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Rebellion by Thianna
 
27 - After Us
 
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Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

**

Chapter 27 - After Us

Spike took one last drag from his cigarette before extinguishing it under his boot. He was guessing that Buffy was about an hour into her patrol and he was getting ready to head up and meet her when a swirl of blond hair and lace blocked his path. Discovering who it was, Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"What the fuck do you bloody want?" Spike asked in anger.

"Will your manners never improve dear William?" Darla replied.

"Is there any specific reason why they should?"

"The way I see it you should feel some sense of remorse. You killed your grandsire."

"I think you need to get your facts straight though I wish I could claim that one."

"Ah yes, the Slayer. I would have thought you had the balls to put that bitch in her place."

He mockingly chuckled. "So we're resulting to insults now. If I recall, the great Poofhead didn't do that much better. And what is it to you what I do with her?"

"I should kill you for helping the bitch destroy my beloved child. What you did is punishable by death."

"So go ahead. You know he had it coming. He was always in my business. He was always in my way. He took Dru for crying out loud."

"She is his child. She is our daughter. You should know the relationship that exists between sire and child."

"Yeah. Yeah. Blah. Blah. Blah. So what Darla? Are you going to talk me to death then?"

Darla crossed her arms in front of her chest and let out a sigh. "As much as I want to rip your heart out with my own bare hands, you are still family and your family needs you."

Spike had to stop himself from busting out laughing. "My family needs me? Bollocks! What a load of shit."

"The Master has returned and he wishes you to have an audience with him."

At the mention of the Master, Spike fell silent. The Master had asked for him personally so that could either be a good thing or a bad thing. The way Darla was talking, it was a good thing but he never fully trusted anything that came out of her mouth. He had left the coven and he helped destroy the Master of the Aurelius Clan in Sunnydale. He was half-expecting that they would be after him by now but no one haa dared challenge him yet. If the Master wanted him dead, Darla wouldn't be here talking to him right now. She was his beloved child. He could have sent any ordinary minion to tell him the news but he sent Darla instead. He thought about what he should say.

"Please tell the Master that I will grace him with my presence when I'm good and ready."

"It's not really a request William."

"Fine! I'll come by tomorrow. Now you mind stepping aside?"

"What? So you can go back to your whore?"

"Speak for yourself, love."

"We are your family William, not the Slayer. Do not forget your place."

Spike walked past her and shifted his thoughts to more pleasant things. He would be with Buffy soon and then he could drown himself with her presence. He didn't know what the Master wanted but he had a few ideas what they could be. The bad thing was, most of those ideas resulted in not so quite pleasurable situations and Spike wasn’t sure what he would do if things did turn out to be bad.

**
Spike waited for Buffy at the entrance to the cemetery. She smiled upon seeing his figure propped up against a tree smoking a cigarette. She ran towards him, giving him a huge hug.

"Nice to know someone is happy to see me." he smiled, extinguishing his cigarette then flicking it to the ground.

"I love you."

"Love you too pet." he said giving her a quick kiss.

"I'm hungry. Where we eating?"

"Nice to know slaying doesn't deter your appetite, love." he said offering his arm.

Buffy took his arm and they walked towards the downtown area. They walked like that in silence for a few minutes before she looked up at him questioningly. She saw that he seemed to be in deep thought and she wondered what was bothering him.

"Spike?"

"Huh?"

"You're usually talking my ear off by now."

"Sorry! ... I just have a few things on my mind."

"Like?"

"It’s nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Come on. Something is obviously bothering you, so spill."

Spike took in a deep unnecessary breath. "Soon Buffy. It might be time."

"Time? What are you talking about?"

"You know I love you. I'll do anything to protect you. There might come a time when I'll have to do something you won't like. It will haunt us, love. You're the Slayer. I'm a vampire."

Buffy leaned her head against his arm. "We'll face it together, Spike. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."

Spike couldn't help but smile at what she just said. He didn't know what the future will hold for them but no matter what happens, he had to keep her away from harm, even if that meant possibly keeping her away from him.


**
Spike smiled at the fact that his girl was beside him and loved him dearly. Despite the little encounter with Darla earlier that night, it had turned out to be quite a lovely evening. Of course Buffy always had a way of making him feel good. They would be home soon and he couldn't wait to have his arms full of the Slayer. But there was something tugging at his senses. It felt like someone was watching them. He had dismissed it earlier when they walked to the Espresso Pump but when they walked out the door, he felt it again. He thought he was being paranoid but it was usually better to err on the side of caution.

Buffy's cell phone started ringing and she disengaged her arms from Spike to answer it.

"Oh, hi Giles. What's up? ... Huh. The what? ... What's that? ... After me? Why?"

But before Buffy could continue the conversation, she took two steps back as Spike held his hand in front of her, catching an arrow aimed at her heart.

"Bollocks! Damn wooden arrows. Buffy we need to get out of here."

They both ran, rushing down streets and alleys. Buffy's mind raced trying to figure out who would try to kill her. Well, that list wasn’t exactly short. There were many that would most probably want her dead, especially since she dusted Angelus. She was the Slayer, the enemy of vampires and demons. But who ever it was that was chasing them weren’t vampires because the only signature she registered was Spike's. Maybe they were the ones that Giles was trying to warn her of. Giles said something about the Council. He said something about someone going after her. The last thing she heard him say was Retrieval Team. They were going to kill her. The humans she was working for wanted her dead. She knew she shouldn't be surprised since the first night she met Giles he tried to shoot her. But they had developed a good relationship. He felt like her guardian, maybe even the closest thing she'd have to a father at the moment. She had foolishly thought that maybe the Council would be more understanding. But here she was, running from this Retrieval Team.

Spike knew they couldn't go home tonight. It wasn't safe. He led them to another alleyway where he knew there would be a sewer entrance. Quickly lifting the manhole cover, he motioned for her to get in. "Sorry if it stinks, love"

Buffy let out a sigh then jumped in. Spike followed, covering the manhole before jumping down beside her.

"Where to? Man it stinks down here."

"This way ... and you're lucky you don't have my sense of smell. Come on."

Spike led her through the tunnels. They needed a place to hide. He led them towards the Sunnydale Hotel. It might not be the best place but he knew someone in the staff that could keep their presence in the establishment pretty much a secret.

"We'll go spend the night in the hotel for now. I'll go pull some of my contacts and see what they know."

"It's the Council Spike. Giles said something about a Retrieval Team."

"Wish we could talk to Rupes about it, but that might be dangerous. They might be holed up in his place waiting for us to slip up."

"They want me dead."

"Won't let that happen. I said I'd protect you. Well at least they're human. I'm sure I can pull a couple of favors that could keep them busy if not out of town. Perhaps we can make it seem like you skipped town."

"I'm scared, Spike."

"I'll figure something out." Spike said. He just hoped she'd be okay with whatever it is he came up with.



 
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