Retaliation

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She should have known it wouldn’t end there though. When had Spike ever really given up on a fight with her? She was out on patrol a few nights later when she was set upon by a trio of vampires. They were strong but she was able to take one out within seconds, spinning and driving her stake through his chest. But then one tripped her and the other one pinned her to the ground and she was unable to move. She struggled as much as she could, especially when she felt one lean closer, but it was no good. His fangs pierced her neck and she cried out, resuming her struggle with all the energy she had left.

To her surprise then, both vampires retreated, standing above her as she held a hand to her neck and stared up at them in confusion.

“Spike sends his love,” one of them spat out and then they both laughed, turning and disappearing into the dark. It took her moment to process just what he had said, and what it meant, but as soon as she felt her strength return, she pushed herself to her feet, wavering ever so slightly. She held her hand to her neck, her mind reeling. She had known Spike would find some way to get to her – especially after that William comment which still made her cringe at her own viciousness – but she had not expected this. She didn’t know whether to be angry or whether to laugh out loud at the stupidity of it all.

Finally, after a few moments of stillness, the former won out and she began to stride in the direction of Spike’s crypt. She kicked the door open and marched in. He was slouched in his armchair watching television and didn’t even look up as she moved into the crypt. She let out a sigh and moved to stand between him and the television.

“Mind moving, Slayer? I’m watching this,” he murmured, without even looking at her. It hurt – but she knew she deserved no better after her treatment of him.

In answer, she turned and switched off the set, crossing her arms as she turned to face him again. Lazily, he raised his gaze to hers, his eyes just resting on her neck for a moment.



“What the hell is this?” she got out shakily, gesturing to her neck.

“Looks to me like someone took a bite out of you,” he countered with a smirk.

“I’m not playing, Spike. Didn’t have the guts to face me yourself? Oh wait, you’re impotent.”

“Now, we both know that’s not true,” he commented with a leer.

She took a deep breath, forcing her gaze from his and trying to calm herself. Getting angry was just going to make things worse, not better – and things were bad enough as it was.

“Look, I know you’re, you know, part of the same crazy family as Angelus, but really? Copying the whole sleep-with-a-girl-and-then-drive-her-crazy thing?”

“Driving you crazy, Slayer?” he murmured, tongue between his teeth.

She exhaled sharply, the energy to fight suddenly gone.

“I don’t want it to be like this,” she sighed.

“Well, you should’ve made a better move, Slayer.”

She sighed and turned from him, beginning to pace.

“Surely you agree it’s a much better idea to go back to how we were before?”

“Find I don’t much care for that idea.”

Her eyes found his and she found herself softening even more.

“Spike, in what universe do you really think there could ever be...that we could ever be?”

“So you’re running off with Soldier Boy? Just gonna pretend that it never happened?”

“I have to!” she cried out and instantly sagged, “Don’t you see?”



He was on his feet, inches from her, before she could react and he reached out to brush a hand over her hair.

“No, I don’t see. We’ve got something, Slayer.”

“Even if we have,” she protested, trying not to let him see just how much effort it took not to lean into his touch, “We can’t do this.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would never work. It’s wrong in so many ways.”

“Name them,” he challenged in a low murmur, his hand still in her hair, his fingers grazing her skin.

“You’re a vampire. With no soul. And I’m the Slayer.”

“Wouldn’t really matter. No...you’re just worried about what your precious friends might think.”

“Maybe I am,” she exclaimed, moving out of his touch, “Either way, this isn’t happening. We had one night. That’s it.”

She turned, hoping to hide from him just how hard it was to say the words.

“Slayer,” he whispered, moving close behind her, making the hairs at the back of her neck stand up, “Just tell me it meant something.”

Her heart ached at his soft words, his tone more uncertain than she had ever heard.

“Of course it meant something,” she murmured, tears threatening to overwhelm her, “Everything. But I have to go. Please understand.”

She felt his hand brush her arm but he did not stop her as she moved forward and made her way out of the crypt. She fought against the tears all the way home but when she was finally alone in the darkness of her room, she finally sagged and let them come, trying to silence her sobs in her pillow. It hurt so badly but she was helpless to change that.

She could never give herself to Spike – and she was still reeling from the fact that he wanted her to, never having guessed the intensity of his feelings, even after their night together. Her head was spinning, pounding and she couldn’t stop the tears from coming, soaking into her pillow as she hugged it to her. Why did life as the Slayer have to be so complicated? She didn’t know how long she stayed awake, tears crawling down her cheeks as her thoughts just went round and round, trying to find some way out of her dilemma but seeing none. She knew she had made the right decision- but why did she feel so bad about it?