A/N: I had a fit of inspiration and just had to get this next chapter up. Hope you're enjoying this - it's a bit different to my usual fare.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


She was shaking all over, and she just couldn’t seem to stop it. Her feet had led her back to the shop, to the safety of her friends – but she knew that she would have been easy prey to any demon who might have happened upon her. She had been so shocked by her meeting with Spike and Drusilla in the alley behind the Bronze and the memory of Spike’s taunting words had left her shaken to the core. She knew all too well how much her sister liked the vampire and it would be only too easy for him – no, she couldn’t think like that.

She wanted to believe, deep down, that Spike’s words had been all bluff – a show for Drusilla perhaps - but this was exactly what her mother had predicted: a dangerous Spike. It had been exactly what Buffy had wanted to avoid, but as usual, she seemed to have run out of luck. Instead, she seemed to have pushed Spike back into the arms of Drusilla, who seemed to be doing a pretty good job of leading him back into the life he had had before. She couldn’t help but feel regret, wondering now if maybe she could have handled the situation better.



Her friends’ greetings drew her momentarily out of her daze and she moved down into the shop, still shaking as she sank into a chair.

“Buffy, are you alright?” Giles asked, his voice finally piercing through to her consciousness.

She looked up at him with wide eyes and let out a sharp little breath.

“I – I don’t know.”

“What happened?” Willow asked worriedly.

“I… I just saw Spike.”

“Was Dead Boy Junior trying to declare his love again?” Xander bit out, “That guy really doesn’t get the hint, does he?”

“No, no,” Buffy murmured, lost in her thoughts for a moment, “No, he really wasn’t… He was with Drusilla.”

“Drusilla?!”

“I thought you believed she had left after the, err, incident in Spike’s crypt?” Giles asked awkwardly.

“I thought she did. But it looks like she’s staying.”

“So Spike’s gone back to his old ways?” Xander said, “Didn’t take him long.”

She thought back to that scene in the alley and didn’t know what to think. Drusilla had killed that boy, whilst Spike hung back in the shadows – and she just didn’t know what to make of it.

“I don’t know.”



She sighed and ran her hand over her face. This was just one issue too many for her to deal with right now.

“Buffy?”

She had fazed out again and raised her head quickly at Willow’s voice.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit… shaken.”

“What happened?” Giles asked.

“Spike, he… he kinda threatened Dawn.”

“Ha, that’ll teach her for having a crush on him,” Xander muttered bitterly, but his voice was drowned out by the outbursts of concern from the others.

“Is Dawn aware of the situation?” Giles asked.

“Yeah,” Buffy answered with a nod, “I told her to stay away from Spike.”

“But?”

“But she doesn’t listen to me most of the time. Why would she be any different now?”

“I think we had best consult with your mother and make sure Dawn is aware of the danger.”

She sighed again, tired and strained. She already had to worry about one baddie being after Dawn and another added to the list made her anxious. She wanted to believe that Spike would not hurt her sister – she had seen how well they got on – but she couldn’t be sure of anything in the circumstances. If Spike wanted to get back at her, what better way?

On top of that, he knew the secret of Dawn’s origin and if he chose to use that against her – the thought made her sick to the stomach. She wished Spike had never found out – but knew it was hopeless to focus on the past. All she could think about now was damage control.



“I have to talk to Spike again,” she proclaimed, silencing the group, who had been chatting between themselves.

“You what?!” Xander blurted out.

“Buffy, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Giles said.

“I know it’s not, but I have to – I need to know that he won’t hurt Dawn.”

“In his state, I’m not sure we can have any guarantees,” Giles pointed out, “How can you be sure that even if he gives his word, he will keep it?”

“I can’t,” she replied honestly, rising to her feet, “Which is why I have to be prepared.”

“Prepared for what?” Willow asked, watching her intently.

“To kill Spike,” she got out, her voice wavering despite her attempts to stop it, “If that’s what it takes to keep Dawn safe.”

“If Drusilla is with him -“

“Then that’s two vamps to deal with,” she said, trying to get into Slayer-mode to push all feelings of doubt, guilt, fear to the back of her mind.

“Buffy, are you sure about this?” Giles asked.

“What else can I do?” she said quietly.
Giles regarded her for a moment and then nodded.

“Be careful.”

She nodded and with a shaking hand, pushed her chair back. She took a deep breath and with one last look at her friends, she went out into the night again.



She headed back to Bronze but after a quick scan, she realised the vampires had moved on. She didn’t know where to look, but headed in the general direction of the cemetery where Spike lived. She could not focus and was glad that tonight seemed to be a quiet night, because otherwise her distraction could have had fatal consequences.

She reached the cemetery and stopped, watching the crypt for any signs of the two vampires. Only a moment later, the door opened and Drusilla stormed out, quickly followed by Spike. Spike grabbed at the vampiress’ arm but she turned and lashed out at him and he stumbled back as she disappeared into the trees. Seeing her chance, Buffy moved forward quickly, her hand clenched tightly around the stake in her hand.

Spike had turned to go back in as she caught up to him and a swift kick sent him flying to the floor inside the crypt. He rolled over quickly, looking up at her wide eyes – before the Big Bad persona reasserted itself.

“What do you want, Slayer?” he scoffed.

“You threatened my sister.”

“What’s a little harmless threatening between friends?” he replied, smirking at her as he got to his feet.

She didn’t pause – she stepped forward and punched him in the face. He reared back and took a long moment to right himself, touching his fingers to his bloody nose. He brought them to his mouth then and licked the blood from them, causing her to grimace in disgust.



“Stay away from my sister,” she bit out, holding her stake high so he could see it.

“Or what?” he returned, lip curled in anger.

“I’m serious, Spike.”

“You’re all talk and no balls,” he retorted, turning his back on her – and giving her the perfect opportunity.

Her fingers twitched around the stake in her hand but she couldn’t bring herself to do it – instead she grabbed him and flung him to the ground. He laughed and propped himself up on his elbows.

“Hit a sore spot, Slayer?”

A sharp kick to the jaw sent him to the ground again and he slid into game face, baring his fangs as yellow eyes fixed on hers. She kicked out at him again and he gave an angry cry, reaching out to pull her off her feet – and crying out in pain as she dropped to the floor, the wind knocked out of her.

She scrambled to her knees and quickly pinned him, one hand on his collar as the other held the stake over his heart. He paused, yellow eyes searching hers and then he growled.

“Go on then!” he cried, “Do it!”

His hand wrapped around hers, pushing the stake harder against his chest.

“Put me out of my bloody misery!” he shouted angrily.

She faltered and he tightened his grip around her hand.

“Do it!” he barked.



With wide eyes, she scrambled away and stumbled to her feet, taking several shaky steps away from the vampire.

“What’s the matter, Slayer?! Lost your nerve?!” he bit out, fangs shining in the dim light, “Come on!”

She couldn’t speak, couldn’t find any reply to his half-angry, half-anguished words.

“I… I’m sorry,” she stuttered, before turning on her heel and sprinting out of the crypt.

She didn’t stop when she got outside and she
sprinted across the cemetery and halfway down the street before coming to a halt, breathing heavily. Shaking, she sank against a nearby wall and her eyes flew back to the empty cemetery, her heart hammering against her chest. Burying her head in her hands, she sank to the floor and curled up into a ball.

“Oh God,” she whispered to herself, “What have I done?”