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Real Me by CG again
 
Chapter 17
 
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--

We had quickly settled into a routine. Spike stayed with me most nights, since Willow volunteered to spend her nights elsewhere and give us some time together. She could have gone home and her parents would never have noticed, which is what I preferred to believe. Spike’s theory was still something to consider, but I had other things to worry about.

Like Angelus.

He hadn’t taken well to Spike’s departure, considering it a personal affront. So he had spent most nights dogging mine and Spike’s steps, making things as uncomfortable for us as possible. Tonight, he’d stood outside my window while Spike and I were together and murmured things about me and what he’d done to me. I missed most of it, but Spike’s vampire hearing picked it all up, and he’d attacked Angelus with fury. Angelus had darted away, mocking him laughingly.

“We’re leaving,” Spike had said through a clenched jaw. I had agreed immediately.

Which was how Spike had ended up sitting on the living room couch at home, my mother seated opposite him with a disapproving look on her face. “And you’re dating Buffy,” she said slowly. She did not look happy about it. “How old are you?”

Spike’s eyes darted to me. I shrugged. “M’ twenty-two, Mrs. Summers,” he said humbly.

“Buffy, you’re only nineteen.” Mom shook her head. “And now you’re in so much trouble that you have to leave college for the night?”

“It’s not Spike’s fault!” I protested. “There was just a creep outside the dorm, and I didn’t feel comfortable there. I thought you were going on a gallery trip tonight. I wouldn’t have come home and worried you otherwise.”

Mom’s eyebrows rose. “So you were going to bring your boyfriend, whom I’ve never met, over for the night?” Her voice grew louder. “When you’re in college, I understand that you’re going to…experiment.” She cast a disdainful glance at Spike. I was surprised at that. My mother wasn’t usually this rude to my boyfriends, even the ones she hadn’t liked. “But in my house, I expect you to follow my rules, and-“

“It was Angel.” Dawn’s small voice cut Mom off mid-sentence.

“Dawnie?”

She was pale, her face tear-stained, and her arms wrapped around herself protectively. “Buffy came here to get away from Angel, Mom. Spike’s been helping us out, fending him off when he harasses us.”

I gaped. When had Dawn told Mom about Angelus? Spike caught my eye, quirking an eyebrow at my sister with a measure of respect.

Mom’s face had crumbled at Dawn’s announcement. “This boy’s been bothering you, too?”

Dawn answered for me. “He’s been harassing all of us.”

Mom reached for the phone. “That’s it. I’m calling the police.”

“No!” Dawn and I said together. “It won’t help,” she said miserably. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

“What does that mean, it won’t help?” Mom demanded. “That’s what the police is for! This boy has been stalking young girls, even driving them from their homes, now. I want a restraining order!”

Tears were spilling down Dawn’s face. “Please, Mom,” she whispered. “Please don’t.”

Mom frowned. “I can’t just sit by and let this go on. Not when my little girls are threatened.”

“Mrs. Summers,” Spike spoke up. “I can assure you that we’re taking care of the situation. The police would only make the situation worse.”

Mom sighed. “Now, Spike…”

“Call me William,” Spike said earnestly, flashing me a grin. I flushed, remembering screaming out that name several times last night.

“William,” Mom amended. “Are you from around here?”

“I just moved earlier this year,” Spike told her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dawn return to her room. “I’ll be right back,” I told Mom and Spike. “You two…get acquainted, okay?”

Dawn was waiting for me on her bed. “Angelus came over today when I was out. He told Mom some things she really didn’t have to know. Looks like Spike’s getting the brunt of her anger.”

I grinned. “Plus, punk boyfriend? Not what she’d expect from me.”

Dawn shook her head. “Really, Buffy, bringing Spike over? Giving him an invite to the Slayer’s house? I know he won’t hurt you, but me? It’s kind of his job description.”

I sighed. “Dawn, he’s fighting on our side now.”

“For now,” Dawn reminded me. “What happens when he changes his mind, or you break up?”

“We’re not breaking up,” I said curtly, discontent worming in and making me testy. “I thought you said that you thought he cared about me.”

“Yeah, now,” Dawn pointed out. “But what about in a few months, when he gets sick of feeding on pigs’ blood? What about when you realize just how awful his past is, or when you get way old? Not that there’ll be much danger of me still being around then,” she said morosely.

I sighed. “Dawn…”

“We’re fighting with him now because we need him.” Dawn pulled the covers out and slid underneath them. “But we can’t trust him, ever. He doesn’t have a soul.”

“Yes, because all soulless vampires are the same,” I said sarcastically. Dawn’s face fell, and I felt a twinge of pity. “Look, Dawn, I don’t know what a soul really is. And I don’t particularly care. I judge Spike on his actions, not something that may or may not really exist.”

“He doesn’t have a moral compass,” Dawn said tiredly. “All his actions are based on selfish desires.”

“Most humans’ actions are based on selfish desires,“ I argued. “Spike’s just more honest about it.”

Dawn sighed. “I’m too tired for this.”

“Go to sleep,” I assured her. “We’ll talk about this some other time.”

Her eyes were already closed when I slipped out of the room and headed downstairs.

Mom and Spike were laughing together. “Oh, Buffy, William was just telling me about some of his adventures in Italy,” Mom smiled, looking much calmer than she had before. “He’s really had a fascinating life!”

I sat down next to him, and he wrapped an arm around my waist. “He definitely has,” I agreed.

“I’d love to hear more, but I really have to get to bed.” Mom stood up. “I’m leaving on a buyer trip early tomorrow morning.”

Ohh. Oops.

“William can sleep on the couch tonight.” Mom gave us a stern look. “And that’s where I want to find him in the morning!”

We both nodded quickly, and she was gone in moments.

“She didn’t say where you had to be,” Spike teased, running his fingers over the bare skin below my top and above my pants. Goosebumps erupted where he touched.

I gave him a mock scowl. “Uh-uh. My mother is not catching me in a compromising situation! She’s had enough trouble tonight with Dawn.” I snuggled up against him, enjoying the closeness. “Spike?”

“Mm-hm?” He was still stroking my back absentmindedly.

“Are you going to use your invite into the house to kill Dawn?”

He laughed. “No.”

“Oh. Okay, then.” I drifted off.

When I woke up, I was in my bed and Spike was gone. I was also dressed in the ridiculous black negligee I had bought during my rebellious stage in tenth grade and hidden in the back of my underwear drawer.

The note Spike left read, Keep it on.

--

Dawn had asked me to bring Willow and Tara over that day after school, so we’d all assembled in the library. I’d gone to Spike’s crypt to tell him, so he’d shown up, too.

To my surprise, Miss Calendar was there, also. From what I’d heard, she’d been shut out from the group after Dawn had found out that she had known about Angel’s soul. She looked nervous. Good, I thought nastily. She deserved whatever we dished out.

“Okay. Everyone’s here.” Dawn blew into the room, grinning. The expression faded when she saw Miss Calendar. “Why is she here?”

“Because she can fix this,” Janice said, stepping in front of Miss Calendar protectively. “ That’s why I called this meeting. Tell them, Jenny.”

Miss Calendar nodded. “Janice and I have been working on translating a spell.”

“A spell?” Willow leaned forward eagerly.

“To restore Angel’s soul.”

There was a moment of silence. Then, an uproar.

“That’s really advanced! How can we-“

“Are you certain that that will work?”

“W-W-Willow and I c-can help.”

“Yes, but will it stick this time?”

“Just keep that thing far away from me, love.”

“Let’s just kill the creep!” That was Kennedy. We all gave her nasty looks, on principle. She huffed angrily.

Dawn was the only one to remain silent until we all turned to her.

“What do you think, Dawn?” Giles asked tentatively.

She nodded, unable to speak.

“Anyway, we’re almost done. By morning, the spell should be ready. We can even do it tonight, too, if you want.”

“Thank you,” Dawn said quietly.

“Willow? Would you and your friend like to help us?” Miss Calendar smiled fondly at her, and I suddenly understood another one of Willow’s high school idiosyncrasies. Of course. She hadn’t hung out with the computer teacher last year because they’d both liked computers.

“Sure!” Willow beamed. Tara nodded, too, smiling.

“We’re going to patrol,” Dawn offered, gesturing vaguely toward Kennedy and herself. “Keep an eye out for Angelus.”

“I’ll come with you,” Spike said quickly. I turned to him in surprise. He shrugged. “Last day the Poof’s out there, best make sure that nothing too bad happens.”

“Absolutely not,” Giles said stiffly.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Dawn beat me to it. “Come on, Giles. Spike was in my house last night when we were all asleep. If he didn’t kill me then, he’s not gonna kill me when I’m in Slay mode.” She flashed me a smile.

“I’m not leaving you alone with that monster,” Giles retorted.

Dawn shrugged. “So come along.”

I put up a hand. “What should I do?”

“Get some rest,” Spike leered. “We’ll be…celebrating later.”

“Oh, gross.” Dawn made a face. “Could you not do that around me? I’m traumatized enough as it is.”

“And as if I’m going to stay at home like a good little girl while you guys are saving the world!” I added.

“That’s my girl,” Spike said with pride.

“Stick with us,” Janice offered. “We might need supplies later, anyway. We could use an errand girl.” I scowled at her. She raised an eyebrow at me, unconcerned.

I gave Spike a kiss before he left. “Don’t kill Kennedy,” I murmured.

He cupped my face in his hands. “I’ll do my best.”

--

The four witches fluttering around the computer room had the spell finished in just a few hours.

“We’ll need an Orb of Thessulah,” Miss Calendar noted. “I don’t have one in my stock.”

“The Magic Box does,” Willow remembered. “They’re pretty cheap, too.” She checked her watch. “But it’s closed by now.”

Janice shrugged. “I’m on it.”

Miss Calendar opened her mouth to argue, but Janice cut her off. “Come on, Jenny. What’s a little B and E between friends?”

“Friends,” Miss Calendar repeated, amused. “Last time you went there, you summoned a Torkanek demon while you were still in the store and were banned for life.”

“His life, not mine,” Janice said flippantly. “And he was killed by vampires last week. There’s a new owner. Maybe we’ll be friends.”

“M-Mr. Cowler was killed?” Tara asked, sounding distraught. We stared at her. “I-I go there a lot.”

Miss Calendar sighed. “Alright. You go ahead, get the Orb.” She addressed the rest of us. “I’ll be fine here alone. Go with her, get some air- you all deserve it. Oh, and make sure she doesn’t actually break and enter.”

“She’s just saying that so she won’t feel guilty,” Janice informed us later as we wandered down the street. “She can’t actually allow me to do what I do, but so long as there are no questions, she doesn’t need to know the answer, right?”

Willow looked dubious and a little thrilled at Janice’s logic. Tara seemed nervous. I was used to Janice by now, and settled for amusement.

“We’re here.” Janice eyed the building. She lifted a large rock from the ground.

“Wait!” Willow said hastily. “Tara and I have been working on a teleportation spell. We can just send you inside.”

Janice gave her a scornful look. “That’s no fun.” She heaved the rock at the window, shattering it with one shot. Halfway through the window, she turned back to us impatiently. “You coming?”

“There are wards on the building!” Willow protested. “The owner will know that we were here by now, and-“

“Got it!” Janice held up the Orb. “Let’s go!”

We hurried away, moments before the whine of a police car started in the distance.

“Wonder why she bothered with the police,” Janice said, tossing the Orb in the air and catching it. Willow watched with horrified fascination. “No one who breaks into a magic shop is gonna be stopped by the cops.” The Orb slipped out of her hand and Willow dove for it. It hovered in mid-air, a few inches from the ground. Janice grinned. “Relax, Will. I’ve got it.”

“Shouldn’t play with Mummy’s toys. She gets so very cross,” a familiar voice drawled out.

“Drusilla!” Janice assumed a fighting stance, all playfulness gone. Willow and Tara joined hands for a spell.

“Don’t make eye contact!” I warned my friends.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, babe.” Angelus smirked from behind us. I spun around, then turned back toward Dru, wondering which was the bigger threat. “We’ve already gotten in some nice kills tonight, and we’re only planning one more. We just wanted to drop you a line, see how you were doing, a little schmooze…”

“Oh, cut it out, Dead Boy,” Janice scoffed, moving swiftly forward to circle him. “The whole friendly villain thing only works when the villain’s a hottie. Otherwise it’s just grotesque.”

“Little Janice, what I could do with you,” Angelus crooned, snaking a hand out and pinning her to him. “So tough, all the time…wonder how you’ll be once I break you?”

To her credit, Janice didn’t even flinch. Her fist went out, her knee went up, she whirled faster than any human I’d ever seen, and she was free. “I’ve practiced fighting with you, you bastard. I remember your weaknesses,” she smirked.

But Angelus was smiling, too. “Or maybe I’ll break something else?” he suggested, raising his hand to show us the Orb now in his grasp. He hurled it against the closest building, smashing it into pieces.

“Nasty little spark machine, all gone!” Dru said breathlessly. “Do it again! Do it again!”

“Like that’s gonna stop me!” Janice turned and hurtled back in the direction of the shop.

“All the shiny toys are smashed, bashed, thrashed,” Dru sang out, spinning in a circle.

Willow and Tara started to chant a spell, their faces pale.

Angelus observed them. “Well. Isn’t that just…steamy,” he murmured. Willow faltered.

“Shut up!” I hissed. Willow didn’t need this now.

“Is it this charged up in bed?” Angelus asked, licking his lips. “I’ll bet the redhead’s on top. That’s hot.” He moved closer to us. “Does she scream your name when she comes?” he whispered into Willow’s ear. He circled around to Tara. “How does she look above you? Her head thrown back, rivulets of sweat running down her neck, panting and moaning as she moves you to completion…” Willow and Tara were frozen in place, shaking with anger and humiliation and tears. Angelus moved to stand between them. “You stink of each other’s sweat, and sex, and breath. Tell me, little redhead, have you ever been with a girl before?” I gathered my strength and kicked at him with all I had. He grabbed my leg and twisted it. There was a loud, unhealthy-sounding crunch, and I fell to the ground.

He turned his attention to Tara. “Quiet, quiet witch. Do you ever wonder if you’re just her experiment? If you just got lucky, and when she finds someone new, she’ll drop you like a hot potato? Why else would she be with someone as pathetic as you?”

Willow regained her power of movement and slapped him.

He laughed. “You two lovebirds have a good night. I’m leaving you a present.” He winked. “But you’ve got to find it first.” He wandered down the street, Dru at his side.

Janice came back moments later, breathless. “He’s gone? Sorry I took so long. I forgot about the police. Anyway, it was a bust. Angelus must have come in right after us and smashed all the…” Her eyes took in Willow and Tara, who were both crying and clinging to each other, and me, struggling ineffectually to stand despite the pain in my probably broken leg. “What’s wrong?”

Willow ignored her, bending to check on me. “I’m so sorry, Buffy. I didn’t want you to find out like that!” she sobbed.

“It’s okay, Willow,” I said through teeth clenched together to stave off the pain. “I knew. I mean, I wasn’t positive, but Spike thought so, and I was pretty sure…I just didn’t want to think about it.” I grabbed her hand, using it as a crutch. “Nothing’s changed! You’re still my best friend, just now you check out girls AAAAHH!” The throbbing was intense.

“I’m going to call 911,” Tara said worriedly, shaking off her tears.

“Where’d Angelus go?” Janice asked impatiently.

“Does it matter?” Willow demanded, annoyed. “Buffy’s hurt! I think that’s more important!”

“No, it isn’t!” Janice retorted. “Angelus knew what we were doing! Just destroying the Orb wouldn’t be enough. He’d want to get rid of the spell completely, and…” Her voice trailed off, and for the first time since I’d met ass-kicking, havoc-wreaking Janice, she looked afraid. “Jenny!” She tore off into the night.

“Should we go after her?” Willow asked shakily.

“We need to stay with Buffy,” Tara said firmly, her stutter gone.

“I don’t think I could go, anyway,” Willow noted wryly. I was squeezing her hand so tightly, it was white from lack of circulation. “Janice’ll get to Jenny in time. Everything will be fine.”

Willow hadn’t had much experience with Angelus. So she actually believed that.

I knew better.
 
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