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Chapter 40
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Spike hated to break the moment with Buffy. They’d never really had too many tender ones in their stormy history and he was quite enjoying the novelty of it. There were, however, still dangers of which Buffy only knew a fraction. If the other two Partners already knew of their escape, they would only have time for a short briefing .

"Pet, not that I’m wantin’ this to end any time soon, or ever, but you need to get caught up a bit on what’s happenin’." He hoped the seriousness of his look would drive home his point. "You probably already sussed out that you’re not in Kansas anymore, huh?" At her nod, he continued, "Ever hear of Wolfram and Hart, love?"

"Big evil law firm that Angel went to work for after you closed the Hellmouth. I know they have a branch in Rome with some oversexed woman in charge there. I tried to get the goods on them just before I met Eduardo. Come to think of it, my first few meetings with him were at parties that W & H were sponsoring."

Buffy got a strange, uncomfortable look on her face and clasped Spike’s hand tightly. "I want to explain about him, about that whole situation. It might look like I forgot you easily, but I didn’t … forget you, that is. I was sure you were gone for good. I knew you died so I could continue to live and it didn’t seem like I would be honoring your sacrifice if I just stopped living too. Okay, Eduardo was a lame choice, I get that! Still the whole evil-but-not, mysterious, attractive to men and women, not completely human thing kinda reminded me of you at first. Guess we DO have a lot to talk about later. Go on with the current events though, ‘kay?"

Spike gave her hand a little squeeze. "Nothing for you to explain, love. You didn’t do anything wrong. Not like we were even together there for a long time, so can’t call it cheatin’." He smiled at her, his clear eyes underlining the message that he found no fault in her actions after Sunnydale. "Actually, I’m
pretty glad you didn’t just turn to Peaches. Have to say it made me a happy vamp when I realized you weren’t there with him when I came back!

Spike paused for a quick, unnecessary breath.

"Right, back to the important stuff for the moment. This, where we are right now, is the dimension where the Senior Partners of Wolfram & Hart live. They run Evil, Inc. in a lot of dimensions, but this is the one where they hang their hats. That old song, "Hotel California" has lots of clues, turns out. Who’d have thought, eh? Anyway…to get out, I have to kill all three of the partners and do this ritual Red and the Watcher put together using their blood. Took care of the Hart bloke already, then got nabbed by Ram’s henchmen while you were still all barmy. Giles isn’t here, pet. That bloke is really the demon called Wolf. The one you seemed to think was a baby slayer was really Ram. I’ve got this magic orb you can use to see them the way they really are. They can look like anything."

Buffy shivered at that thought. "Like the First! God, that was so confusing. You never knew who you were talking to until it was too late. Why did you say that YOU had to kill these guys? There’s two of us and two of them, piece of cake."

"No, love. There’s a prophecy and all. Don’t wanna bollocks it all up by getting too creative. Gotta be me. Don’t mean you can’t help by takin’ out their toadying minions though. Probably ought to let you have the orb." Spike started to try to tear the device free but Buffy stayed his hand.

"How ‘bout you keep it since you have to be the one to fight them. I’ll just trust you to tell me what I’m seeing. Will that work for you?" Buffy offered.

Spike was dumbstruck at the new level of trust that Buffy was showing him. "That’d work. We need to stick together though. Wait!" Spike had a look of horror on his face at a memory. "Since they can shift shape, they could try to look like me to get at you. Maybe wouldn’t hurt to have a code or something in case they try it." They agreed on several phrases they could use if such a thing were to happen and hoped it would be overkill.

"Buffy, love, you didn’t happen to pick up a couple of nice, pointy swords when you were rescuing my hide, did you?" At her confused look he continued, "Brought in a pair of special swords. Even if I don’t get a chance to use the bloody things, need to keep ‘em safe. They’re not just average weapons. One’s Excalibur, like in King Arthur; other one was used by Beowolf and it’s magic, too. Don’t think Willow’d be too happy if I left them behind, seein’ how she went to a lot of trouble findin’ ‘em."

"So Willow’s here too?" Buffy looked a bit wistful.

"Well, in a manner of speakin’. Whole lot of ‘em and Angel and his get, too. They’re in our world. Like I said, prophecy and all. Up to me to kill these buggers--that part’s pretty clear. Rupert’s leading the troops just on the other side of the portal. Pet, you’ve been gone a long time--‘bout six months our time, and that's before I got involved in finding you. Everyone’s here to see you get home safe and sound. Was a group effort up to my comin’ in after you. Been playin’ Lone Ranger from then on." Spike saw the tender smile on his love’s face at the thought of all her friends being nearby.

"Well, since you have to go play the hero, you’d better be in good shape. Have a pint on me…or of me…as they say in Merry Ole! See, I did learn to speak English finally!" Buffy teased.

"Don’t wanna weaken you either, pet." Spike looked at her with worry in his eyes.

"I did say a pint. I’m not wanting you to go crazy with the bloodlust or anything. Maybe this fine fella’d like to donate to the cause a bit?" Buffy lightly kicked at the wide-eyed Dilby.

"Sounds like a plan. Don’t think I’m plannin’ on goin’ back to any all-human diet. This is just temporary, on account of need’s all. Be too tempting, even with the soul, if I keep it up too long." Spike admitted his private fear to Buffy. He was a vampire, after all and he’d been dining on pure slayer essence for months.

Buffy pulled her hair to one side and offered her neck to Spike for the jump start of her blood. "Seems fair. My neck has been tapped for three other vamps, might as well have a mark or two for the one I’m in love with. The wrist cut’s already healed and won’t even scar. I don’t think you licking my arm counts for much since you were really out of it."

"What licking are you talkin’ ‘bout, love?" Spike looked at Buffy with his head tilted in curiosity.

"In that woman’s basement…when the First was using you. You were gonna drink from me then got all horrified and jumped back after only a little bit." Buffy looked as confused as Spike that he didn’t seem to remember the incident.

"Most of what I remember about that whole thing was realizing I’d been killin’ again and that you were gonna have to dust me. Sorry, love. Shoulda been something I’d remember, your blood and all." Spike looked embarrassed.

"You had plenty on your mind. Don’t worry about it. Well, make this memorable, ‘kay?" She moved her neck closer to his mouth in invitation.

Spike moved close to the base of her neck and began to rain kisses over to her collarbone and then up her offered neck. He trailed his tongue in reverse, over the path his lips had just taken, tasting her salty skin. He repeated the pattern several times until he had Buffy moaning and slightly writhing at the sensations his mouth was creating. When her eyes were lust-filled and her body nearly combusting, he went into game face and gently let his elongated incisors
slide into her jugular vein.

Buffy moaned loudly at the penetration and wondered why she had never let him do this when they were having their sexathons. After all, back then she wouldn’t have even cared if he did take too much. She had been that depressed. Now she just trusted his love enough to not worry at all.

Spike took several long pulls on her blood, savoring the taste of pure Buffy in each of them. He could feel the power seep into himself with each one, healing and empowering. He was as hard as a rock, but there was no time to allow for an easing of his desire.

Buffy, on the other hand, had plenty of time to enjoy the way each pull of her lover’s mouth caused lightning to flash from her neck to her womb. With each pull she could feel herself tensing in that all too familiar way. She buried her mouth in his shoulder to muffle the scream she could feel bubbling
in the back of her throat. He had always turned her into a screamer when she came!

Spike chuckled as he felt the reaction, glad that at least one of them was getting complete satisfaction. He took one last pull on her vein and withdrew his teeth from her neck. He laved her neck, closing the holes that might just leave a pretty scar after all. Then he closed his eyes in pleasure, feeling the power and strength course through his system.

"Okay, now to the cheaper meat. Gotta get you to top form, honey." Buffy was dragging the struggling desk clerk towards Spike as she spoke. The duct tape had come loose from Dilby’s mouth and he was looking with terror at the vampire he was about to be fed to.

"Please, please, don’t kill me. I swear I’m not a bad guy. Okay, I’m a crooked lawyer, but working here’s been punishment enough for that. Can’t go eating all
the crooked lawyers, not enough vampires for that!" Dilby begged.

"Oh, shut up! Spike’s not gonna kill you; just drink enough to add to my blood. He needs to be able to move all his parts if he’s gonna kill the other two Partners, right?" Buffy rolled her eyes at the terrified man.

Dilby lowered his gaze and asked quietly, "I’m not going to …you know …I mean, I’m not a homosexual and he’s a male!"

"Relax, mate. Not gonna even try to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Just a meal’s all." Spike smirked at Dilby. Then he replaced the duct tape on the man’s mouth before going back into game face for a bit of the yummy.

Spike wiped his lips when he had taken enough from the involuntary donor and laughed to Buffy, "Quick as the poor sod was to pass out, didn’t need to worry ‘bout the side effects after all."

"How are you? Feel like collecting a couple of swords and kicking some demon ass?" Buffy held out her hand to help Spike stand.

"Ready and willin’. Think there’s gonna be one surprised sheep-headed wanker out there seein’ me up and about after the poison he put in me." Spike peeked out the door to be certain their hiding place had not been discovered.

"So that’s what was wrong with you! I knew it had to be something serious to get you to shut up." Buffy smiled as she teased her resurrected lover. It was so very good to have him alive and there for her to tease!

"Balls!" Spike drew Buffy back into the closet and quietly closed the door. "Shhhh", he whispered in her ear. "Bunch of those robed ninnies are streamin’ into the lobby. Looks like they’ve found the empty chains. Well so much for that surprise. They still shouldn’t be expectin’ me to be at full power though. Maybe that’d be a good move when we come up on ‘em. Best save our strength for the big boys though."

The dynamic duo waited in the locked closet for the sounds beyond to still, indicating the search party had moved on. Spike unlocked the door and glanced out to the now empty lobby and nodded to Buffy that the coast was clear for the moment. They moved carefully behind the counter, keeping low and on the alert. "Best get those shiny lovelies before going on a creature hunt," Spike said in a low voice.

"Upstairs it is then", Buffy agreed. "I don’t suppose there are any back stairs in this place, are there?"

"Not real sure. I didn’t really scout it out too far after seein’ you out there dancing like Sweet was in the building." Spike squeezed Buffy’s hand fondly.

"Didn’t think so. Kinda got you caught by saving me. Sorry." Buffy said it, even if her eyes didn’t look sorry he had found her at all.

"I’m not! That’s why I’m here, pet. No point in the whole mission if not to get you out safe and sound. Dropped my guard’s all. That’s my fault. Water under the bridge now. Let’s check the parts I didn’t get to and see. There might be other ways up to the next floor." Spike led the way towards the back of the hotel. "Could get used to partnerin’ up with you in a fight." Spike smiled at Buffy.

"Sounds good to me. Retirement’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Kinda not liking the "Normal Girl’ gig as much as I though I would. It’s nice not having all of it on just my shoulders, but I’m ready to get in the game again. Having you back and at my side just makes it even better." Buffy was happy to assure Spike that a lot of things had changed since their last meeting.

No more waiting to the last minute to try to make everything clear for Buffy ever again. She was going to have to have a talk with Angel when she got home, too. Time to fix all those mixed signals where both of her vamps were concerned. No more fighting over her, with or without oil.