A/N: BIG thanks to Megan for betaing.


Chapter 7: Distractions.


“And that one needs to go over there,” Fred pointed.

Spike obliged with her request, lifting and carrying the said items and placing them where she so desired. He liked Fred and he considered her a friend. She had been the only one who had given him the time of day when he had been blinking in and out of existence between this dimension and a place he never wanted to return again. The research she had put into trying to figure out a way to reanimate him was above and beyond the call of duty. Hell, if Angel had known about her efforts in advance, Spike would be surprised that he had lasted as long as he did.

Hope was a funny thing.

It was his hope that Fred would figure out the ‘cure’ to his ghostliness that had given him the strength to fight back, to try and stay in this world. And over those weeks of her working on some mathematical equation or trying to bend specific laws of physics, he had gotten to know her. She was a very kind woman who had strength within her that a lot of people did not see.

And she was also a crappy liar.

Which is how Spike knew something was up.

“Stalled me for long enough yet, pet?” he asked with a quirked brow when the last package had been moved to its new destination.

Fred’s jaw gaped slightly, her eyes widening like saucers at Spike’s keen observation. I told Angel I didn’t like lying…

“What do you mean?” she asked trying to play it coy even though she knew Spike had obviously seen through the charade. She giggled nervously, trying to keep up the charade.

“Fred, pet, you couldn’t lie if your life depended on it,” he chuckled.

Indignance flashed through her eyes. “I can too!” she retorted. “I’ll have you know that I can lie quite well when the occasion calls for it. When I was first brought back from Pylea there was a time when Wesley and Gunn were affected by the blood of this --”

“You might be able to fool Charlie boy and Wesley, but I’ve been in the game a lot longer than them,” he pointed out.

Fred bit her lip about to offer a denial when her telephone beeped. Holding up a finger she motioned for him to stay put as she turned to answer it. “Department of… Oh hi, George!” she greeted brightly when her regular contact jumped in before the end of her spiel like he always did.

She turned around and instantly noted the absence of Spike.

“Oh you sneaky little…”

Hearing the distressed tone on the other end of the line, she immediately began apologizing. “Oh no, not you, George. Of course I don’t think you’re sneaky, I was referring to…”

~~~

Buffy reached for the towel and dabbed at the sweat that had formed on her forehead and neck. The hour-long workout had been just what she needed and she felt calmer and more relaxed in her surroundings than she had thus far. Gunn had left after ten or so minutes, his expectations of a slayer having been drastically changed after witnessing Buffy’s workout. And he had voiced his thoughts. A small part of Buffy was pleased with the praise; the knowledge that Gunn had been impressed by her skill more so than Faith’s gave her ego a little boost. Not that things between her and Faith were as strained as they used to be, but the competitiveness still raised its head every now and then. Buffy took this silent victory.

It was as she was sipping from the water bottle that Gunn had provided that the door to the training room opened. Buffy spun in its direction, though she knew the identity of the visitor even with her back turned. Even with the long separations and their gradual growing apart, she still knew innately when Angel was around.

“Angel,” she greeted with a smile and a nod. As if remembering that she wasn’t supposed to be so casual with her former-- in light of his current job position--formality crept back into her voice. “Impressive room you’ve got yourself here. I’m sorry if I intruded by using it.”

Angel smiled softly. “It rarely gets the attention it deserves. No apology necessary.”

He shrugged off his suit jacket in a similar fashion to how Gunn had, slowly unbuttoning his shirt and revealing a white wife beater beneath. Toeing out of his shoes, he peeled off his socks and ambled towards her. “I came in to do some Tai Chi. Meditating helps keep my mind clear.”

Buffy nodded in understanding. “I haven’t meditated in a long while but I still use what you taught me from time to time.”

His surprise was evident in his eyes, a slow smile curling at his lips. “Care to join me?”

She hesitated for a moment before acquiescing, moving slowly from the edge of the room to the center mat and taking up a position.

As one they performed the routine, arms lifting slowly into the air before stretching outwards as they pushed the negative energy away from their bodies. Angel could hear her heart beat slow and steady, her breath controlled and calm as she moved through the positions. All too soon they had completed the cycle and Angel found himself searching for excuses for her to stay so that he could spend more time with her.

“Buffy, I was thinking,” he began, only to be cut off by a loud beeping noise.

Buffy’s eyes darted to the side of the room, spying her beeper. She swiftly made her way over to it and depressed a small button to illuminate the message. Giles.

Dropping the beeper back on the bench, she began unwrapping her hands and collected her jacket. Lifting her gaze to Angel she shrugged apologetically. “I have to go. Giles needs to conference with me about an issue regarding the school and I left all my paperwork back at the hotel.”

Angel was disappointed but knew the interruption was probably for the best considering Spike was wandering the premises. “No problem,” he replied. “When you get the chance, just give me a call so we can figure out what to do about Dana.”

Buffy acknowledged his request with a smile before turning and exiting the room.

The vampire began pacing the room for a few moments, second-guessing himself about decisions he had made before shaking the thoughts off. It had to be done. Figuring he may as well make use of the training room-- considering he was already there-- he changed out of his suit pants and slipped on a pair of sweat pants he had stored in a drawer.

Using up some energy might just be what he needed to help him dismiss thoughts of Spike once and for all.

~~~

A wave of familiarity rolled over Buffy as she walked through the lobby and towards the elevator. So very much like the feeling she got when Angel was around… but not. Pushing it away, she continued walking towards her exit.

She rode the elevator down to the parking lot in silence, knowing that Morty would be waiting for her. She was not disappointed when the doors opened.

“Back to the hotel, Miss Buffy?” he asked with his trademark bright smile.

“Yes, Morty.”

~~~

Spike wandered down the hallway towards Angel’s training room, having weasled his location from Harmony. There had been no mention of her earlier proposition and she had treated him as if it had never happened. Assuming that she was embarrassed by it he had not brought it up. He had also been surprised at how easily she had given him her boss’s location.

Pushing through the double doors, he found Angel attacking a punching bag. “Burning off a little sexual frustration?” he mocked as he sauntered into the room. The over-riding smell of male sweat assaulted his senses and he scrunched up his nose.

Old habits died hard and Spike was a very sensory person. Vampires didn’t need to breathe so most rarely used their sense of smell unless they were hunting. Spike, on the other hand, almost always did.

Angel stopped his attack of the weighted bag and turned towards him, a glare imprinted on his face. “Spike, what are you doing here?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Didn’t figure I’d give up so soon, did ya? I got a bone to hit you wi--”

The aroma hit him like a speeding truck, Spike’s eyes widening and his jaw gaping.

“You’re going to what, Spike?” Angel finally drawled sarcastically.

“There it is again!” he exclaimed. “That bloody aroma, that smell that could only be…”

Spike fisted his hands by his sides as he began to pace the small room. He had to be losing his mind. First it hit him in the alleyway and now here. He had heard of and experienced dreams that had seemed so real that you could touch and taste and smell, but it had never happened whilst he had been awake.

Maybe all the whiskey is killing off brain cells…

“It’s called sweat, Spike,” Angel derided. “Did you not see that you interrupted my workout?”

“Well if your cologne is vanilla and honey scented then you’re even more demented than I thought you were,” he retorted, eyes flashing angrily as he stopped his pacing and took several large strides towards the older vampire. “I’m losing my mind.”

“Been lost a long time now,” Angel muttered not so quietly.

Spike glared at the elder vampire, hardly believing that he was lowering himself enough to identify with his grandsire. “Was it like this for you?” he asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his words.

“Was what like --” Angel was interrupted as Spike continued. He was running his hands through his hair, his eyes darting almost wildly around the room. He appeared to be waging an internal battle with his thoughts as he resumed his pacing.

“Not bein’ around her.” The words tumbled out of his mouth in long run on sentences, not allowing time for Angel to respond. “When you first left Sunnydale. Did you dream about her? About her hair, her lips, the way she could stare at you and see the soul behind the demon?”

Angel’s arms folded over his chest as he leaned up against the gymnastics horse. There was no misunderstanding what Spike was rambling about right now.

“I’ve been havin’ dreams, vivid life-like dreams and I figure it’s partly cos of the booze, but now it’s not just when I’m sleepin’. Last night, just now… I can smell her.” He turned his gaze to Angel, giving in to his desperation. “How’d you get past it, knowin’ she was so close but you couldn’t touch her?”

“It was hard,” Angel replied honestly, having more invested in this conversation than Spike could ever realize. “But you learn to deal. Buffy is living her own life now, she deserves a chance at a normal life.”

“I’m being haunted is what it is,” Spike said adamantly. “You think Fred or Wes’d know some spell to magic the hurt away?”

~~~

Buffy shifted in her seat in the back of the limo, suddenly becoming aware of the lack of plastic that normally dug into her hip. Checking her jacket pockets which turned up empty, she pressed the button to lower the visor.

“Yes, Miss Buffy?” Morty queried.

“I forgot my pager.” She shook her head at her absent-mindedness. “Can we swing back and get it?”

“Sure thing.”

~~~

“Spike, maybe you just need some time off. A vacation. Maybe somewhere in South America, so you can think.”

Spike shook his head in disagreement. “No, I need a spell. Or a potion. Or a bloody memory wipe. It’s too bloody hard thinkin’ and dreamin’ about her and knowin’ she doesn’t have a bloody clue I’m alive. I don’t even know if she’d care.”

Angel had never seen Spike so despondent before. Not even when he was with Drusilla, and that was saying something.

Pity Angel didn’t feel like doing anything about it.

~~~

“Thanks,” Buffy called as she jumped out through the back door of the limo before Morty could open it and bounded for the lifts. Pressing the button, she waited as the doors closed behind her and the small capsule slowly lifted skywards.

When they opened on her floor she exited and swiftly made her way towards Angel’s training room, passing Harmony’s desk in her travels.

The blond vampire looked up as the slayer swept passed her, eyes widening like saucers when she realized where she must be heading. Leaping up from her arm chair, she raced to catch up with her. “Buffy, wait!” she cried desperately just as the Slayer was about to turn the last corner before the training room.

Buffy stopped her movement, rolling her eyes at Harmony’s calls. “Harmony, I’m just collecting my beeper and then I’ll be going.”

“I’ll get it for you,” Harmony blurted out quickly.

Frowning, Buffy shook her head. “No, it’s fine, I was only in there a little while ago.”

“Angel’s busy right now, he won’t want interruptions.” Harmony stepped in front of Buffy, effectively blocking her entrance.

Buffy pursed her lips. “I think I know Angel a little better than you and I know he wouldn’t mind me walking in for a few seconds.” She tried to step around Harmony but the vampire mirrored her movements.

“I really didn’t want to have to do this… but…” Buffy reached for Harmony’s throat and slammed her into the wall, side-stepping the weak punch the vampire threw in her direction.

With long strides she approached the doors and pushed through them.

“Angel, I had to hit your secretary, I’m really…” she looked up and her jaw dropped.

“Buffy?”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you guys like!