trying to pin her arms to her sides, “Buffy, stop it. You’re going to hurt yourself.” “Where is he?” Buffy screamed, kicking and trying to break loose. “Take me to him now!” One of her heels connected with his shin and Giles let her go. She rushed through the door, shouting his name, unaware that the others had followed. Angel had dozed briefly and when he heard someone shout for Buffy, then heard her yell Spike’s name, he jumped up and opened the door. He caught her as she came barreling around the corner, her face flushed and her eyes wide. “Buffy?” “Where is he?” She demanded, pushing away from him. “Spike!” “He’s in here.” Angel pointed at the doorway and watched her dart through it. By the time he had the presence of mind to follow, the others had arrived. “What happened?” “She died.” Willow replied. “It was horrible.” “Then she came back all crazy.” Xander had pushed past them and was looking into the room where Spike lay on the table. “Uh, guys?” They moved toward the door and stared inside, none of them moving. Buffy was up on the table, straddling Spike’s hips and slamming her fists into his chest. “You promised me! You said you would be right behind me!” Angel started to go to her, but she stopped beating him and laid her head against Spike's chest. Her shoulders sagged, almost in defeat and she whimpered, “Spike, come back. Please come back. Fight it. You can fight it because you’re stronger than it is. Don’t leave me. Not now.” Spike heard her, he heard her plea and brought his knee up against the demon ’s groin, causing it to howl at him and slam him back against a wall. Rocks cut into his flesh, but he paid it no mind, he balled his hands into fists and fought. He fought with all his heart and soul. “You can’t go around breaking promises, Spike.” Buffy was limp, her voice coming out in a hoarse whisper now. “Fight. Keep fighting. That demon won’t take you down.” Angel listened to her words and his eyes widened. He kneeled next to her and put his hand on her back. “What did you see? Willow said you died.” Buffy sniffled and turned to face him. “Spike was calling me. He asked me to come to him and I did.” Giles gasped. “He beckoned her into to hell. Her soul, I mean.” “What’s happening to him?” Buffy cried. “There are two of them down there and he’s fighting it.” Angel ran a hand over his face and looked up at Giles. When it was apparent that Giles wasn’t going to volunteer the information, Angel spoke softly. “I had to change him again, Buffy. He was half human and what you saw in Hell was his human soul. When a person is turned, the soul is damned to hell and in exchange for that, a demon can be brought forth. It’s the way it works. But nothing comes for free. The demon has to defeat the soul and banish it into the Ether.” “But, if that demon wins then he will come back and take Spike’s body!” Buffy saw the look on Giles’ face and it told her all she needed to know. “No, I don’t believe that! Spike is different. He’s not like other vampires!” “We have every reason to believe that he may come back like he was.” Hal told her calmly. “Capable of conscious thought and emotion. We just don't know why yet.” “What if he doesn’t?” Buffy sobbed, then closed her eyes, flashing back to Angelus and the hell he put her through. She sat up slowly and answered her question for herself. “Then I’ll have to kill him. Before he kills us.” Riley had kept quiet the entire time, watching her closely. His heart felt like she had twisted it and took a bite out of it, but he had stayed quiet. Now he couldn’t hold it in and cleared his throat, earning her attention. “Maybe you should.” “Riley-.” Willow stared from him to Buffy and shook her head. “Don’t do this.” Riley ignored the redhead and pulled open a drawer, fishing out a wooden stake. He tapped it against his palm and then held it out so Buffy could reach it. “What’s it going to be, Buffy? Who is it going to be?” The demon threw Spike into an icy cold substance and chuckled as he flailed wildly. “You know you can’t win and yet you fight me. I’ve always admired that in you.” Spike gained footing and rose, stepping from the murky, tarry wetness. “And will it be admiration you feel when you wake up with a stake pressed in your chest? She’ll kill you.” The demon began to speak again, but a blinding light silenced him, leaving him unable to move. He saw the apparition inside the light and shook his head back and forth. This could not be happening again. “Noo!” he raged. Buffy stared at Riley, a mixture of anger and pain on her face. “You can’t ask me something like that.” “Why can’t I?” He crossed his arms, clutching the stake tightly when she made no move to take it. “First, you lie to me. Then you use me. Then you tell me you fell for me and ask me not to be mad at you. Now, you’re here, crying over a demon that would rip your throat out at the first chance he got. Don’t you tell me I can’t ask you to make a choice. As a matter of fact, you should be questioning why I would give you a choice and haven’t walked out that door already.” “Maybe you should walk out.” Buffy shot back, her eyes never leaving his. “Instead of trying to give me ultimatums.” “Is that what you want?” He waited for her to reply and when she said nothing, he nodded. “As you wish.” Xander watched him leave and nudged Willow. “Was there a showing of the Princess Bride somewhere in town?” Willow shrugged. "It was priced to own at Block Buster." Buffy scowled at the other people in the room. “Leave me alone with him.” “Buffy, no.” Angel stood and held out his hand, offering to help her off the table. “You can’t handle this. If he wakes up and-.” “Willow, hand me a stake, please?” Buffy felt tears well up in her eyes as she took the slim piece of wood. She glanced at Angel, struggling to focus through her blurred vision. “If he’s gone. If he’s not here, I’ll know. I’ll take care of it. Now leave us alone.” Angel wanted to protest more, but Giles nodded at him and he gave in, following the others out of the room. He shut the door softly and leaned his head against it, ready to go back in at the sounds of a struggle. Buffy leaned down again, resting her head on Spike’s chest. “Spike, I don’t think this is how we’re supposed to end. I mean, you led me to you, I found the Roses because of you and came here for you. This can’t be how it ends. We don’t end on a cold table.” She squeezed her eyes closed and remembered the dreams. It was always her on a table, her being threatened and Spike always arrived to save her before she died. “Whatever it is that we have, Spike. It’s strong. You pulled my soul to yours and I went.” Her voice broke and she cried, the dam erupting and soaking through the sheet over his chest. “Now it’s your turn. Come to me.” Spike backed away from the ball of light, trembling with fear. He could make out the outline of a human form inside and squinted, trying to see a face. The light dimmed and she stood before him, wearing a red gown that fit snug around her delicate shoulders. “William.” “Lizzy?” He stepped forward, his hand touching her to make sure she was real. “It’s really you.” “We haven’t much time.” She cupped his cheek and turned to look at the demon that was huddling in the corner. “I can’t hold him at bay much longer. He’s stronger than me.” Spike saw the demon surge against an unseen barrier and shook his head. “How are you here are all?” “I was here last time as well, but I was too late. The demon had defeated you and all I could salvage was a small part of you to send with it.” He touched her tentatively and squeezed her hand. “What do you mean? What are you?” “I am your link to who you were. I couldn’t let you just die that night. Oh, William, I was naïve and I tried so hard to prevent the demon from killing you, but I was a fool. I only sent back enough of you to make you feel love and it made you weak.” She looked at the ground and sighed softly. “When I saw your soul in the Ether, I broke all the rules and brought it through to the other side. I was there too, resting, waiting for something to happen and when I saw you, I tried to bring you back.” “How?” “When a new soul is cast into the Ether, the doorway remains opened for several seconds, allowing those who dare to exit. They become ghosts, unresting spirits.” Elizabeth looked at the demon, trying to will him to stay pinned. It took one look at her and stilled, fear replacing its fury. “I caught you and we fled back through. You don’t remember, but it happened. I was too late though. The demon had traveled back through and gone into you and I tried so hard to reopen the doorway. But the human you were was gone.” “But I did feel things. Things for other people, for Dru, for Angelus,” He paused and clenched his jaw. “For Buffy.” “I told you I sent a piece of you back. I did.” She clutched his hand in hers and kneeled in front of him as if to ask his forgiveness. “William, I banished your soul into this hell. Not the Ether, not into Eternal Rest, but into damnation. Your soul couldn’t find peace and it haunted the demon that was inside of you, making it reek of humanity and often times overpowering his urges. It was a lost soul, trying to find a way back in and it wasn't strong enough. It was lost, not ready to be dead.” Her eyes filled with tears as she glanced back up at him. “I can set it right. William, I was banished from the Ether for what I have done. I can only go back if I go in your place. Please William, let me rest. Let me go back!” Spike pulled her to her feet and gripped her arms. “In my place, Lizzy? I don't --” “Quickly William, come.” She stepped in front of the demon and nodded with satisfaction when it broke through the barrier and then froze, unable to do more than stand and growl at them. “The demon only has the ability to banish one soul into the Ether. He will banish mine. Yours is already so fragmented, so worn, that he will instictively banish mine because it is strong.” “I don’t understand.” Spike said, clutching her hand in his. “What are you saying to me?” "I am saying that I prevented you from finding peace, William. My love for you, my need to keep you safe and shelter you was the cause of this." Elizabeth sighed, a small sound that seemed loud in such a hollow place. "And it's my love for you that is allowing me to make it right. You will be a demon, William, always a demon, but oh so much more." Spike reached for her, wanting to comfort her, but she stepped away. "And what will become of you, Lizzy?" “Do you trust me?” “Of course.” “Then look into his eyes and you will be one.” Elizabeth watched as Spike focused on the demon’s face. She felt cool tears slide down her cheeks and shifted into transparency, so that William could see through her. Almost invisible, she stepped between the two beings, her eyes never leaving William’s. Spike struggled to maintain eye contact with her, but he found himself drawn to the demon’s liquid black eyes. He swallowed hard and looked through her, looking into the face of the demon that would kill Buffy. “Lizzy--?” “Shhh, it is done.” Her voice broke and she sobbed quietly. “Go back. Your work is not done. It has only just begun. I Love you, William. Always.” Spike focused on her in time to see the demon charge through her. He saw her vanish, seemingly disappearing into the demon and then the demon gripped him as well. It was hell, turmoil like nothing he had known, as the souls warred with one another, and then she was gone, ejected, and the demon inside of him carried him home. Buffy shifted slightly, moving to lie beside Spike on the narrow table. She hooked one of her legs over his and pulled his hand across his chest, looping their fingers. His skin was cool and she shuddered slightly, realizing that there was nothing inside of him right then, no demon, nothing. He was simply dead. Worrying her lower lip, she laid the stake over their heads and propped herself on her elbow, staring at his relaxed features. The scar over his eyebrow drew her attention and she trailed her thumb over it, wondering how it had happened. Further inspection of his face revealed a horseshoe shaped scar under his lower lip and one on his jaw. “You haven’t told me the story of you, Spike. I don’t know what your favorite book is or how you got these scars.” She ran her hand up, brushing his hair off of his forehead and pushing it back like he always wore it. “And why do you color your hair? Why do you always wear the same red shirt? Is that your favorite color?” Leaning closer, she pressed her lips to his temple and inhaled. “You have to come back.” Spike didn’t move. He listened to her words, resisting the urge to smile at her. He had been right, everything he felt for her was still there. Everything he had hoped he would be able to retain during the change was in place. He felt for her. Lizzy had somehow managed to salvage what he had been in hell, a half soul or whatever, and merge it into the demon. All that mattered from now on was that he was back. Buffy spoke again, her hand finding it’s way back to his. “Getting shot in the back by some psychotic killer wasn’t even as bad as this.” Spike gasped, his eyes opening quickly and he remembered what he had done to her. “Buffy-.” She tensed beside him and slipped off the edge of the bed, trying to decide if the demon was there, ready to kill her. She watched him sit up and turn away from her. That gave her hope. Surely, if he was going to kill her, his first instinct would be to make a move. Reaching a tentative hand over the table, she touched his shoulder. He immediately moved away. “Don’t.” “Spike, are you okay?” “No.” Grabbing the shirt he had removed earlier, he kept his eyes on the ground and pushed his arms through the sleeves. “I have to go.” “No.” Buffy blocked him, her hand instinctively wrapping around the stake on the head of the bed. His face transformed, the demon coming to the forefront to counter the threat she posed. Whatever he had inside of him, whatever evil, it was still there, ready to tear her apart. He watched her with yellow eyes, watched her block the door and said, “You should know better.” “The Powers That Be are not allowed to play this cruel joke on me again!” Her voice broke and she sagged against the door, replaying Angelus in her mind. “Are you in there at all? Are you?" “What do you think?” Spike resisted the impulse to fight her. He didn’t know what he was doing or what was happening inside of him. Why was he tempting death again? He felt the demon rage and felt an inner turmoil to control it. Then the urge he had to defend himself was gone and he decided that he would welcome death after what he had done to her. “Fine.” She laid the stake down and walked across the room, stopping in front of him. “The hunger has to be on you. Don’t you want my blood? Take it.” He licked his lips and stared down at her, not at the throbbing vein in her neck, but the small pucker in her trembling lips. Unable to fight any longer, he pulled her to him and lifted her, his mouth finding hers. She hissed in pain and he moved, turning her to see the hole in the back of her shirt. There was dried blood all over the fabric and he growled, stalking away from her. “Spike, what is it?” She moved toward him, careful not to get too close. A vampire that had just made the transformation was groggy and unpredictable. “What?” He gripped her arms and pulled her close, his face barely inches from hers. “That hole in your back? I put it there, Slayer. I pulled the trigger that almost ended your life.” He let go and held his hands up. “These are the hands of a killer and you deserve more.” Buffy was too stunned to stop him when he whirled and stormed out of the room. She was dimly aware of the voices that were calling to him, then she felt someone shake her gently and looked at Angel. “He- he’s the one who shot me.” “I know.” Angel told her, lifting her and sat her on the table. “Did he try to kill you? Did he taunt you with the fact that he shot you?” “No.” She shook her head, still unable to comprehend it all. “He told me I deserved better and hugged me.” “Uncanny.” Giles replied, holding a cup of water out for Buffy. “His first instinct should have been to destroy her.” Hal shook his head. “I told you he isn’t like other demons. I haven’t put my finger on it yet, but I will.” “To hell with that!” Buffy said angrily and jumped off the table, heading for the door. “You put your finger on it, I’ll put my foot up his ass. No one just walks out on me!” “Except Angel.” Xander offered. “So why should his offspring be any different.” Willow kicked him hard in the shin. “God, Xander! Just because Anya says exactly what’s on her mind, doesn’t mean you have to.” “Ohh, Anya!” He hopped on one leg and reached for the phone. “Xander phone home.” Buffy had stopped walking when Xander said what he did about Angel and she glanced back at the dark vampire. “Angel?” He glanced up from his laced fingers and focused on her. On her perfect skin, her hair that was framing her face, her slim and powerful body, and he knew that he had lost her for good. “Yes, Buffy?” “Thank you. I’m still not clear on the how or the why, but you saved him and I owe you his life.” She smiled weakly, then added, “And mine. So thank you.” “Go.” Angel nodded toward the door and gave her a weak smile. “And when you’ re finished putting your foot up his ass … love him like he deserves. He can't help what he is. That monster inside of him? I put it there. I took his life and I tried to give it back and failed. So I'm giving him mine. Go to him, Buffy.” Her eyes welled with tears and she clutched her chest, moved by the way his blessing touched her heart. “I love you, Angel.” He could only nod again and watch her go, unable to utter the same. It would have been unfair to her, and most of all to him, to try to use the same platonic tone she had used. It would have been impossible, so instead of saying anything at all, he glanced at the others and walked away. He would stay in town and make sure she was okay, then he would go back to his life. Alone. But secure in the knowledge that he had finally given her what he had always wanted to give her. Happiness with a man who could love her completely. It was but a moment that you were mine A small happy moment, frozen in time I've locked it away, deep in my heart Where time will not tear first love apart Never doubt that what we had was real You didn't betray me, you simply healed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Thirty Buffy jogged past the demons in the cells and rounded the corner in time to see Spike drop through the sewer grate, his duster billowing behind him like a cape. She put on an extra burst of speed and dropped through the hole, making the ankle deep water splash all over her. She wiped her face and glanced around, trying to judge which way he had gone. "Spike?" There was no reply, so she squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her head, listening intently to the sounds of the sewer and hoping to hear his footsteps. Several seconds passed and she heard nothing. Then she heard the sounds of her own soft sobs. Leaning back against the wall, she buried her face in her hands and let herself cry. Spike was right over her, clinging to the top rung of a ladder. He had stopped climbing when he heard her splash down behind him, wanting to make sure that she was okay and had not hurt herself. As he watched her, she called his name and then paused, trying to hear him. He frowned when she slumped and began to cry. The fall had not hurt her, he had hurt her and he couldn't walk away and leave her alone and vulnerable in the sewer with no weapons. At least, that was what he told himself as he climbed back down and pulled her to his chest. "Don't cry, Pet." Buffy wanted to ask him where he had come from, but she didn't care. All that she cared about was that he was there. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest, pressing her cheek against the cool skin that was exposed because of his open shirt. "Spike, it was an accident. It was an accident that you shot me. Please-." He gritted his teeth and shook his head. "It wasn't an accident that I ran though. I was a coward." "No, you were scared and that's understandable." She pushed him back and looked up at him. "But you aren't a coward and you shouldn't run from what we can have." "What can we have, Slayer?" Spike let her go and turned away, not trusting his words if he kept staring at her. "What is it that you think I can give you? I'm not Angel. I am a vampire through and through." "I know you're not Angel. You're Spike. The same Spike who tried to kill me. The same Spike who makes my blood boil and pisses me off and insults me and makes me crazy." She paused and then walked around him, forcing him to look down at her. "But you're also the same Spike who bared his heart to me that night we were taken. You stopped being a prick for all of five minutes and I fell for you. Hard. Hell, I think I fell for you before Willow ever even did that spell." Spike stared down at her, stared at the honesty in her features and listened to the conviction in her tone. And then he spoke just as honestly. "I think I fell for you when I saw you in the sun, all weepy over that bushy haired Parker. I fought you because I knew I couldn't have you. God, how you haunted my dreams. Then after the spell, I couldn't shake it." "I know. Me either." Buffy took his hand into hers and squeezed it. "That's why I joined the Initiative. There was nothing I wouldn't do to save you." Spike frowned, remembering Riley and the things that Michael had implied. The things that Buffy herself had said on the day that Spike saw her down in the compound for the first time. His temper flared and he spat out the next words. "Is that what you told yourself when you were shagging that commando?" "I didn't sh-." "Buffy, don't lie to me! That boy was willing to risk his life to save you. Don't tell me you haven't shagged him." "Spike!" Buffy felt her face flush in anger and pointed her finger at him. "I risked my life to save you, didn't I? And we haven't shagged!" "Oh." He rubbed his hand over the back of his head and looked down at her, wondering what to say next. It was all too much. Shooting her, going to hell, seeing Lizzy, coming back and feeling a million new emotions was just too much to handle. And if she stood in front of him looking beautiful for another minute, he would take her right there. "There are still too many things that have happened with us and too many questions that neither of us want to know the answers to. When all is said and done-." Buffy nodded at him, still furious at his question. "When all is said and done, everything we've been through means nothing. As far as you're concerned, it probably never did. You are just a vampire after all, right?" Her eyes welled with tears again and angrily wiped them away as they slid down her cheeks. "You really are a coward. And you're a pathetic coward at that and I do deserve better. I deserve someone who is willing to fight as hard as I did. That's not you." Spike stood in one spot as she began to climb the ladder. Her words finally hit home and he grabbed her around the waist, realizing that she was about to walk out of his life for good. She held firm, not letting him wrench her free and he glanced up at her. "Let go and come back down here, Slayer." "No. I'm not going to stand down there and let you make a fool of me or accuse me of things. When you decide what you want, you know where I'll be." "If you don't come back, I'll just follow you. We haven't finished this." Spike's face was only inches away from her backside, and he licked his lips when he saw that her shirt was riding up, exposing her creamy skin. He let go of her and lifted her shirt higher, staring at the small pucker where the bullet had entered her back. Climbing up behind her, he pressed a soft kiss against the scar and nuzzled her flesh, inhaling her scent. "I need you, Buffy." Buffy froze when he made the small admission and she felt her heart slam against her chest. He needed her? She realized that she had stopped breathing when he kissed her on the back so she took a deep breath and relaxed a little. She felt him shift and climb higher, then his face was next to hers and he was pulling her hair away from her neck. Her grip on the ladder tightened as he kissed her jaw, then her neck, then her shoulder and one of his legs slid around the side of hers. "Spike-." "I love you. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I do." With one hand, he held himself on the ladder, pressing against her, and the other hand slid around her waist. "Please, let that be enough for now." Buffy turned on the ladder, facing him completely, and stared into his clear blue eyes. "It was always enough." They kissed, both clinging to the ladder, both clinging to one another. Buffy felt him urge her to let go and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He climbed back down slowly, never breaking the kiss and when they were safely on the bottom level, he pressed her against the wall and buried his hands in her hair. She moaned out when she felt his erection between her legs and urged her hips forward, grinding against him. Spike growled low in the back of his throat and pulled his mouth away from hers. One look at her face told him that she wanted it as much as he did and he peeled her shirt upwards, dragging it over her head. She wasn't wearing a bra and when he saw her chest, bare and firm and begging for attention, he leaned down in front of her, drawing one dusky nipple into his mouth, then the other. She moaned and arched forward and he unbuttoned her pants, kneeling to kiss the silky skin of her stomach that had been hidden behind her pants. Water seeped through the front of his jeans and he glanced down, realizing where they were. Standing, he frowned, "We can't do this here. Not in a sewer." "Yes, we can." She cried, her body tingling with excitement. "It all started for us here, Spike. The first real kiss, me realizing what you meant to me, you trying to save my life by offering yours to the commandos. It's perfect. Don't stop." He smiled at her and pulled her to him again, kissing her passionately as his hands skimmed her bare back. He felt her urge his duster and shirt over his shoulders and fumbled to hang them over the ladder when she tried to drop them. Both without barriers, he pressed his cool chest against hers and let her warmth sink into him. "You feel so good, baby. So good." She held him just as tightly as he was holding her and kissed his neck. "I want you so much, Spike. I've dreamed of this so many times." Something dropped on her head suddenly and she grabbed it, yelping when she felt a furry body and tiny claws. She tossed it into the shaft of light that was streaming from the Initiative's lab and shook her head. "But not here. I changed my mind." "What happened to all the sentimental stuff you just said?" Spike chuckled as she yanked her shirt back on. "Rats! Spike! That overrides the sentimental element. That rat was the size of a Volvo and I don't want to get bitten." She paused and added, "By anything other than you." "Oh, I won't bite. But I can't promise not to nibble." And he did just that as he followed her up the ladder and her rounded bottom was right in his face. __ They walked hand in hand across campus. Buffy insisted on going to her dorm, since no one was there because of the holidays and they wouldn't be interrupted. She had left her key elsewhere, so she had to rely on memory to punch in the security numbers that had been drilled into their heads since day one. The main door opened and she glanced up at Spike, suddenly shy and nervous. "My room's a mess. I had to pack and stuff to go home for Christmas and well, it's a mess." "I think I can handle it." He grinned down at her and kissed her lightly, then held the door open for her. As they climbed the two flights of stairs, Buffy cast a glance toward him and chewed her lower lip. He was so unbelievably gorgeous. His hair was messed up, his shirt was buttoned wrong and he wasn't wearing his duster, since he had given it to her, and he was still causing her body to react in ways that it had never reacted before. She stepped through the door and moved down the hallway toward her room. Running her fingers over the top of the door, she found the spare key and stepped into her room. Turning on the light, she cringed. It was worse than she had remembered. Her bed was unmade, as was Willow's, and most of her wardrobe was piled onto the bed and heaped in the floor. Not exactly romantic, but they had almost had sex in the sewer, so anything was an improvement. She blushed and stepped aside, letting him walk in behind her. She blushed even deeper when he closed the door and held up her lacy bra that had been on the doorknob. Snatching it, she threw it with the rest of her things and licked her lips. "Well, here we are." "You're shaking. Are you cold?" Spike moved closer and ran his hands up and down her arms. "No, just a little nervous." "Don't be. We'll talk about it all later and it will be okay. We'll be okay." He lowered his head and tugged at her lower lip, running his tongue over it and then sucking it into his mouth. Buffy leaned against him, his kisses leaving her weak all over. He hugged her again and she glanced past him, at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was tracked with bloodstains and muck and her hair was standing up all over, looking like it had been teased for hours. "Oh my god!" "What?" "Why didn't you tell me I look awful!?" "I didn't notice." "Well, I have to go take a shower. Wait here." "No." Spike shook his head and caught her arm as she started toward the door. "I have to take a shower too. Want some company?" Her eyes widened and she glanced at the floor. "Uh, okay." Gripping her key and a roll of quarters, she motioned him to follow her and walked across the hallway, to the only shower that was private. It cost three bucks to use it, but she figured it would be worth it. Once inside, she had another wave of nervousness. She had never showered with a man before and Spike had never even seen her naked all the way. What if he didn't like what he saw? Spike had slipped his shirt off and was watching her intently. She looked terrified. He walked to where she stood and slipped her shirt over her head, then stepped back and stared at her breasts. "You're beautiful. Perfect in every way." Buffy fought the urge to cover herself and didn't protest when he slipped his fingers into the waistband of her pants and unbuttoned them. He made eye contact when he slid them and her panties over her hips, then glanced downward as they cleared her knees. Her curls were dark and thick and he placed a kiss right above them, kneading her skin with his mouth. "So beautiful." He stood and stripped out of his own jeans and turned the shower on. When he turned back to her, she had finished removing her pants and shoes and he held out his hand.She took it and stepped in behind him, eyeing his nude body with appreciation. He was tone and firm and pale and the muscles on his stomachwere as chisled as his cheekbones. He immediately pulled her under the water and ran his hands over her hair, smoothing it away from her face. With her hair wet and water running off her, she was more enticing than he had ever seen her. He grabbed a bottle of shampoo and soaped her head, massaging with his fingertips. "Mmm." Buffy moaned out and smiled. "That feels so good." "That's not all I can do that feels good." He muttered as he repositioned the shower head and watched as she rinsed. His eyes trailed over her slim frame, drinking in her tan skin, her dark nipples, and the perfect curves of her tiny waist. He had never wanted to possess anything more in his life. She ran her fingers through her hair, getting all the soap out, then looked up at him. "You might have to show me for me to believe you." Spike simply winked at her and lifted one of the wash clothes from the shelf beside the shower. He soaped it with a flowery smelling body wash and ran it over one of her arms and then the other. She threw her head back, letting him wash her neck and chest and then he slid the cloth between them, down her stomach and between her legs. She gasped and reddened and he captured her mouth in his while his hand continued to explore her. The rag was soon dropped, and he rubbed her with his bare hands, the soap causing his fingers to glide over her aching clit. "Spike-." Buffy moved against his hand, whimpering a little. He had only been touching her for a few seconds, and she was already close to coming, something she couldn't do for herself that fast. He pulled his hand away and rinsed the rag before he brought it back between her legs and wiped the soap away. She protested and he silenced her with a kiss where his hand had been, darting out to taste her with his tongue. Buffy threw her head back and gripped the railing as he pulled one of her legs over his shoulder and slid one of his fingers into her. His tongue flicked over her, driving away her reservations and making her ache with desperation. "Spike, please don't stop." He had no intention of stopping until she was over the edge and drowning in her own ecstasy. Growling against her, he increased his pressure, pushing her further and further. He caressed her ass with one hand and pumped his finger in and out of her with the other and then she was coming, so hard that she screamed his name and fell back against the wall. She did not realize she was sobbing until she felt him move her leg off his shoulder and grip her arms. "What is it? Buffy, did I-." "No." Buffy cupped his cheek and shook her head. "I just love you and I never thought--." "Shhh." He leaned into her, pressing her back against the wall. "I love you. That's all we need to think about right now." His erection pressed against her stomach and she glanced down, swallowing hard when she saw his size. Spike was smiling at her when she looked back up at him and he lifted her, whispering for her to put her legs around him. She complied and clung to him, gasping as he eased himself into her. Her body protested slightly, causing a small amount of pain as she accommodated him, but by the time he had filled her completely, she was oblivious to it. Spike groaned as her vaginal muscles clamped around him. She was so tight that he could have lost himself with one stroke, but he stilled himself and kissed her. The floor was slick and he worried about sliding, so he reached over them with one hand and gripped the long metal neck of the shower head. One of his hands slid under her, holding her in place and he pulled back and slammed into her, causing them both to cry out. He knew he wouldn't last long,- *couldn't* last long, considering who she was and what she was doing to him. Deciding that he would make it up to her as soon as they unearthed her bed from under her clothes, he gave up the fight and increased his pace. He felt her legs tighten around him, felt another orgasm rock through her, and joined her, growling her name. "Buffy--." At the peak of his climax, Spike yanked the shower head hard. He heard a loud crack and let go, moving to cover Buffy's head when the entire contraption fell down on them. "Oh, bloody hell! Not again!" The water shot out hard, blasting the far side of the stall and Buffy slid her legs off him, gripping the knobs and turning them roughly. The hot water shut off, but the other knob came off in her and. The cold water came faster and thundered from the broken pipe. "Oh, no! It's so cold!" "Didn't you learn anything last time?" Spike growled, trying to fit the knob back on. "Didn't you?" Buffy replied, hopping out of the shower and going toward the main water valve under the sink. "Yes, I did!" He grabbed her and moved her aside. "I learned to do it myself." She watched with her arms crossed as he shut off the main line and the water stopped squirting out. He stood, completely proud of himself and about to say that he told her so, but she held up a hand. "Don't even say it." "Say what?" "That you told me so." "I wasn't." Spike grabbed a towel and tossed it to her. "I was going to say that we're back where we started. We've come full circle." Buffy wrapped the towel around her, securing it tightly. She remembered the night at Giles' place when he had been chained in the tub and broke the water faucet. She had broken the ones under the sink and the room had flooded. "You're right. We started out completely wet, went to the sewers and then got kidnapped." "Then we were saved, went back to the sewers and now we're completely wet again." He licked his lips and wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Some of us wetter than others." "Spike!" Buffy turned crimson and headed for the door. As she grabbed the doorknob, he grabbed her towel, and both came flying off. "You did not just pull the doorknob off again, Slayer. I know you didn't." "Oops." "Buffy!" She grinned and slid the knob back into the door. "Gotcha! It comes off all the time." They stepped out of the room together and Buffy gasped, moving to stand in front of Spike. He was naked and Xander and Anya were in the hallway, holding a box. Spike ducked back into the bathroom and grabbed a towel, coming out just in time to hear Anya say, "He's hung! No wonder you would go through hell to get him back!" Buffy ignored her and looked up at Xander. "How did you get in here?" "Willow gave me her key. We needed to give you this." He held the box out and stepped back when Buffy took it. "We'll go now." "Or we can stay." Anya licked her lips, glaring at the water droplets glistening on Spike's chest. "I've always wondered about the endurance of vampires and group sex is really trendy right now." "Anya!" Xander shook his head apologetically, turning to speak directly to Buffy. "I've tried. Lord knows I've tried and I just can't seem to teach her that she can't say things like that." "Who says I can't say things like that?" Anya cried, shoving her hands on her hips. "Is there a rule book someplace that says I can't let the world know that I like to copulate? Is it so taboo that I can't enjoy it? You enjoy it, Xander. You grunt and groan and get off and I-" "You are oversharing. Again." Xander replied firmly. "What we do in bed is just between us." Anya rolled her eyes and glanced at Spike. "Were you two just now tossing the salad in the bathroom?" "I'm going to toss that slang book!" Grumbled Xander. "Regardless of whether of not you say it properly or use the slang, you have to use discretion." "Well, Buster, until I don't have to use discretion, our relationship is going to be rated PG, got it? I'll just buy a vibrator. At least it can't tell me what to say." Stomping her foot, Anya turned to leave and then turned back toward the others. "And Joyce told me that if you love me, you won't try to change me. You don't love me at all." Xander watched her walk away and turned to glare at Buffy. "Your mother is-" "Hey!" Spike growled. "Don't talk about Joyce. She's right. You're lucky that you have a girl who wants you. Sure, she could make -me- blush with that mouth of hers, but she loves you. A fool could see that." "Xander," Buffy sighed when her friend's face fell. "Do you care about her?" "Yes." "Do you want to be with her?" "Yes." "Then you know what to do." "Flowers and groveling?" Xander asked, expectantly. "With that girl?" Spike nodded toward the stairwell, the way Anya had left. "Try fucking and grunting. That ought to do it." "Thanks." Waving, Xander darted toward the stairway. Spike chuckled and followed Buffy into her room. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she pulled a letter from an envelope on the box. "What is it, ducks?" "Hmm, it's for you, Spike." "Me?" He frowned and took the note, sitting on the edge of her bed. It read, 'Spike, I don't know if it means anything to you, but you're still my favorite childe. You always were and you always will be. Take care of her, take care of yourself and never forget that the gift I gave you isn't one you can return. She's your gift, Spike. The most precious thing I could give you. Love her for the rest of her life and one day, when she is gone, you find me and together, we'll remember her. I thought I would save you by making you human and giving you life, but all you needed was hers. Love her in the way that only you can and know that you've made me proud. -Angel' Buffy kneeled beside him, stunned to see tears coursing down his cheeks. "Spike, are you okay?" "Yeah. I just really hate that prick!" "Do not." "I hate him so much it makes me emotional." "I'm sure that's what it is." Spike growled at her in response, grabbed the package and opened it, pulling out three bags of blood and a leather pouch. Opening the pouch slowly, he ran his finger inside and pulled out a chipped piece of stone. He recognized it immediately. It was a piece of Lizzy's headstone. There was a hole in one end and a thin piece of twine ran through it. It had been in his pocket, where it always was, the night that he had been changed. He had not seen it since that night, but he had thought of it many times. He realized that Buffy was still kneeling in front of him and ran his thumb over the stone before he handed it to her. "This is a piece of my past. I want you to have it." She took it and examined it carefully. "I don't get it." "One day you will. And when you do, me giving this to you will make sense. It's a piece of a headstone from someone who gave us this chance. She was my life when I was a mortal." "Should I be jealous?" Buffy asked, mock seriously. "No." He took her hand, the one holding the stone and kissed it. "Because my past is dead and I'm finally ready to move on." She kissed his forehead, stood and dropped her towel. "Wanna toss a salad?" He got to his feet and gripped her arms, then tossed her on the bed. "You're tossed." "There has to be more to it than this." She told him, propping herself on her elbows. "Hmmm," He slid his fingertips up her thighs and dipped between her legs, brushing against her clit. "More than this?" "I think so." She clenched her teeth and let her legs fall apart. Spike moved his hand up to her chest, causing her to flop back against the bed in exasperation. "Oh, I'm sorry, luv. Was I onto something there?" Grinning, he ran his hand back between her legs, rubbing everywhere except her aching clit. She sat up and grabbed him, rolling them so that she was on top. With one swift motion, she impaled herself, causing them both to hiss in pleasure. "Yes. And now I'm onto something." It was dawn before they slept and when they did, neither dreamed. Neither needed to. Dec 23, 1999: "So, things are good then?" Buffy asked Forest, as he stepped into the elevator at the back of Lowell House. She stepped in behind him and added, "Cause Willow is a great nursemaid. I should know." "Willow is the best medicine." Forest agreed, stroking the ID bracelet she had given him as a Christmas present early. Since she was Jewish, she didn't follow the traditional giving of gifts on the twenty-fifth. "I'm crazy about her. I don't know what I'd do without her." "She feels the same way." Buffy replied, glancing at the signatures on his cast. "I haven't signed that yet." Hal glanced up from the paperwork at the main control deck when Forest, who still walked with a limp and still wore a cast, led Buffy out of the elevator. The two were talking quietly to one another and then Forest handed her a pen and held up his arm. She obliged him and jotted something down. Then he gave her a slight hug and went back into the elevator. Buffy glanced at the handsome man standing beside a desk and headed toward him. "Excuse me. My name is Buffy Summers and I'm looking for Hal Walsh. He asked me to meet him here." Chuckling, Hal shook his head. "It's me, kiddo." Buffy's eyes widened and she hugged the man, recognizing his voice. "Hal!? You look-oh my god-you look amazing." He patted her on the back and smiled as she stepped back to let her gaze wash over him. "I have retained my youthful exuberance, haven't I? Something about living under layers of demon flesh. It's the fountain of youth." "You should bottle that. Well, except for the demon flesh part. So, you're completely cured?" Buffy perched on the edge of the desk and waited for his answer. "I am." He laid the clipboard he was looking at down and motioned for her to follow him. "I called you down because you were so worried about those people in the infirmary. I thought you'd like to see that they're all fine. They think they're at a military hospital. They'll be home for Christmas." Buffy hopped off the desk and trailed along behind him. "How are you going to explain what happened to them?" "We're not. We have long reaching fingers in society, Buffy. We're transporting them to Sunnydale's hospital tonight, where the doctors there already have files that paint a very different picture than demon abduction." He climbed the stairs and paused at the second level. "One of the little girls has asked about you a million times. She keeps asking who the angel was that saved her." "Can I see her?" Buffy brightened, thinking about how happy the child's family would be to have her back. "Sure." Hal held the door open and walked further down the hallway. "You should know that Riley is in with them right now. He's been helping get them ready." Buffy faltered, but nodded. "Okay." Hal paused and looked down at her. "He's not mad at you. I think he understands that a person is only responsible for what they can control and you can't control you're feelings. No one can." "Thank you." Buffy squeezed his hand and took a deep breath. Willow had told her everything she knew about Maggie and what Hal had done to her. "What about Maggie?" "Unfortunately, my blood didn't take with her as well as I would have liked. The healing abilities that I possessed did not pass into her. I'm afraid that my research has just begun." He sighed, then shrugged. "But that's my job, right?" "I have faith in you. And if I ever get sick, I'm coming to see you." "You'll have to come a long way. We're moving the operation overseas. There's too much baggage here and one of our backers isn't pleased at all that so many people know about our operation." Buffy was stunned and she slumped against the wall. "You're leaving?" "I'll always be in touch." He gave her a quick hug and a peck on the forehead and tapped the glass. The blinds openedd and a young man peered out at them, then buzzed them in. "You go ahead. I'll talk to you later." "Bye Hal." She said sadly and watched him walk away. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room and looked at the people lying in beds. Several recognized her and jumped up, coming to hug her and thank her for saving them from the nets that night. She graciously accepted their praise and glanced around for the little girl. When she didn't see her, she started to ask, then heard someone clear their throat behind her. She turned and saw Riley standing in the doorway. The child was asleep in his arms and he nodded for her to follow him to another bed, where he laid the little girl down and brushed her hair back. "Hi, Buffy." "Hey." Buffy forced herself to sound casual and smiled down at the little girl. "Where's the other one? There were two." "She didn't make it." Riley lowered his voice and pulled the cover over the child's tiny body. "Maggie had her turned and we had to stake her." "Oh god." Buffy struggled to control her anger at his mother, then shook her head. "If you ask me, what happened to Maggie was too easy." Riley pursed his lips and nodded, "Not gonna argue." Buffy lifted the girl's hand into hers and studied her face. "She looks good." "You do too." Riley said, then looked away. "I'm sorry." "No, it's okay." "Are you happy? I mean, is it what you hoped for?" "Yeah, it's that and a million other things." "Then I'm glad you got what you wanted." He scanned the room, his eyes searching for anything other than her beautiful face. "I'm leaving town, Buffy. Tonight." Buffy didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent and waited for him to continue. He took a deep breath and faced her again. "I wanted to see you again before I left. Forest told me that you are about to go to England with Giles and I wanted to give you something." "You don't have to give me-." Buffy began. Riley interrupted. "No, I think I do." He grabbed his jacket off the back of a chair and dug through the pockets until he found a cassette tape. She took the tape and studied the label. "Hostile seventeen." "Maggie has always been meticulous about keeping audio files. That's Spike on there and she got him to open up about his life and being changed and stuff. I thought you should have it." "Why?" "I don't know. Maybe to listen to on the plane, maybe so you would know who he is, or maybe because I think it proves that you were right." Riley shoved his hands in his pockets. "He's not like other vampires." "Thank you." Buffy slipped the cassette into her purse, not planning on listening to it at all. Spike had told her what he wanted her to know and she wouldn't invade his privacy. "Riley, I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you." "You did hurt me, Buffy. You hurt me more than you will ever know, but it's not important. What's important is that with us gone, you're on your own with the demons in this town. We won't be lurking in the woods waiting to take them out anymore. Be careful." "I will be." "Good." Riley looked at his watch and then sighed. "I should get going. I've got some loose ends to tie up." "Okay. I understand. " She moved toward him, wanting to give him a hug, but he stepped away and held out his hand. "It was a pleasure, Buffy" He said, as he gave her a firm handshake. "I won't lie, I'll always wonder what might have been." "I'm sorry." She let go and watched him walk toward the door. "Riley?" He paused and turned to face her. "Yeah?" "You take care of yourself. It's a wild world out there." "Yeah, it's wild. But there are people like you who can tame it. I sleep better at night knowing that." He winked at her. "Goodbye, Buffy." Buffy shut her eyes as he closed the door, unable to watch him leave. So many people had gotten hurt in all of this. There wasn't a single unscathed person, except maybe Anya, who was now bragging that almost leaving Xander made him want to fornicate all the time. They had all changed in the days since Spike had been rescued. They had grown stronger, but they had also suffered a great deal. "Don't cry." A small voice said. Buffy wiped her face and smiled down at the little girl. "Hi." "I've been waiting for you." She sat up and crossed her legs. "I'm going home later." "I know. Are you excited?" Buffy pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down. "Yes. It's almost time for Santa to come. He might not find me if I was here. How come you're sad?" "I found out that a couple of friends are moving away." "Don't you have any other friends?" The little girl studied her closely. "I'll be your friend." "Thank you." Buffy replied, and let the child take her hand in hers. "Is your name Elizabeth?" The child yawned and lay back down on her pillow. "Yes, but everyone calls me Buffy." "Buffy, when I was sleeping for so long, I kept seeing you and you were a ghost. You told me to call you Lizzy because William liked that and you kept bringing me back here when I would get lost in the clouds." Buffy gasped, recalling the bits and pieces that Spike had told her about his past. "It-it wasn't me." "Yes it was." The little girl closed her eyes and mumbled. "I knew you were an angel." Buffy waited until she was asleep and made her way out to her car. She took the tape from her purse and slid it into the tapedeck. She listened as Maggie said the date, the time and disclosed the events leading to Spike's capture. Then she heard Spike's voice fill the car. "I was born with a temper in 1850. London was a dark and rancid place back then. I was born on a cold night in December and I think it was the twenty-fourth. Christmas Eve to some. Christmas Day found me bundled up and left inside a Catholic Church on one of the pews." By the time the tape had ended, Buffy knew exactly what the stone meant and she knew exactly how Spike had happened to come back to her. She pulled the stone from her purse and held it to her chest. "Thank you, Lizzy. Sleep well." __ Epilogue Giles parked the car and stepped out, scanning the village that was situated at the bottom of the large hill they were on top of. He checked his map, glanced back down and nodded. "This is it." Buffy felt cold chills dot her flesh as she thought about Spike being a human being and living his life just a few feet from where she stood. Angelus had been here. Drusilla had been here. And Spike had loved Elizabeth here. Buffy patted the stone in her pocket and cleared her throat. "Is that the cemetery?" "What?" Giles glanced up from the map and nodded. "Sorry. Yes, this would be the cemetery for the village." "I'll be right back." Buffy told him, then gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He leaned against the car and watched as she walked up and down the rows of crumbling headstones. So far, they had been in Great Britain for three days. Buffy was mesmerized by it all, the shops, the inns, the cobblestone streets. He had shown her much of where he had grown up and he had enjoyed her company. She really listened to him and when she asked him questions, it was because she had a genuine interest. Smiling, he pulled his coat tighter around him and reached into the car to get Buffy's. She had vanished behind a copse of trees and as he rounded the corner, he saw her kneel down beside a crumbling stone. She fished something from her pocket and laid it against the stone, then lowered her head and mumbled something. The wind picked up suddenly and he hurried toward her, wrapping her coat around her. The name on the headstone read Elizabeth Lawler and Giles kneeled beside Buffy. "Who was she?" "Just someone I promised Spike I would say hello to." The wind whipped even harder and the piece of stone that Buffy had placed on the headstone rolled off. Buffy smiled. "I'll tell him you said hello too, Lizzy." --Fin