Chapter 12

"Spike, can I have her? Miss Edith wants a tea party."

"Not yet, pet."

Where the bloody hell was she? Nice digs. Trust Dru to cause trouble. At least we might get a bit of cash. Better check the ropes. Let's pat the old woman's hand. Give her a thrill.

"So luv, when's your daughter coming home?"

Pfftt! Course they can't answer you, you bloody pillock!

"Sorry 'bout that, can't answer me if I've got you gagged, can you?"

Try the woman. You've got a way with women, Spike old mate.

"So pet, just let me know, and maybe I'll let you go. If I take this gag off and you scream, I'll snap your neck before you need to take a breath. Got it?"

Understanding . . . good.

"Talk!"

"She's home soon. She have money, lots of money. I promise. She can give to you, yes? Then you let us go?"

"She's lying. The stars are sparkling and twinkling and beating out her lies."

Dru likes pain. Hope the woman doesn't mind scars.

"Please."

Don't plead. Don't wanna hear it. Time to put the gag on. Now stop looking at me.

Dru's stomach. She won't wait.

"Spike I'm hungry. Can't we eat now? I've already had my crumpets. I want dessert!"

Dammit! Dru got me into this sodding mess. What the hell was she thinking, finding the fucking head of an organised crime family and his wife?

"Listen Dru, I want to get something out of this besides the meal. We need funds, pet. Just be patient. Wait for the daughter, we'll get our money, and you'll have your tea."

That's right, play with your dolly, pet. Can't stay mad at my princess for long.

"Oooh, my boy."

Mmmm. This is nice. Let's put the doll down now.

The door.

The daughter.

MMMM. Don't want to . . . What the? Amanda?

"O God."

Can't kill her. But Dru can.

"You've come to play with us?"

"No, I . . ."

Bird speaks English. Real scared. Alright Spike. Not gonna bollocks this one up. Remember the cash mate.

"Glad you could join us, pet. Have a seat."

Better tie her up.

"And don't think about screaming luv, cause if you do, I'll kill them."

What's wrong? My hands . . . Pull it together. Dru sees. She knows. Bloody hell.

Snap.

Bloody hell, the girl's screaming now. Smack. Hit her hard.

"Be. Quiet."

Dru. Drinking already. Couldn't wait, could you? Now it's all gone to hell. She's gonna kill both of them, then the girl. I'm getting soft. Pitiful. Oh well. Untie her.

"Get out. Go."

What? Don't wanna leave? Oh, it's your . . .

Snap.

Not anymore.

Shrug. Smile.

"Sorry. These things happen."

"You will pay for this."

She means it. Gotta hand it to her. Most girls would be hysterical after seein' all that. "We'll be leaving now, pet."

Grab Dru's hand.

"Sorry 'bout the mess. C'mon Dru. We've overstayed our welcome."

Jump out the window. Good, it's not too far. Sun's down. Didn't really feel like being a torch.

Run. Fast.

***

The memories--Spike's memories--flooded Buffy's mind as Lena told the horrible story. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she was forced to remember what Spike had been. What could she say to this woman who had lost everything?

"I'm so sorry."

"You see. I must kill him."

Buffy ignored her declaration. "So you were the ones who . . . hurt Drusilla?"

"Yes, my family has some very . . . significant . . . connections. Nevertheless, they were not completely successful. She escaped with her life, but at least her powers were diminished."

Buffy nodded. "When I first met her, she was pretty sick. Sicker than usual, I mean. Unfortunately, she's back to her old self again."

"I have not been able to locate her. Do you know where she is?"

"I have no idea. Last time I saw her . . . well let's just say it was under less than pleasant circumstances. I don't think she'll be coming back to town anytime soon."

Lena considered Buffy. "You will help me kill him?"

Buffy took her hand. "Lena, I know you can't begin to understand what I'm going to tell you, but . . ."

"She can't kill him."

"Dawn?"

Lena faced the young girl, eyes blazing. "Who are you?"

"I'm Spike's friend."

"You're a friend of that monster? I don't believe it."

"Dawn, go to bed. This doesn't concern you."

"I think it does." Dawn had heard voices and had been eavesdropping for the past few minutes. A handy habit she'd picked up when everyone was trying to hide her keyness. "I didn't hear the whole thing, but I know Spike did something bad to you. But he's not like that anymore. He hasn't been able to hurt anyone for a long time. He's got a chip. And he's protected me and taken care of me and I know he's done horrible things, but he's really changed."

Lena's face drained of colour. "How can you say that? Things like him don't change. He is evil. He helped kill my parents."

Dawn felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. She'd missed that part.

Buffy put her arm around Lena. "If he'd done that to me, I'd want to kill him too."

"Buffy!" Dawn shot a panicked look at her sister.

"Dawn, can you imagine how you'd feel about Spike if he'd contributed to our mother's death?" Dawn's face turned ashen, and she sank down onto the stairs. "Lena deserves more than our words. She deserves to face him. And Spike needs to face her." Impetuously she gave her sister a hug.

Dawn nodded. "I just can't believe he did that."

"I can. I have his memories Dawn. For you it's easy to forget what he was. Even I forget sometimes."

Buffy sighed. This was going to be a long night. "Come on Lena. I'll take you to him. But there's one condition. I won't let you kill him."

Lena looked incredulously at Buffy. "What kind of Slayer are you? You befriend that which you should kill?"

Buffy smiled wanly. "You don't know the half of it."

Buffy and Lena stepped outside.

Dawn watched the door close and began to cry.

***

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

One, two, three, four. Infinity.

I love thee to the depth

Yeah baby, I can get pretty low.

and breadth and height
My soul can reach,

Well, don't have a soul, but what the hell!

when feeling out of sight

That's what the glasses are for, mate. Ha!

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun

Not by sun! No bloody way!

and candlelight.

Much better. Candles. Romance. Potential shagging.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I've never done much of that striving for right business, but hey, you're reforming me.

I love thee purely,

As if. Not bloody likely.

as they turn from Praise.

I always like a bit of Praise myself. Especially if it involves, well . . .

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --I love thee with the breath,

Don't have much of that, being undead and all.

Smiles, tears, of all my life! --and, if God choose,

Don't think God really cares about me that much.

I shall but love thee better after death.

I do you know.

Spike adjusted his reading glasses and turned the page. He had felt positively giddy when he'd left the Summers' home that evening. His Slayer had more and better powers to keep her and the Niblet nice and safe. He'd said he loved her and she hadn't punched him. And she'd kissed him! Sure it was only on the cheek but hey, it was a start, and her not playing kick the Spike was definitely progress, well, from a certain perspective anyway and . . .

Now he was reading poetry. Next thing you know he'd be writing the bloody stuff again. God, he was turning into a wanker. Reading Browning. Sad William. Really sad.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Buffy? Knocking? Since when? Hmmm. Maybe she'd decided to come and do some serious snogging. Yeah, her resistance was crumbling. He could sense it.

Eagerly he made his way to the door.

"Buffy!" he smiled.

"Spike?" Buffy looked puzzled.

Oh, the glasses. Quickly Spike removed them, embarrassed. "Was just doing a bit of reading and . . ."

"Nevermind. It's not important." Buffy's voice was flat. She was upset.

Then he saw her.

That bird from Prague. Bloody hell.

End of Part Twelve

Continue to Part 13

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