Chapter Eleven

The sun was setting when Buffy found Spike sitting on the back steps smoking a cigarette. She sat beside him, looking out into the darkening night.

“Cutting it a bit close aren’t you? It’s barely on the far side of dusk.”

“After so many sunsets?” Spike replied as he continued to stare pensively at the ground in front of him. “I know when it’s safe, right down to the second.”

Concerned by his despondent mood Buffy placed a hand over his, comforted when he laced is fingers with hers and squeezed gently.

“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” She sat quietly, watching as he struggled for the words. She knew this situation was hard on him and found herself wanting to be there for him.

“I never regretted becoming a vampire Buffy. I was strong, powerful, more than I could ever have been as a human. I was William the Bloody, Slayer of Slayers, known throughout the world as one of the biggest bads walking the earth. And now look at me.” Tossing away his cigarette he finally turned to face her. “Today I was overpowered by an over-the-hill ex-librarian and a pair of teenagers. I’m drinking pig’s blood from a novelty mug. I’m a sitting duck for anyone that feels like having a go. Hell, Xander could take me out right now.”

Buffy sighed, both saddened and discomforted by his words. “I’m not going to say I’m sorry this has happened to you because I’d be lying. I’m not sorry that you can’t kill people. I feel bad that you’re hurting but I’m not sorry that I don’t have to try to kill you every time we meet.”

“Yeah, cause you know you were doing a lousy job there,” he joked, managing to crack a small smile.

“What can I say,” Buffy teasingly replied. “In you I met my match.”

“In more ways than one hey pet?” He cocked an eyebrow at her, his gaze sliding down over her body.

Buffy snorted at his lack of subtlety.

Turning serious again Spike reached out a hand to cup her face. “There’s only one good thing to come out of this you know.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she asked, “What’s that?”

“Well love,” he replied, “we may not be on the same side exactly. But at least we aren’t on opposite sides anymore. That’s got to be a step in the right direction.”

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly at his blunt assessment of the situation. “Look Spike,” she started, frowning as she tried to express herself clearly. “I don’t know what’s going on between us. I don’t know what will happen next. I certainly don’t know how to deal with your not having a soul.”

“What do you know pet?” He cut her off when she paused to take a breath.

Suddenly still, she looked at him with wide, frightened eyes as she whispered, “I know that I don’t want to stop.”

Impelled by her words Spike leaned forward to press his mouth to hers, probing the depths of her honeyed mouth with his tongue. Her hands latched onto him, pulling him closer. It was several minutes before they parted, breathing heavily, still locked in each other’s arms.

Resting her forehead against his she groaned in frustration. “I should get back inside. I have a lot of work to do tonight.”

“What happens tonight?” Spike asked, puzzled.

“Tonight I start the offensive against The Initiative,” she explained as they stood and walked back into the house. “There’s no way I can attack the facility itself without putting everybody in a crap load of danger. But I can stop them from increasing their demon numbers.”

“So that’s the plan? Get to the demons before they do?”

Buffy shrugged. “Unless we can come up with something better it will have to do. Willow’s going to use a locator spell to help me find the demons that are closest to the campus. That should give me the advantage.”

“I’m coming with you,” Spike stated matter-of-factly.

Buffy tossed a puzzled look over her shoulder. “What? Why?”

Grabbing onto her arm he stopped her, forcing her to face him. “You’re the slayer. That means strength, agility, prophetic visions, sub-conscious awareness of demons, everything that comes with being a slayer. Riley knows all of it. They could come after you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she replied, scoffing at his concern. “I didn’t even know they existed until yesterday. If they wanted me they’d have me by now.”

“Riley’s in love with you and you broke up with him. He’s pissed as all hell and willing to take it out on us. He might not have told them about you before but he’s sure to now. You think they wouldn’t kill for the chance to get their hands on you?”

Fear crossed her face like a shadow before disappearing behind her usual appearance of self-confidence. Turning to head back to the lounge room she muttered, “I can take care of myself.”

“Let me help,” Spike urged emphatically just as they rejoined the others.

At his words three heads looked up, matching expressions of bewilderment in place.

Exasperated, Buffy chose to ignore them for the moment and turned to face the vampire. “Spike you can’t fight.”

“But I’ll smell and hear the soldier boys coming before you do. Plus I can help you find the demons.”

“Why on earth would you want to help Spike?” Giles asked incredulously. “What do you think you’ll get out of this?”

Spike glanced at Buffy and saw the almost imperceptible shake of her head, her eyes anxiously darting between him and her friends. “Those bastards are the ones that did this to me,” he told Giles forcefully. “If I get to mess with them, even if it’s through her,” he gestured to Buffy, “then I’m in.”

Looking less than convinced Giles stared at the vampire thoughtfully before conceding, “Alright. If Buffy is happy to let you tag along I see no harm.”

“No harm?!” Xander cried out. “Buffy he’s an evil vampire-”

“That can’t hurt me or anyone else,” Buffy interjected. “Plus he has a point. I can’t hunt and fight demons and concentrate on evading the soldiers at the same time. He could prove useful.” Buffy focused on Willow. “Okay witch girl. What do you say we get this show on the road.”

Spike just sat back and smiled smugly at Xander, delighting in the young man’s scowl.