Lines borrowed from This Year’s Girl and Life Serial.

Chapter 19

Buffy’s eyes met Spike’s and dread traveled through her body. She could tell that he was upset, even though he was on the other side of the Bronze. His jaw was set, his eyes were slightly narrowed and with each unnecessary breath that he took, his nostrils flared.

Shit, shit, shit, Buffy thought, suddenly unable to move fast enough. She pushed Riley back and ripped her mouth away from his greedy lips.

“What?” Riley asked, surprised by her actions. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this,” she whispered, her eyes still on Spike. “I’m seeing someone—someone who I love and I can’t do this to him.”

Buffy gathered her belongings and fled from the table, leaving Riley baffled and reeling from her snub. By the time she made it across the busy dance floor, she was not surprised to see that Spike had vanished.

"Excuse me," she panted, leaning against the bar. "There was a man standing here a minute ago, he’s really handsome, British and dressed in all black. Can you tell me where he went?"
***

In the smoky room, Spike’s hair stood out like a beacon in the darkness. He was sitting at a round table with various demons on either side of him.

Well, he did tell me once that he had friends…

Buffy tried not to wrinkle her nose as she took in the group of less-than-threatening monsters. Each demon had playing cards in front of them and she gathered that they were playing some sort of poker game.

“Spike,” she said softly, afraid to rile the others if they recognized her as the Slayer. “Spike, can I talk to you?”

“Can’t you see that I’m busy?” he answered, never turning to face her.

“Spike, please, let me explain.”

“Hey, Buffy.” Clem grinned and waved at her, causing the folds of loose skin under his arms to wiggle and shake.

“Uh, do I know you? Have we met before? Was there violence involved?”

“Oh, heavens no. Spike’s just told me a lot about you. I’m Clem. I helped him find your new home.”

“Can we stop the yammering? I’ve got a bloody good lead here.”

“Spike’s a little cranky. He went to get us an onion blossom and he’s been a grouch ever since. I’m guessing that he was overcharged,” Clem whispered. “Why don’t you pull up a chair? You know the game? Maybe Spike could advance you a tabby.”

“Tabby?” As Buffy set a chair close to Spike’s, she glanced in the cardboard box that sat in the middle of the table. “You play for kittens? Spike—kittens?!”

“Don’t bock about my extra curricular activities, sweetheart. I haven’t said a word about yours, even if they’re revolting and downright gross. You need to wash out that mouth of yours before it’s coming near me again.”

“You’re over-reacting,” Buffy sighed. “Just let me explain.”

“You don’t have to. I saw everything. Heard it all too. The sound of smacking lips travels mighty well when you’re a vamp.”

She rolled her eyes and reached for his arm. “Will you just listen to me? Can’t your buddies call a timeout?”

“There will be no timeout. Spike, take your human somewhere else,” a green demon interrupted. “We’ve got a game to finish.”

“It’s not like we stand a chance of winning,” a scaly demon added. “He’s been cleaning us out since he showed up. I’m starting to think he’s cheating.”

“Now wait a minute, boys. Would I do a thing like that?” The room was silent and everyone, including Buffy, knew that he was very willing to play an unfair game. “I cheat? What about ole green horns over there? He’s got x-ray vision and nobody points a finger at him!”

Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the demons that surrounded her all started to growl and vocalize their annoyance with Spike. “Honey, maybe we should go and leave them to their kitties…”

“That’s right, leave your winnings and get out. We’ll forget this whole thing.”

“This is a set up, isn’t it?” Spike raved. “Trying to squeeze a few quid out of me? Well, I’ll tell you what you didn’t count on: you’re all in for quite the fight! All you against me and the lady! We’ll have you bleeding in seconds flat!”

“We will? I’ll beg for forgiveness all night long, but—I have to fight for your right to gamble for kittens? That doesn’t seem like a currency worthy of getting into a bar fight over.”

Spike looked at Buffy in the eye for the first time since she’d entered the room. “You owe it to me, Slayer.”

“Right,” she swallowed, getting to her feet. “Come and get it, baddies. You want to fight? You face the both of us. But first,” she took the cardboard box of cats and tipped it over gently on its side, “Be free, kittens!”
***

“What can I say? I help the helpless and those kitties were in definite need of rescuing,” Buffy explained as she, Spike and Clem took the back exit out of the Bronze. “It was so funny to watch those demons crawl on the ground. I saw one—the slimy guy—he was crying over losing the little fur balls.”

“Kittens are delicious. I caught this one and I’m going to have it before bedtime.” Happily, Clem pulled a tiny white cat from under his shirt and showed it to Buffy. “Doesn’t it look yummy?”

Buffy’s mouth gapped open and she looked at him in horror.

“Looks like the Slayer isn’t too fond of your choice of bedtime snacks,” Spike snickered.

“Kittens are very not yummy!” She stepped forward and took the kitten into her arms. “They’re cute and for petting, not for chowing down on! Even using them as substitutes for poker chips is sick. Isn’t that right, Mr. Kitten?”

“Some of us think that making out with the enemy is sick, but to each his own.”

“Isn’t my boyfriend adorable when he acts like an ass? It just makes you want to squeeze him to death…literally, right?”

“Uh…” Clem looked from Buffy to Spike, “should I answer that truthfully?”

“Maybe you should run home, mate. I feel another fight coming on and with me and my Slayer it gets quite nasty.”

“He’s a hair-puller,” Buffy explained.

“But…my kitten?”

“Eat it and I slay.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Buffy answered. “You seem nice, but I have very strong feelings about this.”

“Maybe…uh, would you like to keep him?” Clem suggested. “I don’t want to be tempted…”

“Spike? Can we keep him, baby?”

“You mean you’re going to ask my opinion?” Spike said with mock-surprise. “This is new.”

“Again with the adorable. Okay, it’s ours. Bye, Clem. It was nice to meet you.” Without looking at Spike, Buffy turned on her heel and headed in the direction of their crypt. “You’ll get used to him, kitty. He’s a stupid, stubborn vampire. You’ll love him someday too, I promise.”
***

Spike stayed steps behind Buffy as she stomped through the cemetery.

“Are you going to stalk me the whole way home?”

“I might. The view from back here is bloody remarkable. Remind me to buy you the whole line of those leather pants.”

Buffy spun and looked at Spike with one hand on her hip. “Are you going to let me explain now?”

“It’d probably be a waste of time. I have a good idea of what you’d say.” He sauntered up to her and ran a thumb across her lips. “You’re sorry…it meant nothing…stop me if I get something wrong.”

“It won’t happen again,” she whispered. “Never, baby.”

“You got into the lab?”

“I did and I can come and go as I please. I think I found something. There’s this room—314—that had tons of security. Everyone was very hush-hush about it, too.”

He nodded, still concentrating on her lips. “Why’d you kiss him then? If you got inside the lab.”

“He was going to see you,” Buffy confessed. “I know it was stupid, but I couldn’t let him see you.”

“Protecting me?”

“Always.”

“Would you mind keeping your lips to yourself next time? Because they belong to me and I like to keep all that’s mine…well, to myself.”

Buffy nodded, her eyes sparkling. “My lips are your lips. In fact, I only borrow them. You’re not mad anymore?”

“No, not at the moment.”

“That was…surprisingly painless.”

“But we still need to discuss the fur ball. I’m not sure that I want it in my crypt.”

“Why not?” Buffy dangled the kitten in front of his face. “You don’t like him?”

“I have nothing against that particular one, I just don’t fancy myself as a cat person. If you want a pet, let’s get something ferocious.”

“You can train him to be an attack kitty. We can name him something ferocious like Tiger or Simba or, uh, Snowball.”

“Very funny, sweet,” Spike said, draping an arm over Buffy’s shoulder.

“Mmmm…I’m liking this.” Buffy sighed, enjoying his closeness as they walked the rest of the way to the crypt. “You had me thinking that I could lose this. That was a horrible feeling. Neither warm or fuzzy.”

“Maybe you’ll think about that next time.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“I hope you’re right, pet,” Spike said, opening the door of their home.

“God, me too.”
***

“I’ve never had a cat, for any kind of pet for that matter.”

“Why start now then?”

“Because.”

“Well, that’s a good answer there.”

“Maybe I should run and get him some stuff. He needs food and a litter box and a mouse-shaped toy to swat at.”

“If you’re heading out, we’re short on beer and those cheesy puffs.”

“What do I look like, your slave?”

“Actually you do. You wronged me, remember that.”

“Why do I have the feeling that you’ll be constantly reminding me?” Buffy asked, sitting next to Spike on the couch with an exaggerated sigh. “What else do we need, master?”

“Master? I like the sound of that.” With a mischievous grin, he started to pull her into his lap.

“I’m here to follow all your commands.”

“This is becoming more and more to my liking.” As he spoke, Spike inched closer to Buffy. When they were centimeters shy of kissing, he paused. “Did you brush?”

“Yes.”

“Use mouthwash?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“Hey, who’s the master here?”

Rolling her eyes, Buffy yanked his chin down within her reach and she soon found it difficult to keep up with his fiery kisses. Show off she thought, letting a deep moan escape from the back of her throat. Knowing that he was trying to prove that his kiss was far superior to Riley’s, she allowed herself to melt in Spike’s strong arms.

“We need paper plates.”

“Huh?”

“And Joyce called, she wants you to stop by and pick up your birthday gifts.”

Buffy nodded, unable to get out a word before Spike’s mouth came back down on hers.
***

“My nameless kitty will get only the best of the best! Just, eh, I’m not sure what that is. You need to help me out, Will.” Buffy spoke on her cell phone as she paced up and down the row of pet supplies. “There’s so much stuff here from teaser toys to squirrels stuffed with catnip. Help.”

“I don’t know, Buffy. Just get what calls to you. So, what does your significant other think about your new feline friend?”

“I’m not sure. I got on his bad side today. I kissed Riley and he saw the smoochies.”

“Oh no.”

“I know.”

“But you guys got over it, right?”

“I think…well, I hope so. Wait a minute.” Buffy placed the phone on a shelf and picked up a large scratching post. “Sharp nails of doom will make Mr. Kitty ferocious,” she muttered. “Spike’ll like this.”

“Okay, back.”

“What are you guys naming the kitten? When can I see it?”

“There’s been no mention of names. ‘Mr. Kitty’ seems to be coming out naturally, but I’m giving Spike the honor of naming our new bundle of joy.”

“You’re taking care of a pet together. Awww, that’s two steps in the right direction.”

“After the Riley kissing that took us fifty paces back,” Buffy added. “Maybe we’ll add kitty viewing to the crypt’s open house…okay, I think I’ve got what I need. My cart’s a little on the overflowing side and that’s a sign that I need to stop shopping. Before I let you go, have you heard anything from Giles? Is there any evil hanging about or coming our way?”

“I haven’t seen him and Tara and I weren’t near a phone all day…”

“It sounds like I need to give him a ring. Later, Will.”
***

Spike could see it out of the corner of his eye. “What a bloody annoyance you are. Will you stop it?”

The kitten didn’t listen and it continued to lick itself and bat at its ears.

“You’re interrupting my time with the telly.” Spike raised the volume of the television and tried to concentrate more heavily on the show.

Without him noticing it, the cat leaped on the couch. “Oh, hell,” Spike said as it walked onto his lap. “Don’t do that, you big cootie.”

“Get off. Don’t get kitten on my leather. I forgot to tell Buffy to pick up some lint rollers.”

Against his better judgment, he straightened out a finger and timidly petted one ear. “Never liked cats…but you are one soft little bugger, aren’t you?”

The kitten collapsed and looked up with big, shining eyes.

“Fine. Do what you want. I can already tell that you’ll be an independent little puss.” Spike ran his palm over the kitten’s back and couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Look at me, holding a conversation with Clem’s comfort food. Wouldn’t Dru be proud?”
***

“Mom! Do you think I could get a lift back to the crypt?” Buffy walked through the door with her hands weighed down. “You won’t believe what I got at the Bronze today!”

“Buffy, it’s about time that you showed up.”

Her head jerked up, seeing her mom and Giles standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Faith,” Giles said, pulling off his glasses. “She’s awake and she has escaped.”

"Escaped? How long have you known? Giles this is bad."

"I've been trying to reach you all day."

"My phone was confiscated at the lab. I just turned it on a few minutes ago to call Willow. She said that she was away from a phone all day too."

"Buffy, when Faith escaped, there were victims. A young girl and two guards were found badly beaten. The police are looking for her."

"But, she was in a coma. I thought she wasn't supposed to wake up for a very long time."

"It was completely unexpected."

Buffy nodded. "I need to get Spike. We'll look for her. When we find her we’ll...God, I have no idea what we’ll do. Should we hand her to the cops?"

“No. That’s a bad idea.”

Buffy turned slowly, hearing Faith’s voice coming from behind her. “Hey, I was just about to look for you.”

“I've been standing still for eight months, B. You wouldn’t have had to look hard.”

“Giles, take my mom outside.”

“What’s you’re hurry?” Faith asked, blocking the exit to the living room with her body. Her face was shades paler than usual and she was dressed head to toe in black. Buffy’s heart sped up, thinking that she looked more dangerous and psychotic than ever.

“Are you all right?” Buffy asked carefully.

“Five by five. Best thing about a coma, you wake up all rested and rejuvenated and ready for payback.”

“So much for the chitchat, huh? You’re going straight to the revenge.”

“What'd you think, I'd wake up and we'd go for dinner and movie? You tried to gut me, blondie.”

“You'd have done the same to me if you had the chance.”

“So let's have another go at it. See who lands on top,” Faith said, rushing at Buffy.

“You know, maybe I did miss you.” Buffy threw several punches at the other Slayer. “I missed kicking your ass.”

As they fought and blocked each other’s blows, Giles guided Joyce into the kitchen. “We have to go to Spike.”

Joyce jumped, hearing crashing sounds coming from the other room. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

“We will, but for now must help Buffy.”

“By leaving her?”

“By staying out of her way and letting her concentrate. She won’t win this fight if she’s worrying about our safety. We need to get Spike and tell him to come at once. He’ll be able to give Buffy the help that she needs.”
***

Buffy was tossed onto the coffee table and it shattered under her weight. “Ow. That’s going to leave a mark.”

“Come on, B. Is this all that you’ve got? I’m not even breaking a sweat here.”

“I’ll just have to break a few of your bones then.” Buffy got to her feet and struggled to regain her balance. Throwing caution to the wind, she head-butted Faith and sent her flying into the dining room. Buffy grabbed the nearest heavy objects and hurled them at the Faith’s head.

“Come on, F. Is this all that you’ve got?”

With an angry growl, Faith pulled herself up by clinging onto the silverware cabinet. Buffy ducked as a drawer of spoons, forks, and knives was thrown in her direction.

“Fuck. The cops,” Faith whispered at the sound of approaching sirens. “Guess playtime’s over.” She pulled a device out of her jeans and slipped its rings onto her fingers. “Hey, B, want to see my new present? See, some people show a little appreciation when a girl wakes up from a long nap.”

“What are you talking about? Wait. Don’t answer, I don’t care.” Buffy slammed her left fist in the side of Faith’s face. She pulled back her right, but Faith moved faster.

“What? You want to hold hands?” Instead of getting a response, an electric shock traveled through Buffy’s body.

“What the…” Feeling faint, Buffy struggled to keep her eyes open. Her vision became blurred until she saw her body standing clearly in front of her. “Huh?”

“What a rush, these out of body experiences.”

“Faith? What did you do?”

Buffy watched as her mouth twisted in a bitter smile. “Surprise, B. I promise to take real good care of this body of yours.”

Buffy stood in a daze, still trying to understand as the front door to her mother’s house was kicked in by police officers.

“Freeze and put your hands over your head!”
***