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In Harm's Way by dawnofme
 
24. Appearances
 
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a/n: Thanks to all who have reviewed. You make my day!
Betas: Mabel_Marsters, Tanit, and Slaymesoftly

In Harm's Way

Chapter Twenty-Four: Appearances



Buffy leaned against the crypt and sighed. Spike was having the time of his life. She'd endured it quietly, because he was fun to watch and because most of the demons and vampires they'd run into had called Spike out by name. They all seemed to be gunning for him. For two nights now, Spike had shown up at her dorm room, made sure she got something to eat and then pretty much taken over her patrol.

He wasn't being arrogant about it. He didn't boast about killing more baddies than she did. He just quietly took over. She'd been feeling kind of tired lately, so it was easier to let it go than to fight with him about it.

The vampire Spike was currently fighting had just figured out that he was going to lose. He zipped past her with Spike in hot pursuit. Spike took a flying leap and tackled the vamp to the ground before shoving a stake into its heart. He landed in the dust below him, stood up, dusted himself off and grinned at her.

A small part of her was frustrated with him, not because he was hogging all the fight action, but for another reason entirely. Leave it to Spike to finally do something she asked of him when she kinda, sorta didn't want him to. He hadn't tried to kiss her and he barely made suggestive remarks. At the time when she'd asked him to back off, she'd meant it, but after spending the weekend patrolling with him and seeing this nice, attentive side, she was ready for more. She just couldn't bring herself to let him know that she was interested in more, because really, she shouldn't want more from him. Things would be much simpler if he wasn't a vampire without a soul.

He swaggered over to her and smirked. “Don't know why they keep sending such Nancy boys out to do the job.”

“That's the third one who called you out tonight. What did you do to piss them all off?”

“Um, I might have taken on a whole bar full of demons the other night. Killed most of them. Plus the fact that I announced that I was now officially on your side.” He shrugged.

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Well, let me get the next one, will you?”

“Itching for a fight?” Spike said, leaning against the crypt next to her, letting their shoulders touch. He stared at her and said, “How's your leg?”

“It's perfectly fine. I'm getting the stitches out tomorrow.” She scratched the wound through her red leather pants.

“So, you're up for sparring then? I promise to go easy on you.”

“Easy! Come on.”

Buffy pushed him off balance. Spike landed on the concrete, but jumped up right away and Buffy came at him, slicing her hands in karate moves as fast as she could. He in turn deflected every jab and kick with arms and legs that moved with fluid, confident motions. He was backing up and they ended up out in the open grass.

“Show me what you got,” Spike taunted, eyes blazing with excitement.

She saw his right hand coming and ducked, turning and swinging her leg out. He hopped over it as if she was a jump rope and then tackled her to the ground. Using both her legs, she shoved at him and he went flying through the air. She kicked her legs out, pushed with her hands and arched her back, launching herself into a standing position with her hands at the ready.

The grin on his face annoyed her. He came at her half heartedly and yet, he was still able to deflect her blows. Even as she felt the anger in her grow, she was getting aroused by all the violence. When she flashed him a brilliant smile, he was caught off guard and she nailed him in the nose with her fist.

Spike went down and she pounced on top of him, straddling him at the waist and pulling out her stake. “Gotcha.”

The deep timbre of his chuckle shook his torso and Buffy put the stake down, trying to get up. She shouldn't be on him like she was. It turned her on way too much.

“What's your hurry?” Spike raised his knees to her back and gripped her waist, holding her down. “And, I love these pants. Did you wear them for me?”

“No,” she said, struggling to get up. “I didn't.”

“So, we agree that you can’t defeat me?” Spike said.

She laughed and leaned back against his knees. “What are you talking about? I had you. I could have staked you.”

Disappointment came over her when he let go of her waist and crossed his arms behind his head. “I cannot be defeated,” was his smug reply.

Buffy smiled and said in her best imitation of Giles. “Ah, but you forget. A slayer must always be resourceful. She must use her wit as well as her strength.” She rested her hands on his stomach. “She must be quick to take in her surroundings and use every thing within reach to her full advantage.”

Wiggling her fingers, she tested how sensitive he was. He jumped and bucked under her. “Hey, stop that.”

It was as she thought. She remembered how sensitive he was to her touch that morning in his lair. Buffy dug in with gusto and tickled him everywhere she could. At first, he just laughed and went into defense mode, trying to slap her hands away, but then he went on the offensive, tickling her back.

Between her shrieks, their laughter, and their hands flying all over the place, they didn't sense the group, now advancing on them.

“Well, well,” a vampire, in human face said. “If it isn't the Slayer and her neutered pet vampire.”

Buffy grabbed her stake, jumped up and pulled Spike to his feet. She pouted and said, “There's only five of them. That's not much of a challenge, is it, pet?”

“Somehow, pet just doesn't sound as good when you say it; but you're right, love, this is just too easy,” Spike replied, affecting a look of boredom.

He signaled with his eyes and they attacked. The vampires barely had a chance to morph into vamp faces before they were all engaged in battle. They'd already dusted two vamps when one of the three left got in a good punch, knocking Buffy to the ground. Spike was struggling with two of them and Buffy watched in horror as the one who knocked her down grabbed her stake and charged at Spike's back. She yelled a warning, but it was too late.

He drove the stake in and Spike tensed up. Buffy jumped into action, running to him and yanking the stake out.

“Thanks, love,” he said with a wicked grin.

The vampires stood watching in shock as the wound closed.

“How the hell did you do that?” one of them asked Spike.

“It's my little secret.”

Buffy swung the stake and stabbed the nearest vampire. The other two watched as their friend turned to dust. Then one of them pointed at Spike. “Ooh, I know how you did it. That ring.” His eyes got wider. “The Gem of Amara.”

The other one turned to his friend and said, “That thing doesn't even exist.”

“No,” the other one said backing up. “It does. Remember Bryan? He said they were looking for it.”

“Yeah, but that guy was all talk and--” Buffy staked him before he could finish his statement.

Spike took off running after the last one and Buffy caught up to him. As they ran together, he told her, “We can't let him get away. If anyone knows that the Gem is real and that I have it, every vampire in the universe will be after me, and we'll never have any peace.” Then he surged forward.

Catching up to the fleeing vampire, Spike grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around. Without slowing her momentum, Buffy raised her stake and drove it home. As he disappeared, Buffy fell into Spike's arms.



They stayed frozen like that for a few seconds. Buffy suddenly wanted to lay her head on his shoulder, but being that she was the one who'd asked him to back off, she didn't think it would be fair to do so.

He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head. “We make quite a team, don't you think?”

“Yeah.”

When he was staring at her like he was, she found it hard to put together a coherent sentence. Spike gently set her away from him.

“When you look at me like that, it's very hard for me to act the gentlemen.”

She had to look away or she knew she'd go back into his arms. Scanning the area around them, she said, “I think we're done for the night.”

“Come on then, I'll walk you home.”

They fell into step. Every occasional brush of their hands made Buffy acutely aware of how they weren't actually holding hands, which drove her nuts, because no matter how right it would seem to hold hands with him, she knew that it was very wrong to want to.

They stepped onto the college campus and Spike stopped. She turned to watch him scratch behind his ear. “Um, do you think, maybe, you'd like to get a drink?”

“Are you asking me out?”

He shrugged. “Guess so. You didn't get to have fun at all this weekend.”

It was late, she couldn't drink now anyway, and really, she just wanted to go lie down; but she didn't want to be mean. He seemed nervous.

“Actually, I have a big day planned for tomorrow and I really should turn in. Besides,” she said quickly when he looked crestfallen, “I did have a good time this weekend. Um...you know, with the patrolling.” They started walking again. “Usually, I patrol alone, but like you said, we make a good team.”

They reached her building, and he rushed ahead to open the door for her. She didn't think she'd ever get used to that. He said, “So, should I pick you up here same time tomorrow night?”

“Actually, I have to meet with the gang at Giles' before patrolling. Why don' t you meet me there? Around seven.”

With a nod, he turned to leave.

“Spike,” she called out impulsively, waving him back.

“Yeah?” he asked, now standing in front of her.

“Um...” Buffy leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.” Then she turned and took the stairs two at a time.



~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~


Spike stood in front of the watcher's door and raised a fist to knock, but for a third time, he put his hand down and turned away in time to see Xander and Anya walk up holding hands. They stopped when they saw him.

“Spike,” Xander said warily, “What are you doing here?”

“S'posed to meet the Slayer, but I think I'm a little early.”

Anya stepped forward with a smile, edged past him and opened the door. “Well, Giles is here, I'm sure. You might as well wait inside.”

Xander followed her lead, but poked his head back outside when Spike did not. “You coming in or what?”

By the time Buffy arrived with Willow, Spike was ready to tear his hair out. Giles kept glancing at him warily from his perch in the easy chair, and all three of them were very quiet. Spike had been sitting on the stairs and stood up when she entered. She was like light floating in, wearing a white and yellow spring dress, her hair piled high on her head.

“Hey, Spike,” Willow greeted, then turned to Buffy and nudged her. “See, I told ya he'd show up.”

“Now that everyone is here, let's get to work, shall we?” Giles said. “Come have a look at this, Buffy.”

He held out a newspaper for her to read.

She read it to herself and passed it to Willow who read out loud, “Husband and wife found mutilated in their bedroom last night. They are survived by nine year old twin boys who say they witnessed a big man, with ugly red skin and black pimples, attack their parents.”

“You think it's a demon?” Xander asked.

“Yes, and we can't wait for Buffy to accidentally bump into it on patrol. This is the second murder this week with the same M.O. We need to find out what kind of demon this is, where it would be likely to be found and how to kill it,” Giles told the group.

“So, it's a research night then?” Willow asked a little too excitedly.

Buffy let out a low groan and glanced away when Spike smiled at her. It was a good sign that she'd rather be out with him than in with the books.

“I hope this doesn't take all night, because we had plans,” Anya said as she helped Xander clear the dinning room table.

Willow followed Giles' directions and began pulling books off his shelves and handed them to Buffy to bring to the table. When they had all the books needed, Giles asked Spike, “Does that demon sound familiar? Do you know what we're looking for?”

Spike shook his head, wishing that he did know, because then he and Buffy could take off. “It doesn't ring a bell.”

Buffy sat down at the table with her back to the corner and waved Spike over. “You might as well have a seat and grab a book. The faster we find this thing, the quicker I can go out and kill it.”

Something was very off about this little group. He glanced around at them, all going about their business as if it was a normal thing to have an unchipped vampire in their midst.

Xander caught his eye. “Sit down, Spike. You're making me nervous.”

He walked around the table and sat next to Buffy, finally having a happy thought as their thighs touched. A demonology book was dropped into front of him and he dutifully opened it up and started turning pages.

It was blissfully quiet for another fifteen minutes, but then Xander spoke up. “What I want to know is why do demons have to be so butt ugly.”

Anya and Spike both glared at him, but it was Anya who said, “I wasn't always ugly. I could look like a human when I wanted to and so can vampires.” She leaned forward and smiled at Xander. “Besides, no matter how my face looked, I always had great cleavage.”

Xander's eyes were automatically drawn to said cleavage and Spike grinned, looking back down at his book. Beside him, Buffy sighed and Spike's grin widened. Action girl was bored stiff with the research. She glanced at him and smiled shyly then went back to her book. Every so often, he would look up and catch her staring, but she would quickly look down again, or he'd be caught doing the same by her.

He let one hand fall to his lap, under the table, and inched it towards Buffy. She jerked slightly when he inched her dress up and squeezed her bare knee. He glanced up, but no one seemed to be aware of what was going on under the tablecloth. He could see Giles just behind Xander, sitting in his chair with his head down, concentrating on his book.

Buffy pressed her leg against his, then she causally dropped her hand down and covered his. She gripped his hand, slowly lifting it and putting in on own his leg. In a quick motion, Spike slid his hand from under hers and pressed her hand to his knee. Emboldened by the fact that she didn't try to pull her hand free, he nudged it further up his thigh.

Buffy turned a page with her free hand and he watched her face as her lip twitched just the tiniest bit. She then gave his thigh a squeeze. It was exquisite torture to have her touching him when he could do nothing to take it further. He slid her hand a little further up his thigh and again, she gave him a small squeeze. A few more times and her pinky was just shy of touching him in just the right place. Spike thought he was going to explode, right there.

Suddenly, Willow stood up next to him and stretched. Buffy snatched her hand back. “It's getting hot in here. Can I open this window, Giles?” the redhead asked, already sliding it open.

A slight breeze filtered in through the lace curtains. Buffy exchanged a sheepish glance with Spike, but he gave her a little smile and she smiled back. Everyone shifted and then went back to turning pages. The next twenty minutes passed with only a few comments back and forth about demons that might fit their profile.

Then Anya closed her book. “I'm getting hungry.”

“Me, too,” Willow said. “I could go for a cheeseburger.”

“Oh, and some chili cheese fries,” Buffy said, standing up.

“Yeah,” Willow said. “Let's go.”

Anya held up a set of keys. “I've got Xander's car. I'll drive.”

“Get me the works,” Xander said, not looking up from his book.

“I'll take a fish sandwich,” Giles said, putting one book down and grabbing another.

“Got it,” Buffy said and walked out behind Willow and Anya.

Spike really didn't want to get stuck in the awkward silence with the guys again so he got up and followed them out. They didn't seem to notice him until they went to get in the car. Buffy stopped him.

“Um, we've got this. Why don't you go back in and help with the research?”

“I'm not really up to sitting around with those two.”

Anya and Willow sat in the car watching them. Buffy sighed and said, “Well, have a cigarette break then.”

“Hurry back,” he grumbled while taking his lighter out.

As they sped away, he lit his fag and languidly strolled back up the walkway. He leaned on the wall between the door and the window and took a long drag, holding the smoke in and closing his eyes, before slowly releasing it.

“Well,” Xander's voice drifted out the open window. “It looks like Buffy took your suggestion.”

“Yes, it appears that she has.”

“Has she talked to you about it? Cuz, I really didn't think she would do it.”

“We haven't talked about it since she was in hospital, but I knew that she'd see reason. We must have the ring back.”

Spike straightened his shoulders and inched closer to the window.

“I know, but isn't there some other way to do it? I mean, he's not hurting anyone and he's actually helping her without even asking for money.”

“If there was another way, believe me, I'd be for it. Buffy got the ring from him the last time by catching him off guard and slipping it off his hand. She has to be a little more careful this time around, because he might be expecting it. She has to get a little closer to him. And like you said last night, he is obviously attracted to her. This is the perfect time for her to get close to him and get that ring.”

“It just doesn't feel right,” Xander said.

“Buffy has to do what she must. She has a calling that she can't ignore. People's lives depend on it. That ring has fallen into the wrong hands. We must get it from him and destroy it. It's the only way.”

It was all a lie? The looks, the kiss on the cheek last night? Leaning his head against the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out the hurt and pain. Spike crushed the cigarette in his bare hand and let it fall.

Giles and Xander continued talking, having no idea that he was on the other side of the open window; their pleasant conversation, grating on his nerves. Suddenly, the devastation turned to anger. At them all. He was seeing red, but he restrained himself and walked away. He slowly paced the sidewalk, waiting for Buffy to return. He was going to kill her. No! First, he'd drag her away, take her to his basement, tie her up and torture her a little. Or maybe a lot.

The car pulled up and he steadied himself, not wanting to give away how upset he was. Willow got out first and handed him a bag.

“Carry this for me?” she asked sweetly.

Buffy got out and smiled as if she was really happy to see him. He had to give it her; she knew how to put on a good act. She had a spot of chili on the edge of her lip and despite how angry he was, he felt the urge to kiss it off for her. Instead, he wiped it gently away. Anya and Willow walked ahead of them and Buffy held out her half eaten carton of chili smothered fries. “You want one before I eat them all?”

He couldn't bring himself to talk, so he shook his head and stamped down a growl as he crossed the threshold and entered the apartment. He kept up the appearance of calm, but on the inside, he was raging. He wanted to tear the place up and make them all bleed, but when he looked at Buffy, he couldn't do it. No matter what she had been planning, he loved her. That wasn't going to change.

“I found it!” Xander exclaimed. “It's called a Mokstelka Demon. It says here that its sticky red skin is marked with small black indentions. It lives underground, can see very well in the dark, has very sharp claws, and needs to feed on human flesh for two months every five years.”

Buffy shrugged and asked Spike, “Are you up for a trip to the sewers?”

“Yeah,” he told her. He desperately needed to kill something. “We'll need swords.”

 
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