Searching For Explanations

Cross fingers...


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The morning after his slightly unnerving visit to Spike’s crypt, Riley was walking into town, wondering just how Buffy might have reacted to the news that Spike’s chip did not work on her. He could easily imagine things not going in the vampire’s favour if he made the wrong move and he hoped – for both of their sakes – that Buffy hadn’t taken the news too badly. There was no knowing what she might deduce from this strange turn of events, what interpretation she might come up with.

He himself was struggling to come up with an explanation, given his limited knowledge of how the chip worked. It was obvious it was connected to Buffy’s resurrection, but he couldn’t say much more. He had a few contacts who might be able to look into it but he decided to leave them out of it: he would only delve deeper if Buffy wanted him to. He hoped to see her soon to gauge her reaction and it was for this reason that his first stop of the day was the magic shop. It also gave him a chance to catch up with Buffy’s friends, who he had barely seen since the fallout of Willow’s memory spell.



He found the group as he had numerous times before: Giles was studying a book, Anya was behind the counter, talking to Xander, and Willow sat at the table, idly thumbing through a book. He took a second look at the witch, noting her subdued nature and the distinct absence of her now ex-girlfriend, and turned towards the counter, giving her a tiny smile when she looked up. She looked chirpier than he might have thought but after a tight smile, she returned her attention to her book.

“Riley!” Xander called, waving him over, “Long time no see, man. Where have you been?”

“Nowhere exciting,” Riley answered with a smile, nodding a greeting at Anya as she busied herself with the till, “You not at work today?”

“I’m heading in later.”

Riley nodded and settled into a chair next to his friend, listening as Xander caught him up on all of the latest happenings.

“So, Buffy’s still job-hunting,” Xander continued, “No luck yet.”

“She’ll find something,” Riley said certainly.

“I hope so. She told me the other day that Dawn’s going through the savings like the crazy teenager that she is.”

Riley frowned, but Xander was already continuing.

“And Anya’s driving me crazy with wedding talk.”

Riley laughed and glanced at the ex-demon, who was glaring at Xander.

“Well, if you’d be more helpful…”

He smiled good-naturedly, observing the couple as they began to bicker.



The back door opened a few moments later and he turned in his seat as Buffy drifted in, placing her bag down on the table and greeting them all.

“Remind me not to help Dawn to school ever again,” she exclaimed.

“What happened?” Xander asked.

“She expected me to carry all of her science project… and her books. But I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the front entrance in case any of her friends saw us.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and smiled.

“I mean, come on, I’m a cool mom!” she joked.

“That still doesn’t mean you won’t embarrass a fourteen-year-old, and you know it, Buff!” Xander remarked.

Buffy smiled and settled into a chair close to Willow.

“How’s Amy?” Buffy asked the witch.

“She’s good. Visiting her dad.”

“Cool. Are you still going to the movies with Dawnie later?”

“Yep,” Willow answered brightly, “A full night of Willow and Dawnie fun with added popcorn!”

“Cool. I’ve got patrol, so I might be back late,” Buffy explained and Riley could have sworn he saw the slightest blush redden her cheeks.

“That’s okay. I’ll be around,” Willow replied.

Buffy smiled and pushed herself to her feet.

“Well, no rest for me. My future job is not going to find itself!”

Riley got to his feet as well, drawing her gaze to him.

“I’ll come with you. I need to get going anyway.”

“Okay,” she said with a smile and a nod, heading towards him, “Bye, guys.”

“Buffy!” Giles called out and she paused, turning towards him, “I’d like a word with you later, if you have time.”

“Sure. I’ll come by this afternoon,” she replied with a slight frown.

“Excellent,” Giles said, turning his attention back to his book. Buffy shrugged, waved at her friends, and headed for the door.



They left the shop together and headed down Main Street, walking in silence for a short while.

“I’m glad I saw you actually,” Buffy suddenly spoke up, glancing up at him, “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Okay.”

She nodded but remained silent for a pause, obviously deciding what to say.

“Well,” she started, glancing around them and then drawing him to a halt outside a run-down shop, “I wanted to ask you about the chip. Spike’s chip, I mean.”

“What about it?” he asked, surprised that she had come to him.

“Well, I just… I need to know how it works. Not, like, science and all that. Just how… I don’t know, how it detects humans.”

She worried her lip with her teeth and he couldn’t stop himself from speaking up.

“Are you worried because Spike can hurt you again?”

Her gaze snapped to his, her eyes wide.

“How did you know?”

“Spike punched me in the nose to see if it was a full malfunction,” he explained wryly.

“Oh,” she said quietly, her eyes dropping to the floor.

A moment later, she continued.

“It’s not that I’m worried,” she explained softly, “I just... I kinda want to know why.”



There was a pause and then he answered quietly.

“I don’t know what to tell you. You know the experiments were never my area.”

“I know,” she sighed, “I just thought you might have some idea.”

“I can find out, if you want.”

She looked up sharply, hesitated, and then shook her head.

“No,” she said quickly, before continuing, “Thank you anyway. I just don’t want to make a big deal about it.”

There was another pause and she let out another sigh.

“All I can think is that… you’re different,” Riley spoke up, searching for some way to make her feel better, “I mean, you’re… you can’t be the same as you were before.”

“That’s what Spike said,” she replied softly, giving him a wry smile.

“I really don’t think you have to worry. It’ll just be some little thing that means the chip can’t pick you up.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think Spike would ever hurt you.”

She looked up at him and smiled.

“I know he wouldn’t.”

“Then don’t worry,” he murmured, resisting the urge to place a hand on her shoulder.

She smiled and placed her hand on his arm briefly.

“Thanks, Riley.”

“Anytime.”

She smiled and looked down the street.

“I better get going.”

She didn’t say where she was headed but as she walked away with a small, dreamy smile, he could easily guess and the pang of jealousy returned. What surprised him, however, was that the pain was not quite as bad as before.