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To Kill the Girl by Sandy
 
Chapter 5
 
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Scooby meeting again; this time in her bedroom. Willow and Cordelia had helped her undress and get into nightclothes. Giles was pacing back and forth at the bottom of her bed. He had wanted to call her mother, but Buffy had insisted that he not. "Giles, she's been working on this showing for weeks now. I'm in no danger. You guys are here, so just let her enjoy herself and bask in the glory of her hard work."

Giles had finally relented, and now he was pacing back and forth and back and forth enough to make her want to scream. Buffy reached over and took the glass of water that Willow had refilled for her. It was her third. Spike had brought up a second one before he had left. He's a very strange enemy, she thought once again.

"Buffy, I'm so terribly sorry. I miscalculated. I should have told you to find out where he was and then come fetch the rest of us. I know I said he was a good fighter when he took out the Gr'Racka demon, but still he didn't show himself to be such a formidable enemy last year."

"Well, gee, Giles," Cordelia chimed in. "He almost killed her every time they met. I think that should prove that he's not some lightweight."

Giles glared at the beautiful brunette. "Really, Cordelia. That's not remotely true."

"No, Giles." Buffy said. "Cordelia's right. If mom hadn't come back at the high school, he may very well have killed me there. And if it hadn't been for Kendra, he would have either killed me or had me killed at the old church." Buffy sighed again. "I think we've kind of gotten too smug when it comes to Spike. Each time we've defeated him, it's been more a case of luck than skill, I think. When Ford used me as bait to get Spike to turn him, it was only because I used Drusilla as a hostage that I got away that time."

Giles looked frustrated, but he didn't argue. In truth, when he thought about it logically, she was right. They had been exceedingly lucky that they had not lost Buffy in her encounters with Spike. Even Angel had had a healthy respect for the Slayer of Slayer.

***

It was nearly 12:30 before Joyce pulled up in the driveway. Giles had sent the others home to bed but he had stayed. Buffy could hear them talking downstairs and then the sound of the door closing as Giles left. Rapid footsteps on the stairs prepared Buffy for Joyce's appearance. Struggling to sit up, she greeted her mother with a wan smile.

"Buffy, honey, are you all right? Mr. Giles told me that Spike attacked you tonight." Joyce's voice was tight with fear.

"It's okay, mom," Buffy answered. "I made a mistake and Spike took advantage of it. It won't happen again."

Buffy hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.

"Oh, Buffy, I know you said that he was dangerous, but I honestly thought he was your friend." Joyce's distress was apparent.

"We're not friends, mom. He's a vampire; I'm the Slayer. Kinda makes us mortal enemies." Buffy tried to keep her tone light. It wasn't easy considering how weak her voice still sounded. However, thanks to Slayer healing powers, she knew that within 24 hours, she would be completely recovered. Spike had taken only enough to weaken her. Her life had never been in danger.

"Honey, what are you going to do about him? You're not going after him again are you?"

"Mom, I know you're scared, but it's okay. I'm the Slayer. It's my job to slay vampires. Spike may be strong and clever, but he's just a vampire. I'll kill him, don't worry."

Joyce began to protest again, but Buffy cut her off pretending to be too tired to continue the conversation. Joyce fussed with her bedclothes for a bit, kissed her on the forehead and finally left the room. Buffy lay back down in her bed wondering once again how she was going to solve the problem of a bleached-blond vampire.

Meanwhile, next to the tree that grew beside her window, the tip of a cigarette glowed bright red.
 
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