Chapter 13: Out of the Loop.


Sunset came and Spike was instantly out of his crypt and into the cemetery, speedily making his way towards the hospital just as he had done the night before. He had tried to sleep most of the day but his mind just wouldn’t let him relax. Now that it was night he didn’t feel so trapped.

He was almost half way to the hospital when he thought he saw someone step onto the street from an alleyway, see him, and then disappear right back into it again. Ordinarily he wouldn’t have bothered with the follow-up, but this wasn’t an ordinary situation. The face was of someone he recognised as a threat, someone he knew to be untrustworthy. Someone who had lied to Buffy.

Jake.

A primal growl escaped his lips before he broke into a run, rounding the corner to the alleyway and following the sounds of footsteps that were coming from up ahead. Spike upped his speed as he closed in on the sandy haired male, reaching of and yanking the guy back by his left shoulder as he finally caught him.

“Ouch!” Jake cursed as he spun around to face Spike, his eyes widening when he recognised the guy before him as the one who had threatened him in the alleyway outside the Bronze. “Hey… I didn’t do anything I swear. I backed off like you said.”

Spike took one deep breath before his fist shot out and connected with Jake’s nose. Cartilage crushed beneath the blow and blood ran freely from his nose.

“What was THAT for!?” Jake shouted in pain, hands flying to his broken nose.

“Quit playing games.” Spike snarled. “I can smell it on you.”

Jake’s hand fell from his nose and he only took a moment to consider what Spike was saying before a low chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re not as dumb as they told me you were.”

Spike’s fists clenched at his side, his face shifting into its vampiric countenance as he took a threatening step towards him.

Jake held his hands up in the air in a mock sign of surrender. “You know, that’s not quite as intimidating as it used to be.”

His own face shifted, a cocky smile spreading across it. “I’ve got my own now.”

~~~

A sigh of contentment escaped her lips as she settled back against the soft pillows on the sofa. She was home.

“Are you comfortable?” Dawn asked. “Did you want anything else? Something to eat? Drink? More pillows?”

Buffy laughed at her enthusiasm. “Something to drink might be nice.”

“Sure!” Dawn said with a bright smile.

“XANDER! BUFFY WANTS A DRINK!” she shouted in the direction of the kitchen. “AND I’LL HAVE ONE TOO.”

Buffy winced as Dawn yelled before she sat next to her. “Comin right up.” The youngest Summers said with a beaming smile.

“Thanks,” Buffy said wryly.

Anya was the first one to come out from the kitchen, a frown of displeasure marring her brow as she walked into the living room in a huff, arms crossed over her chest. “Xander is not yours to order around.” She informed Dawn pointedly.

“I wasn’t ordering I was just--”

“I… ME… I am the one who orders Xander around. Got it?” Anya said with a quirked eyebrow. “It’s a girlfriend privilege that I’m not going to share. And I won’t share his body either.”

“Ahn!” Xander said mortified. “Please.”

“What!” Anya cried indignantly. “I didn’t mention your penis or sex skills once!”

Xander closed his eyes and shook his head whilst Buffy and Dawn both simultaneously burst into laughter.

~~~

Giles hung up the phone, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Narrowing the list of vampires linked to the Order of Aurelius that were still among the living, was not as easy a task as he had once thought it would be. But he was getting there… slowly. Checking the phone number he had scrawled on the notepad before him, he picked up the receiver again and dialed.

~~~

Angel’s steps were careful, decisive, every one placed specifically so as to make as little sounds as possible. He was deep underneath the surface of Sunnydale, wandering the catacombs beneath the ruins of the High School. Paying a visit to the Hellmouth wasn’t something high on his list of things to do. He’d much prefer to be at the Summers house with Buffy.

He wanted to find out how she was feeling, and needed to know what she remembered…

~~~

“Wondered why you disappeared.” Spike said, not at all impressed by Jake’s transformation. To be honest, he had almost expected that something along these lines had happened. “You should’ve stayed gone.

Jake cocked an eyebrow, not at all intimidated. “Still looking out for your friend?” He mocked. “From what my sources tell me, friend is a bit of an exaggeration. All you are to her is an annoyance.”

Spike’s fist shot out again but this time Jake blocked it and danced out of the way with a laugh.

“That’s right. She could care less about you. It must cut you deep, that she went out with me.” Jake continued his taunting.

Spike’s right hook connected with Jake’s jaw this time. The vampire just laughed as his head was knocked back as he stumbled a few steps. When he found his footing again, he spat out the blood that was pooling in his mouth.

“You’ve got a big mouth you know that mate?” Spike snarled. “But have you got the stones to match it?”

Jake laughed again as he took a few steps backwards. “Her knight in black armor. I know all about your little obsession with the slayer.”

Spike stalked towards Jake, like a tiger about to strike at its prey. Jake was pressing all the right buttons, if he was smart, he would shut his mouth.

“What did you think? That she would look at your face… your true face… and give you a kiss?”

Spike growled again, his rage making his attack sloppy as he spun a kick at Jake’s mid-section which missed its mark, hitting the other vampire in the side instead.

“You’re nothing… you’re beneath her.”

Before Spike had the chance to attack again, five vampires appeared from the shadows and formed a tight circle around him.

“Oh bollucks.”

~~~

When Giles entered the Summers house a few hours later, he was greeted with the sound of laughter coming from the living room. Closing the door behind him, he followed the noise into the room where he found Buffy, Xander, Willow and Dawn sprawled about the sofas and the floor watching a movie of some sort.

Willow was the first one to notice Giles’ arrival and she gave him a warm smile as he walked in.

“Hey G-man.” Xander said casually as he reached for some candy from the bowl in front of them.

“Giles!” Dawn squeaked, untangling herself from the pile of legs on the floor to find her feet, throwing her arms around the watcher. “You have to watch this movie with us!”

Giles found himself being dragged into the room and directed to an armchair, which he sank into with no resistance. It was much more comfortable than the wooden chair at his desk which he had been sitting at for the last several hours.

“Hey Dawnie, I think it’s time for you to head off to bed.” Buffy announced when she finally realized the time.

Dawn groaned in faux annoyance, but truthfully, she was glad that Buffy was back and able to boss her around. “Alright, alright.” She said with a wave of her hand. “Goodnight everyone.”

They all said their goodnights as Dawn climbed the stairs, all of them waiting for the sound of the click signaling her bedroom door closing.

“So.” Buffy said as she switched the television off, much to Xander’s dismay. “By your expression I’m guessing not a social call.”

“Am I not allowed to worry about your recovery?” Giles said.

“Not doubting that you care here Giles. But you’ve got pensive face.” Buffy pointed out.

“Quite right.”

Willow shifted uncomfortably, knowing at least part of what Giles was going to be filling Buffy in on. Xander’s expression also became somewhat grave, something that wasn’t missed by Buffy.

“Am I the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on here?” she asked her worry increasing.

“Well you were in a coma.” Xander said with a ‘well duh’ look, smiling in an attempt to lighten the situation.

“Right. My mistake. I’ll try not to let that happen again.” She replied with a grin.

“Good.” Willow chimed in with a happy smile.

“So.” Buffy said, trying to keep her cool as she prepared herself for whatever it was that Giles needed to tell her. “You were about to explain the pensive face.”

“I’m afraid I have some troubling information.” Giles said as he removed his glassed from his eyes, something he always did when he was trying to sort out things in his mind. “It would appear that the vampires that attacked you the other night were working for someone connected to the Order of Aurelius.”

“Order of Aurelius?” Buffy repeated. She knew the name, but wondered why they would be after her.

“It seems that they are planning on resurrecting the Master.”

“Again.” Added Willow.

~~~

The place was empty…

Angel had searched the entire cave, and all of the little passageways that were connected to it. There was no one there.

Footprints in the dirt indicated that there had been movement down here recently, but whomever it had been, had cleared out already.

“Dammit!” he cursed.

Turning around he moved towards the passageway that would lead him above ground.

He needed to speak to Giles.

But it could wait until tomorrow…

~~~

Spike wiped at his bloodied cheek with the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped his duster more tightly around himself as he moved through the automatic doors of the hospital. He had dusted the vampires that had attacked him, but not before they had gotten in a few licks of their own.

Jake on the other hand, had disappeared as soon as the fight started. Spike made a mental note to track him down later on and finish him off.

He walked passed the nurses station, not stopping when the small woman sitting behind the desk called out to him. Turning the last corner as he approached Buffy’s room he reached for the doorknob and twisted it open quickly, stepping inside.

His jaw instantly dropped.

The bed was empty.

Whirling around to head back towards the nurse’s station, he almost collided with the woman who had been sitting behind the desk.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“T-that’s why I was trying to stop you.” She replied, a little anxious. She had recognised the man before her as a visitor of the blond girl. He had been in last night as well.

“She’s not here anymore.”

Spike’s blood ran cold, instantly imagining the worst situation. “Where is she then?”

“She was released early this afternoon. Her family took her home.”

The nurse blinked in surprise as the man before her turned on his heel and stormed towards the exit.

~~~

Buffy suppressed the urge to hurl, her eyes widening in horror. “The Master? But I killed him…”

“And crushed his bones.” Xander pointed out. “That’s what I said this out yesterday, but apparently they don’t seem to care.”

Buffy tried to come to terms with the sudden shock as Giles continued to explain, quickly running over their progress, Willow’s spell and the list of possible suspects which he was slowly narrowing.

“The Master.” Buffy repeated again, her eyes glazing over as memories washed over her with vivid clarity. She blinked them away, trying to clear her mind. “What does this have to do with Dawn?”

It was Giles’ time to be surprised now. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question.”

She frowned. “The vampires that attacked that night, the ones at the Magic Box… they mentioned Dawn.”

“Maybe they were just threatening you Buffy?” Willow suggested softly. “Trying to get you all worried and worked up so they could lure you out?”

Giles nodded. “That’s a possibility.”

“I don’t think that’s it.” Buffy said with a shake of her head. “Giles what they said… it was pretty specific.”

Before Giles could respond, the door burst open and through it walked a very pissed off Spike.

“Oh crap.” Willow muttered in realization. No one had told him.

“Spike.” Giles said calmly, even as the vampire before him glared at him in anger. “Buffy’s been discharged.”

“So I was told.” He replied bluntly.

His expression immediately softened when he turned his attention to Buffy, who was sitting on the sofa with a confused look on her face.

“Buffy.” He said softly.

“Spike.” Buffy replied.

Spike took a few steps towards her, his intentions on sweeping her into her arms. But then he remembered where they were, that all her friends were in the room, and oh yeah… she’d kick his ass for it. Folding his arms over his chest, his expression became stoic, void of the emotion that had been there moments ago.

“I ran into a pal of yours Red.” He said shooting Willow an I-told-you-so look.

“Friend of me? Who?” Willow asked.

“Joke, Jackass… oh, that’s right. Jake.” He said sarcastically.

“Jake?” Buffy and Willow both repeated at the same time.

“Where’s he been?” Buffy asked.

“Where did you see him?” Willow added.

“Who cares…” Xander mumbled under his breath, which gained him a broad smile from Spike.

“Been? Don’t know? Where? Cemetery.” Spike answered the girl’s questions.

“The cemetery?” Giles reiterated. “Was he at a funeral?”

“Yeah his own.” Spike snorted.

Buffy blinked in shock and Willow’s eyes widened like saucers.

“Huh? What? Did I miss something here? I thought you said you saw him?” Xander piped up, realizing after the words left his mouth what Spike was saying.

“He’s been turned.” Giles clarified.

“Nice deduction Rupes.” Spike mock praised. “And from what I can tell, sounds like he’s working for whoever it is that put Buffy in the hospital.”

“He… he’s a vampire? But how?” Willow asked.

“Do you need a refresher course on how vamps are made Red?” Spike shook his head as he tsked at Giles. “Your crew are getting sloppy mate.”

Giles pursed his lips, refusing to respond. “Interesting. Well I should return to my research.”

He walked over to Buffy and held her in a warm embrace for a few moments before he said his goodbyes and left.

“I should probably get some sleep as well.” Buffy said with a yawn.

Willow got up and reached for a blanket and spread it over her friend, and was rewarded with a smile. She then went about preparing sleeping space for herself and Xander. They were going to stay the night just to make sure Buffy would be okay, this being her first night home from hospital and all.

Spike shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling decidedly out of place.

“Well I’m going to do another sweep before I hit the sack.”

Buffy smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”

Spike was surprised, but didn’t let it show for too long. She’d said thank you… something that didn’t happen too often. Not when it was directed to him anyway. Nodding in acceptance, he said his goodbyes, leaving the trio of friends talking in the living room.



~~~~~~~~~~