Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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CHAPTER 13 – Something is Missing

A/N: Thanks to Amarysso for betaing.

spettatore – literally means watcher
sciocco – fool, pillock


Buffy woke up at around nine o’clock that morning. She knew she had enough hours of sleep but for some strange reason she still felt a little tired. She also noticed that her little euphoria from the night before was gone. Perhaps it was some high that you got from slaying, sort of like what her gym teacher was talking about. But it really felt like something was missing.

She shook her head to clear it. Maybe it was just some dream. She recalled waking up sometime in the middle of the night from a dream where she thought she was falling from some cliff. At first she felt safe. She knew that there would be someone or something to catch her or protect her. But as she thought about the idea of actually falling, she started to panic and that was when she woke up. She frowned at that. How could anyone ever feel safe about falling from a cliff? That was really wigging her out.

It was Saturday. She was going to go to the mall today because she needed some shopping therapy especially after what she went through last night. She filled her thoughts will all the different stores she was hitting and possibly the outfits she would be buying today as she made her way downstairs for some breakfast. She did have to replace the dress she wore yesterday which was beyond saving now.

Her mom was in the kitchen making pancakes.

“It’s about time you woke up sleepy head.” Joyce Summers said as she saw Buffy take her seat.

“Sorry … long night.”

“Well you were over your curfew last night missy, but I’ll let it go this time after I heard what happened in the school. I’m just glad you’re safe. So how did those drug addicts get into the school anyway?”

“Um … drug addicts?”

“Yes, that was what was on the news. Why? What really happened?”

“Oh ... umm … no, the news people got it right. It was a bunch of drug addicts. They were going all crazy and what not.” She said before taking a bite of her pancakes hoping her Mom wouldn’t press her for details.

“Well I’m glad that William brought you home safe.”

Buffy nodded in agreement as her mind started replaying scenes of what happened last night. She remembered Spike walking her to her door and being all gentlemanly. She remembered him caressing her cheek before he left and then the conversation they had in the car. She felt really content and happy when he dropped her off, but now she didn’t feel like that anymore. Was that it then? Was that what she was missing?

“Go finish your breakfast Buffy and stop daydreaming.” Joyce commented.

Buffy finished eating then headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. She knew she would have to report to Merrick about everything that happened yesterday but she was hoping to maybe just be plain Buffy for the weekend. She stared at herself in the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair, gathering it up into a ponytail wondering how she should fix her hair today. Then something caught her eye in the mirror. It was the marks on her neck. She touched it gently, seeing that they were starting to heal. She felt a brief shudder run through her as her fingertips traced the bite mark.

“Spike …” she muttered under her breath. His name was foremost in her mind and part of her felt like he was there with her but as soon as she removed her fingers from the wound the feeling was gone.

She sighed softly. She wanted to know what was going on and why the more she was trying to remember every detail from last night, especially from the time she met Lothos to her going home, some of the details seemed fuzzy. Guess there would be no avoiding it now. If she wanted answers, she would have to go to Merrick and cut her shopping therapy a bit short today.

**

Buffy looked down at her watch to see that it was around three o’clock in the afternoon. She had enjoyed her little shopping adventure and even joined a few friends from school for some lunch. She was quite happy with that. Perhaps her school life was still somewhat salvageable if some of her friends were still talking to her. Of course they seemed to be more interested in her date last night, continuously grilling her as to how they met, what he was like, and if they were serious. She answered the questions a bit vaguely, but apparently the story she weaved about them meeting in an animal shelter like what Spike told her Mom was good enough for them.

She slipped into the building that her Watcher and Guards were calling home. She wasn’t expecting anybody else to be up except Merrick since sunset was still a few hours away, but her senses told her otherwise.

“Buffy?” Niko called out as he flicked a light switch on to help her see.

“Oh! Niko? … What are you doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” he said as he started buttoning his shirt up as if trying to hide something.

Buffy noticed it though and took a step towards him, placing a hand on his to stop what he was doing. She pulled the shirt back and winced at the still swollen gash across his chest. “Ouch!”

Niko shrugged. “I’ve had worse. It will heal. But what are you doing here? We didn’t think you’d be up for training or patrol after what you’ve been through last night. You must be exhausted.”

“I am a little. … I was hoping to talk to Merrick though. I mean, I know he’s going to grill me about last night anyway for that journal he keeps scribbling in. I was thinking it would be best to talk to him while things are still fresh in my mind.”

“Well he should be upstairs. I’m sure the spettatore has his nose buried in a book or something.”

Buffy smiled before heading up the stairs.

Niko watched her go and shook his head. Thankfully, Angel and Caden weren’t in at the moment. The pair had gone to Lothos’ mansion to take care of any stragglers that were left. He had voiced his opposition for just the two of them going but Angel insisted that it would be best for him and Spike to stay behind. He kept his gaze on the blonde Slayer and wondered if the topic of Spike claiming her last night would come up with her discussions with the Watcher.

“Spike, you sciocco! Angel will most probably kick you in the butt for not doing what he told you to do last night.”

Buffy made her way towards Merrick’s room but stopped in mid-step in front of a different door when she felt a familiar vampire signature on the other side. She knew it was Spike. She closed the distance between her and the door having this uncanny feeling that she just needed to see and talk to him. Her heart started beating faster in slight anticipation as she placed a hand on the door knob, debating within herself whether she should or shouldn’t enter.

Spike knew that Buffy was just outside his door. Heck, he knew she was in the building the moment she stepped through the factory doors. He quickly got out of bed, pulled his jeans on and ran his fingers through his hair as he made his way towards the door. He paused for a moment, hearing her heart beat faster. He tried to convince himself that he shouldn’t be doing this, but he wanted to see her. He wanted to sense her physically since he was forbidden to do so mentally. He smiled as he opened the door.

“Um ... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” Buffy said a bit flustered at being caught outside his door.

“You weren’t. Umm, you weren’t bothering me that is. And if you did, I would have just kicked you out.” Spike said trying to sound casual. His eyes were quickly drawn to her neck where his mark rested, healing, faint, but still his. He couldn’t break the claim last night. He had no desire to, so he did the next best thing. He was blanketing it ... burying it deep down and consciously not calling upon it. If he could just resist from biting her or strengthening the bond in any way then she wouldn’t know that there was anything different. That should take care of Angel’s argument that claiming the Slayer would affect her in some way. There was a part of him that had wanted to hear her reply. He wanted to hear her agree to the claim. But that was all wishful thinking on his part. He pushed any other thoughts about Buffy aside. She was the Slayer and he was her guard. That should be enough for now. Spike knew it wouldn’t be enough but he had to try. At least this way, with the one-sided claim he could protect her.

Buffy smirked. “Kick me out? Please! … You are looking at the Slayer that bested the Vampire King!”

“Self-proclaimed Vampire King, luv. Big difference. Lothos was a ponce.”

“I still dusted him!” she said sticking her tongue out.

Spike though she looked adorable and he took a deep breath, pushing down the urge to just grab her and kiss her right then and there. He remembered the kisses they shared last night and knew he wanted more. The demon inside him was telling him to just take what he wanted from her right now. Technically he did own her but he pushed his urges aside, wanting to taste her not because it was forced on by the claim but because she wanted it as well.

“So what brings you here, pet?” he said trying to change the topic.

“Oh ... um ... well I was going to ask Merrick about something but maybe you’d be the better person to talk to.”

“Me?”

“Well I think so. I remember when I was fighting Lothos there was this sense of calm. I mean, I was still a little nervous since I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing. But each time I had any doubts in my mind, something in my head was helping me out. It was telling me I was going to be fine and it somehow helped me figure out what I needed to do.”

“That’s most probably just your instincts, pet.”

“Maybe, but I had the same feeling even when the fight was over. Hmmm. … Maybe you’re right because when I woke up this morning the feeling was gone. I just feel like something is missing. I know that sounds really weird.”

Spike shook his head. “I’ve seen many things through the years, Slayer. What you said isn’t weird.”

“So you know what’s up with me?” she asked hopefully.

“Well…” How was he going to do this? “Sorry luv, but Merrick is your best bet in figuring out what’s up.”

“Oh. … Okay. I guess I’ll go see him now.” She took a step back getting ready to head towards her Watcher’s room, but she turned back to face him. “Um … if you don’t mind, can we like spar a little later?”

“As you wish, Slayer.”

Buffy smiled and turned towards Merrick’s room. She didn’t want Spike to see the blush on her cheeks that was caused by the way he was looking at her. He was giving her that same look like last night when they were dancing, like she was the only thing in existence.


Spike let out a sigh as he closed his door once he saw that she had slipped into the room down the hall. Two seconds after he closed his door, it flew wide open again and a very angry Angel entered.

“Ever heard of knockin’, Peaches?”

“I told you last night to break it.”

“Wot are you talkin’ about?”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about Spike. It’s still there. You’re still staking a claim on her.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“I told you to break it.”

“Didn’t feel like it. “

“I said…”

“Oh sod off, Peaches! It’s not like it’s harmin’ her and I would never force her into anything.”

“You already have.”

Spike narrowed his gaze. “If I had, I would have forced her to reply. I would have made her drink from me and that would have made the claim complete. But the bloody truth is I didn’t! So get off my bloody back and go brood about somethin’ else.”

“Know your place child!”

“I do. I do whatever it takes to keep the Slayer alive.”

“He has a point Angel.” Caden interjected from the doorway. “It’s not like he’s harming Buffy.”

“You’re always on his side Caden.” Angel said angrily.

Caden chuckled confidently. “Like William said long ago, we take no sides. We have a job to do Angel – a fact you remind all of us everyday. If anything, what Spike has done shows some self restraint. And later on, if he goes out of line, it’s not like we can’t dust him.”

Spike snorted. “Unlikely scenario. I’m not a fledglin’ anymore Caden.”

Caden just shook his head at the blond vampire’s cockiness.

“Fine. I’ll allow it … for now.” Angel grumbled in defeat as he left the room.

“Why?” Spike asked the elder vampire.

Caden shrugged. “Like I said, it’s not like you’re harming her, though it was pretty bold of you to do it in the first place. Or maybe, I’m just curious.”


**

Merrick listened intently as Buffy relayed the details of the events that happened last night. He scribbled away in his journal, knowing that he would have to go over them later and make a proper report for the Council.

“So you say that you felt like you had added strength?”

Buffy nodded. “I don’t know how, but it felt like I was stronger and quicker. I mean I knew I was angry at Lothos but could just sheer adrenaline do that?”

“It is quite possible. Again, you are still discovering your powers.”

“Ok, but what about that voice in my head. I mean it was really comforting to have. It was like someone was watching my back, but now that I think about it the idea of is kinda creepy.”

“Well I haven’t heard of any other Slayer experiencing that. Angel and the others might be a better resource since they’ve fought beside numerous Slayers.”

“Well I asked Spike about it and he said it was most probably instinct.”

“Hmmm…”

“Spike …”

“Now you said you had a comforting feeling before you went to bed, but now you feel like something’s missing?”

“Yup.”

Merrick looked at his charge and noticed that this was the third time Buffy had touched her neck near where Spike had bitten her, rubbing it slightly with her fingers.