Thanks to Sue and Niamh for the beta.



Chapter 7: Making Plans.


For a couple of days life in Sunnydale was quiet. The mysterious black car Spike had spotted on two occasions outside the Magic Box had not been seen again. And whomever it was that had left the note for Giles had yet to make their presence known. It was calm… almost too calm.

Spike didn’t like it one bit.

A false sense of security had fallen over the gang. They were right in the thick of whatever was about to explode, in the eye of the storm. Shit was about to hit the fan and it seemed like Spike was the only one who understood this. Although he and the watcher had decided to keep the car, the note, and basically the heebie-jeebies that Spike was feeling secret from Buffy—at least until they had proof—the vampire had thought there would be some research. It seemed the Slayer’s mentor himself had been suckered into the calm too. They were like flies, buzzing around a spider’s web, unaware of just how close danger was. Being a former spider himself, Spike knew what it felt like to lull someone into believing ‘all is right with the world’. And there was some major lulling going on here.

“Spike. Spike,” Buffy tried for a second time, waving a hand in front of the vampire’s face.

Spike blinked, shooting an apologetic smile in Buffy’s direction. “Sorry, love. Was away with the fairies there for a moment.”

“Fairies, huh?” Buffy questioned with an arched brow. “These fairies didn’t happen to be scantily clad now did they?”

“What are --” Spike began only to be cut off by Xander.

“I wondered where that text had gotten to.” As if realizing he’d spoken aloud, the brunette ducked his head, praying that Anya hadn’t heard him.

“Xander!”

No such luck.

Buffy drowned out Xander and Anya’s light-hearted bickering, a curious glint in her eye as she watched Spike slip into his thoughts again. He had pensive-guy face, and Buffy wished for access to the vampire’s mind for the innumerable time. Maybe then she would be able to understand and possibly help whatever it was that was plaguing his thoughts.

Feeling her eyes on him, Spike realized that he must have drifted off, again. Looking up from the table, he found, just as he thought, her eyes were on him. Slightly narrowed, head tilted to the side, her lips pursed in an adorable pout.

“You did it again,” she accused.

“I’m sorry, love,” Spike apologised again. This wouldn’t do. He couldn’t keep doing this. Buffy was a bright girl, she’d catch on soon enough that something was wrong. And dealing with her wrath because he kept something from her, even though his intentions had been honorable, was not something Spike wanted to face.

“Heard from your sis yet?” he asked with genuine interest, hoping she’d let his zoning out slide this once.

“Earlier this morning,” Buffy replied, her expression suspicious. “Apparently dad’s new girlfriend is a real peach. Dawn can’t wait to come home.”

“That bad, eh?” Spike chuckled.

~~~

Willow blew out a lungful of breath, directing it at the dusty cover of the spell book in her hands. The book itself was large and weathered, the crackling of the pages and the delicacy of the spine giving away its age. It had definitely seen better days.

Ever since the ‘almost’ battle with Glory, Giles had been gathering as many texts with any relation to inter-dimensional travel and transportation as possible. “Just because the threat of Glorificus is no longer an issue, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen again.”

Somehow, Willow had been delegated the task of cataloguing these new texts.

Forgoing opening another box at present, the witch placed the delicate volume on a shelf that would become its new home. Brushing dust from her clothing, Willow stood up before making her way to the ladder, descending from the loft and down into the shop proper.

“Hey, guys,” she greeted cheerily as she joined Buffy and Spike at the table. “Are we looking forward to tonight?”

Spike frowned, puzzled by the question. “Tonight?”

Willow’s jaw gaped slightly when she realized she must have let the cat out of the bag about the evening’s plans. “Oh,” she mumbled, shooting an apologetic glance in Buffy’s direction. “Was I not supposed to…?”

Spike’s stare narrowed with suspicion as he turned to Buffy for answers.

“No, Will. It’s cool. I just didn’t get around to telling him yet.”

“Telling me what?” Spike demanded.

“About the party tonight,” Buffy filled in. “Actually, I wasn’t sure that you would even want to go.”

“And why’s that, pet?”

“It’s just a college party, at one of the frat houses. The --”

“I’m in,” Spike interrupted.

Both Willow and Buffy blinked in surprise at the sharp tone of the vampire’s voice. “Oh-kay,” Buffy replied with a curious look.

“You’re goin’ to a party, where there’ll be drinkin’ and frat boys and god knows what else, and you didn’t think I’d be interested?” Spike scoffed.

Willow had to stifle the giggle that wanted to escape her lips. It looked like someone had a case of the green-eyed monster. He was getting all jealous just thinking about other guys being around Buffy at a party. For a moment Willow wondered if it were such a good idea for Spike to come with them this evening, before shrugging it off. Spike was one of the good guys now, and she suspected that even if he were chip-less now he wouldn’t go back to killing and feeding from humans.

“Are we meeting at your place?” Willow asked.

Buffy nodded in response, tucking her arm through Spike’s and leaning her head against his shoulder. She too had not missed the possessive tone in Spike’s words, and she couldn’t deny that she liked this protective side of him. He was always going to be there, watching out for her and making sure she was okay. But unlike with her past boyfriends, it wasn’t because he thought she couldn’t take care of herself. Spike had faith in her abilities, and in her, and that meant a lot to Buffy.

“Seven o’clock,” Buffy answered.

“See you then!”

Spike paid little attention to the witch as she walked away, his focus fully on the blonde currently attached to his arm. “Were you even going to tell me?” he asked slowly, trying to hide his concern.

Although he had her, Spike couldn’t easily ignore the persistent little niggle of worry at the back of his mind. The thought that someday another guy could just sweep in and snatch Buffy away from him was enough to make him want to rid the town of any and all male competition. He was insecure. And while the more time he and Buffy were together, the more his insecurities faded, he doubted he would ever be completely worry free when it came to the Slayer. Spike didn’t think he deserved Buffy’s affection, and all the years of coming in second where Drusilla was concerned had taken their toll.

“Of course I was,” Buffy replied gently. “I just… I didn’t even know for sure if I wanted to go. And there was no point getting you all agitated like this at the mere thought of a party if I wasn’t going to go, now was there?”

It made sense, and she was right. He didn’t like thinking of going to the frat party; actually being there was going to be trying.

“Alright,” Spike grumbled.

With a grin Buffy pressed a quick kiss to Spike’s lips before untangling herself from his side. “You, mister, need to head home through the sewers so you can get ready. We’re pretty much done here for today anyway. Why you didn’t just wait till sunset is beyond me.”

“Couldn’t stay away, love,” he replied with a soft smile.

Buffy smiled again, leaning in for another kiss. When it quickly grew with in intensity she had to force herself to move away. “I’ll see you soon.”

Spike nodded, watching her as she turned and walked towards the exit.

Now, time for him to find something clean to wear to this party tonight…

~~~

Sammy sat quietly in a corner, watching the comings and goings of the other vampires in the factory. This Drusilla had quite the gang of lackeys it seemed. And they had all followed the vampiress to Sunnydale with one purpose in mind.

Kill the slayer, and reunite the family.

Family… Nowadays, Toby was the closest thing to family that Sammy had. Not that he was complaining; the other vampire was loyal to a fault, and good company during the long hours of day when sleep would not find them. But having a friend for company was so different to belonging somewhere, to being apart of a family, a line.

The pair of vampires made an unlikely duo, different from the other as night is to day. But one thing they had in common was that their sires had deserted them both. Being here in Sunnydale, seeking out this clan, had not been without reason.

Sammy wanted to belong.

His family in life had cared little about him. Now was his chance to find somewhere to belong, a home, to belong to a vampiric family. And he wanted that more than anything.

Which was why he had agreed to everything that had been asked of him. Drusilla was a vampire that didn’t lack for eager followers. To become part of the gang they had to prove themselves.

Tonight, they were to follow the Slayer, track her movements across town. Drusilla had plans that could not be interrupted, therefore knowledge of the Slayer’s whereabouts was vital. If necessary, he was to distract her. That’s where Toby came in.

Sammy looked towards his lumbering friend, who was currently keeping himself entertained by kicking an empty soda can around, much like a soccer ball. The racket was obviously beginning to bother some of the other demons in the factory, but so long as Drusilla herself made no mention of it, no one dared to pipe up. Wanting to get in the good books of his fellow ‘crewmen’, Sammy called his friend over with a wave of his hand, the other vampire trotting over dutifully.

“Toby, why don’t you get some rest,” he suggested gently. “We’ve got a big night tonight, important jobs to do.”

“Sammy, I want to hunt,” the larger vampire whined petulantly as he kicked the soda can one last time before sitting down with a plunk.

“And hunt you shall. But not yet.” Sammy knew that Toby was eager to hunt, to feed, and to be honest so was he. But they couldn’t give into their hunger at the present moment. Tonight, they had a higher purpose, a job to do. And Sammy was not going to be distracted from it.

“Because it’s daylight, Sam?”

“Yes, Toby, because it’s daylight.” Sammy sighed, shifting his weight on the sofa he was reclining on, trying to find a more comfortable position.

“Daylight burns,” Toby informed seriously, pride stretching across his features.

“Yes.” Sometimes Sammy wondered why he didn’t just tell Toby to shut his mouth. Toby would listen, and it would make things a hell of a lot simpler, but Sammy couldn’t do it. The few times he had grown impatient with his slow friend and had snapped at him, Sammy had regretted it immediately when that sad expression that would cross Toby’s face. Toby looked up to him, not literally of course—the ex-football player was at least a foot taller than he was. No, Toby looked up to Sammy like a small child looked up to their older sibling. Toby respected him, and that was enough to make him bite his tongue when he became frustrated, on most occasions.

“Sleep now, Toby, we’ll hunt later.”

“Yes, Sammy,” Toby nodded obediently, leaning back into the sofa and closing his eyes.

The nod of thanks was all the appreciation Sammy needed, a small smile stretching across his face as he settled down to get some rest himself. In a couple of hours, he would be tailing the Slayer.




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A/N: Hope you like, let me know what you think!