No, I'm not done with the fic yet, but I've been suddenly assailed with writer's block and really need a boost, so I'm posting this one early. :) I'll still be updating on Saturday, of course!




Buffy snuggled deeper into Spike’s embrace, nuzzling his cool chest as she yawned her way into wakefulness.

He eyes shot open. I slept with Spike! she remembered suddenly. Oh, god, I slept with Spike! Talk about being spontaneous…

“Morning, love,” he said sleepily, pulling her closer.

“I really am a slut,” she moaned, burying her face in his chest. “I just…jumped you, out of nowhere, and practically forced myself on you!”

“Not how I remember it, pet,” he said, laughing softly. “I rather enjoyed it.”

She looked up at him hopefully. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” he confirmed.

“I wasn’t…bad?” She let go of him, squirming out of his arms.

He lowered his lips to kiss the junction between her neck and shoulder. “You were perfect. So raw…so much energy… I used to watch you fight and imagine you like that in my bed, and you surpassed even my wildest dreams.”

Buffy flushed, unused to speaking so freely. “Because I thought that- I mean, the last person I was with- he said that I was-“

Spike sat up, his eyes flashing. “No. Angelus was a wanker,” he growled. “I swear, if he wasn’t dead already-”

She stopped him with a kiss. “Don’t bring him into this,” she said softly, cupping his cheek. “Just be with me.”

--

She had crept into the house just after seven, tiptoeing through the foyer and heading for the stairs, when she came face-to-face with a very displeased-looking Dawn.

“Hi!” Buffy forced a grin. “You’re up early!”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Dawn said curtly. She looked awful. She was paler than usual, her eyes had dark circles around them, and her hands were shaking at her sides where one was clutching onto a dark manila envelope. “Where were you?”

“Demon-fighting,” Buffy offered quickly, trying to move past the younger girl.

“All night.” Dawn didn’t budge.

“Yeah!” Buffy nodded enthusiastically. “There was a…big, gross demon, and he was really dangerous and demony, so I had to...” Dawn seemed unconvinced, so she quickly changed tacks. “Why? Did you miss me?” she teased.

Dawn handed her the manila envelope expressionlessly. Buffy opened it, pulling out a pile of photographs, and glanced at the first one.

Oh, no.

She flipped through the pile, her worst fears confirmed. They were all shots of her and Spike in his crypt in various intimate positions. There were none from the night before, thankfully, but some of them were borderline pornographic. All were from the same angle, and all were completely incriminating. “What is this?” she demanded of Dawn.

“Oh, you’re asking me questions? What right do you have to do that?” Dawn snapped back. “I trusted you! I was nice to you when no one else would be! I thought that you were a good person, and this is what you do? Steal away my sister’s boyfriend?”

“They broke up,” Buffy said finally, feeling suddenly ashamed. Before now, there had only been the slightest bit of guilt at the idea of being with Spike, but now, seeing Faith’s sister disillusioned and hurt, she was beginning to realize that this wasn’t just about Faith, Spike, and Buffy. This was everyone, and what would happen between the Scoobies if the truth got out.

“Please!” Dawn snorted, her eyes watering up. “They’ve been together for years! And you just swoop in and take him away? Faith was right about you! When she finds out-“

“No!” Buffy nearly screamed. She shot a look upstairs warily. “No,” she repeated quietly. “At least give us some time. It won’t hurt your sister nearly as much if you wait a month or two,” she wheedled. “Put yourself in her shoes. Would she want to know this now?”

Dawn stopped. “No,” she admitted reluctantly.

“Thank you, Dawnie,” Buffy said gently.

Dawn’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me that!” she spat. “You’re not my friend. You or Spike. You’re a bitch.” She spun on her heel and headed into the kitchen.

Buffy climbed upstairs and sank down onto her bed wearily. I really am a horrible person. It had been so easy, when she and Spike had been apart, to hate Faith for having what Buffy had wanted desperately. But now that she was in Faith’s prior position, she was just as bad. Worse, even, because she had taken something from Faith. Something Faith wanted back.

She tried to kill him, she reminded herself.

But wouldn’t I have done the same?

She doesn’t love him.

Neither do I. I think.

Spike chose me.

Her conscience had no answer to that one, so she finally let herself move on to other matters. Most importantly, the pictures she now held. Where had they come from? Who would be trying to unleash Faith on Buffy and Spike? Willow, maybe. But she wouldn’t bother being that discreet about it. She’d have just told Faith and enjoyed the show.

Wait a minute… She flipped back through the photos, frowning at the angles at which they’d been taken. There were only two different angles, really, and another for the downstairs level. Which probably meant a few hidden cameras in the crypt. Huh. She’d go back there at dusk and talk it over with Spike.

But for now, she needed a nice, long shower.

--

Spike frowned, craning his neck to face in the exact direction of the photo he held. He backed up a few steps into the wall, reaching over to yank the second camera out from a long crack in the wall. “You are going to pay for this,” he warned the lens in full game face before he hurled the camera at the opposite wall, smashing it into pieces.

Buffy looked up from where she was banging a stone against the other camera. “So what do you think? Who’s doing this?”

Spike shrugged. “That depends. Are they just watching my place? Because there are some pretty nasty demons who’d love to put me on the outs with the slayer. But if they’re watching your place, too, or the Magic Box, then I’d wager on it being those nerds you were talking about yesterday.”

“With the invisibility ray?” Buffy said doubtfully. “You think they could pull off something like that?”

“Not just an invisibility ray, pet,” Spike corrected. “Slayer also had some trouble a while back with a little gadget that altered time. That might’ve been them, too. Fits the profile.”

“I guess,” Buffy conceded, eyeing the smashed camera. “I just can’t imagine that Jonathan Levinson was able to do anything this elaborate.”

“Jonathan?” Spike frowned. “Snack-sized, dark hair, starred in The Matrix?”

“Yes, yes, no?” Buffy furrowed her brow in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you know him!”

Spike nodded. “Was a while back. He did some magic that made us all think that he was best at everything. Some sort of superstar spell.”

“The whole Sunnydale?” Buffy laughed. “Get out!” The one image she had of Jonathan was him trying desperately to fade into the background when the jocks walked past. It was hard to believe that he could do something that large-scale.

She was suddenly assailed with the memory of Willow, backing away from the popular girls in an attempt to avoid their attentions. I guess you never know…

“Who were the other nerds?” Spike wondered. “Did Faith say?”

“Um.” Buffy bit her lip. “I can’t remember one’s name, but Faith said that he was Tucker’s brother, whatever that means. And the third guy was named Warner, I think.”

“Warren?”

“That’s the one.”

“Bugger.” Spike stomped on the camera with the toe of his boot. “He built a sexbot. ‘M sure he could rig a few cameras to stalk us.”

“And now they’re trying to turn Faith against us,” Buffy concluded. “Not that she needs any help, in my case.” She picked up the pictures again, raising her eyebrows when she noticed that the smuttiest ones were missing. Spike leered. Buffy flushed. “They do have footage of the two of us…you know…now,” she reminded him, making a face. “Wait, do you think that they watch it?”

“Probably.” Spike shrugged. “Remember, this guy did it with a robot. He’d probably do anything for a good wank.”

“Oh, god.” Buffy stumbled to the door. “I have to…do something, kill someone, puke, I’m not really sure.”

“Buffy,” Spike called after her, but he sounded more amused than concerned.

She ran, far from the cameras, and prayed that the nerds weren’t monitoring the whole cemetery, too. Who knew what they could do?

From practically virgin to porn star in one night. What a life I lead. She stopped short, hearing a sudden screech somewhere to her left, and raced off in that direction.

There was a crowd of demons, chasing a girl through the cemetery…

And then there was nothing. Huh?

And then there was a flash of demons again, and a girl was lying on the floor.

And then there was nothing, just Spike approaching in the distance, calling out her name.

And then there were demons.

Then Spike-

-Then demons-

-Then the girl-

-Then demons-

-Spike-

-Girl-

-Demons-

-Spike-

-Demons-

-Girl-

-Girl-

Girl!

Girl, on the ground, unconscious from Buffy’s accidental attack.

No.

She was dead.

--

I killed her. I killed her. I killed her.

She sat up abruptly, panting. Oh, god, it was real. Not a dream. I killed her. I killed her. I killed-

“B?” Faith pushed open the door, looking more than a little annoyed. “Where have you been? You were supposed to patrol tonight. I had to stake like six fledglings on my way home.”

“I killed her,” Buffy said blankly.

Faith stared at her. “What are you talking about?”

“I- a girl. In Restfield. I was trying to save her. I killed her.” It all came out in a rush, and her eyes widened in horror as it sank in. “I killed her!”

Faith gaped at her. “You killed someone?”

Buffy pulled her jacket back on. “I shouldn’t have left. I need to go.”

“Go? Go where?” Faith demanded, following her out of her room. “Buffy!”

“I killed her!” Buffy snapped back. “I have to go to the police. Turn myself in.”

“Wait one damned second!” Faith grabbed her arm. “That’s not how this works. You can’t go to the cops. What good would that do?”

Buffy yanked her arm out of Faith’s grasp, heading down the stairs and out the door. “What do you care? You want me gone anyway. Well, congratulations! You win! The murderer is going to go to jail!”

Faith kept up with her as she sped down the street. “Don’t be an idiot, B. You don’t want to do this.”

Buffy spun around so quickly that only Faith’s slayer reflexes kept the other girl from smashing into her. “A girl died because of me, Faith.”

“And how many more live because of you?” Faith retorted.

Buffy turned back, quickening her pace even more in the vain hope of leaving Faith behind. “It doesn’t go like that.”

“Look, I’m the first to support you leaving town,” Faith conceded. “But not like this! What good would you do in prison? The only way that you could possibly make up for killing someone is by using your abilities to save lives, and do some good! Not locked up and useless!”

“Know that from experience, Faith?” Buffy shot back, taking savage pleasure in the way that Faith froze. She took advantage of the other slayer’s shock to race to the police station, leaving Faith far behind.

Faith finally caught up to her when she’d reached the station. “You know nothing about that,” she panted, gasping for breath.

Buffy folded her arms. “Let’s see. You killed a man in your senior year and decided to keep it a secret. Guess what? Everyone knew!”

“Who told you that?” Faith demanded.

“Does it matter?” Buffy reached for the door. “Just because you’re too weak to own up to what you did doesn’t mean that we all have to follow your example.”

“Don’t go in there,” Faith warned her.

“Stop me.”

Faith grinned an unfriendly smile. “Oh, I was so hoping you’d say that.” She let loose with a truly impressive right hook that slammed Buffy across the front of the building and into the alley beside it.

Buffy rose, rubbing her jaw. “Bad move, F.” She swung her own fist at the other girl.

Faith caught her wrist and twisted, sending a sharp bolt of pain up Buffy’s arm and making her grunt in agony. She twisted her entire body with her wrist, kicking outwards as she turned and connecting with Faith’s stomach, sending her flying.

Back and forth they fought, exchanging blows that extended far beyond this particular conflict. Their battle was bitter and untamed, vicious and uncontrolled, neither girl holding back and neither girl giving an inch. While the last time they’d fought, Buffy had been the one with the raw power and Faith the one with the skills, now Buffy was nearly as skilled and Faith was equally powerful. The two were evenly matched. It was a battle of hate, and yet, it was still more exhilarating than almost anything Buffy had ever done.

Faith swung Buffy by one leg, spinning to give her more force when she threw her counterpart. Buffy dropped to the ground and jumped back up, remembering what Giles had once told her. Remembering that when it came down to a battle between the slayers, he saw her as the victor. It gave her added strength and confidence, just a bit more than Faith would ever have. She could win this and do what was right. She had to.

With one last blow, she knocked Faith’s head against the concrete for long enough to temporarily stun her and staggered into the station.

She waited by the front counter, ignoring the looks she was getting at her bruised and bloodied state, and sighed with exasperation when Faith doggedly followed her in moments later.

“B…” Faith said warningly.

“Go away, Faith,” Buffy muttered. “It’s too late now.”

The man behind the counter held up a hand. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” He picked up the phone. “Sunnydale PD. You got an ID on that body yet?” The two girls stilled, staring at each other with a sort of hopelessness as the man moved to write it down. “Katrina…Silber…” he repeated. “S, I, L, B-“

“B!” Faith echoed in sudden realization, grabbing her arm.

“Will you give it up already?” Buffy demanded, whirling on the girl.

“She’s Warren’s girlfriend,” Faith responded, grinning, her eyes alight with relief.

“Warren’s…” Buffy inhaled sharply. “Then…” Time changing, demons coming and going, the whole big confusion that was the encounter…

Faith smiled at her, not unkindly. “Let’s get out of here.”

They walked back home in silence, side by side and hanging onto each other for support, their faces and bodies mangled messes of what they had been before. Dawn took one look at them and folded her arms. “Who started it?” She was glaring at Buffy, and Buffy prayed that she wouldn’t jump to conclusions and let their secret slip.

Faith gave her sister a cocky smirk. “We tripped.”

“Together?” Dawn threw her hands up into the air. “I am sick and tired of these lame excuses!”

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, D?” Faith said archly, a smile still tugging at her lips.

“Whatever. I’d rather be in bed than hang out with you two!” She stalked upstairs, ignoring her housemates’ bemusement.

Buffy finally turned to Faith. “Why?”

She didn’t have to clarify. Faith understood the question. She shrugged. “Hey, when it’s just the two of us, we can kick each other’s asses all we want. But when it’s us against the world? We’ve gotta stick together. We’re an endangered species, you know?”

“Three and counting,” Buffy noted.

“Not that this changes anything,” Faith warned her.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Buffy agreed.

Faith eyed her wound. “Those look terrible. You want me to wrap them up?”

Buffy narrowed her eyes. “I’ll be fine. You want some help with yours?”

Faith laughed. “Please, these? They’ll be gone in an hour.”

They eyeballed each other for a while, then made a mad dash for the shower.

--

Across town, Willow Rosenberg had done it again.

She grinned smugly. This time had been far easier than the last time she’d played with these magics. For one thing, she hadn’t needed to call to the gods at all. It had just taken a little manipulation of the magics already at work in the building, and a cross-dimensional locator-transporter spell she’d managed to put together, and she’d been able to whip up the one thing that would convince Buffy to isolate herself completely from the Scoobies.

She leaned back against the wall, satisfied. “I’d say this was some of my best work.

“What do you think, Angel?”