Caring

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She raced across town and into Restfield cemetery. The door to Spike’s crypt was open and she frowned, slowing as she approached it. She could just discern voices from inside it and then she felt a flash of pain from Spike and before she could stop herself, she rushed into the crypt. She stopped dead just past the threshold, taking in the soldiers pinning Spike to his armchair as another hit him while another two stood watch. She didn’t have to ask to know these were the military-types responsible for the chip in Spike’s head.

The cell was completely white with a glass window in front. She frowned as two masked soldiers stopped outside the cell but before she could speak, everything went black.


“What the hell is going on?!” she exclaimed, sweeping an expert’s eye over their weapons.

“She’s human,” one of the soldiers reported and she frowned at him before addressing the one who had been hitting Spike.

“What are you doing here?”

“Now, Miss, this is government business.”

“Beating the crap out of a helpless vampire?”

M’not helpless.

For the first time, she was relieved to hear Spike’s voice in her head- she could just see his bloodied face and hadn’t been sure if he was conscious.

“Miss, I suggest you leave.”

“I don’t think so,” she answered, staring down each of the soldiers in turn. She stopped on one to her right and frowned.

“Didn’t I just see you at the frat house?”

“Miss, you need to leave,” the one who appeared to be in charge replied, “This vampire is a threat and all we’re waiting on is our commanding officer.”


“Okay, what’s the situation?” a voice boomed out and she saw the soldiers straighten and salute and she spun round, a feeling of dread in her stomach. She’d recognised that voice. And there, framed in the doorway, was Riley Finn.

“Riley,” she got out in a low voice.

“Buffy! What are you doing here? You need to get out of here.”

He was already moving forward and had a hand on her arm but she shook him off.

“I’m not going anywhere. Get your men- they are your men, right?- get them away from Spike.”

“Spike?!” he repeated in shock, his eyes going to the vampire, “You’re friends with a vampire?”

“Not exactly.”

His gaze returned to her and she stared him down until finally he made a gesture and she heard movement.

“Sir?” one soldier questioned.

“Leave him.”

The soldiers were soon proceeding out of the crypt and she watched them go, sensing Spike’s relief.

Cheers, love.


“Buffy, I think we need to talk.”

“I think we do,” she replied seriously, “But first, I need to…help Spike.”

“Buffy?”

“I’ll explain later,” she stated and before Riley could say anything, she turned away from him and walked over to Spike, crouching down before him.

“You still dead?”

“Just about.”


She soon dug out cloth and water and began to clean the vampire’s wounds. He protested but she cut off his protest.

“Look, I have to do this. You were right about the claim. I couldn’t let you get hurt.”

“S’weird, innit?”

“Beyond weird,” she replied with a smile, touching the wet cloth to his cheek.

They fell silent and she found her thoughts straying to Riley. Riley was one of the soldiers, the people that had taken Spike away and stuck a chip in his head. She was sure it was just this claim that suddenly made her uncomfortable with the idea. She sighed and swept the cloth against his hand, cleaning the blood from it.

“So, Captain Cardboard, eh?”

She raised her gaze to the vampire’s and was surprised to see his eyes softer than ever, full with something like…sympathy?

“I obviously don’t have good instincts for finding normal,” she answered with a wry smile.

“You gonna at least hear the guy out?”

“Guess so,” she sighed, cleaning his knuckles where he had helplessly struck out at one of the soldiers.

“Might be easier with no secrets.”

Her eyes flew to his again and she frowned in confusion.

“You know, it almost sounds like you’re encouraging me to be with someone whose soldier buddies just beat you to a pulp.”

He gave a shrug that was more of an effort than he let on.

“The guy’s boring as hell but if you like him, you might as well give it a go. You’re never gonna be happy with normal. Might be able to guide the boy down a less violent path as well.”

“You mean if I went out with him, you think he might leave you alone.”

“Could be.”

She smiled and cleaned off the last of the blood on his hand.

“We’ll see.”

Spike reluctantly agreed to let her help him down into what soon turned out to be his bedroom and she was surprised to see that it was actually quite homely. She helped him to sit on the bed and looked round the room.

“It’s surprisingly nice down here.”

“Cheers,” he muttered, letting out a groan as he bent to unlace his boots.

“Are your ribs okay? Do you want me to strap them?”

“M’fine, Slayer.”

“You’re a liar.”

“S’lot easier when someone’s not got access to your head. Look, I’ll be fine, Slayer. You go off and make up with Soldier Boy.”

She frowned but turned towards the ladder.

“I’ll, err, come check on you soon.”

“M’fine.”

“The pain in the back of my head says otherwise.”

He chuckled and she laughed, climbing up the ladder and quickly leaving the crypt, heading for Riley’s once more.


Riley let her in once more and she moved to sit on the bed where she had been just a little while ago. Back when she had been ignorant and things had been a lot easier. Riley moved to sit on a chair opposite her, his eyes searching hers.

“Buffy, what’s going on? How do you know Hostile Seventeen?”

“Sorry?”

“Spike.”

“Oh. Long story, but…well, he’s been a pain-in-my-ass for the last three, four years.”

“He’s a vampire.”

“Yeah. Hence the pain-in-my-ass bit.”

“So…you know the truth about Sunnydale? About the…supernatural elements.”

“Yeah. Have done since I was fifteen. That’s why I moved here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Okay, the thing is…top secret, right?”

He nodded and she took a deep breath before continuing.

“I don’t know how long you’ve been dealing with demons…but I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen. I’m the Slayer. I got chosen to fight all the demons and with Sunnydale being Demon Central, it wasn’t long before fate brought me here.”

“So you fight demons?”

“Yeah.”

“But not Spike?”

This was where it got complicated.

“Well, we used to fight. Got pretty close to killing each other a few times.”

“And now?”

“I can’t fight him anymore. The chip-“ she watched him closely as she mentioned his buddies’ device- “It’s not a fair fight.”

“And you could only kill him in a fair fight?”

“Yeah. It’s…I don’t know, an honour thing, you know? Doesn’t seem right to kill him when he can’t go out with a big fight.”

Riley was silent and she bit her lip, watching him.

“And you actually want to help him now?” he spoke up after a pause, his eyes searching hers.

“Not exactly. It’s…well, it’s a long story.”

“I’m listening.”



“Right so, Willow is a witch and she did a spell…and you and Hos- Spike were engaged.”

“Yeah.”

“And you claimed him as your own?”

“Something like that. Main point is, he hurts, I hurt.”

“And you can tell what he’s thinking?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s…I just can’t believe it. I never knew about any of these things…Slayers, claims, magic spells…”

“I know. It sounds pretty strange.”

“And all your friends help you out?”

“Yeah.”

“I…I don’t really know what to say.”

She smiled wryly and got to her feet.

“I’ll leave you to, err, process things. I said I’d go check on Spike again.”

He rose to his feet though, stopping her.

“Buffy.”

“Yeah?”

“I…I really like you. I want you to know that. And I…well, I’d like to maybe get to know you better. All this Slayer stuff…”

“Really?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah.”

“I…well, that’d be good. D’you wanna maybe come by tomorrow afternoon and we’ll talk some more?”

“I’ll be there.”

She smiled and he led her towards the door. She stood on the threshold, unsure of how to part from him, but he soon solved that issue by leaning down and kissing her softly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Buffy.”

She nodded and with a smile, skipped down the stairs. Maybe Spike had been right about getting the truth out.