Someone to Watch Over Me: Part 2
by Swa
Disclaimer: I'm a college student. All I own is a pack of Ramen noodles. I don't own Buffy, Roswell, Dawson's Creek, Wheaties or any other trademark mentioned in the story.
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Part Two
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Before she knew it, Buffy was flat on her back. She had been fighting Spike for over twenty minutes and frankly, she was getting tired. Every time she was about to stake him, something would keep her from doing it. Sometimes a pain in her head, sometimes a muscle spasm…too many different reasons to decipher between. Every time she would get up a little more tired than the time before. However, Spike’s stamina and strength seemed the same. She used every ounce of strength, but it was no use. A kick to the head, a punch to the face, even a “money” shot didn’t even phase him. She finally got the upper hand when Spike had tripped over a half sunken in head stone. She was making her approach when she heard a voice that did not belong to Spike.
“I don’t think so.”
The next thing she knew she was blind-sided by something very big and hard. She could instantly feel the blood start to run down her face where the object had made its blow on her forehead. She felt dizzy and started to hear the buzzing… buzzing… buzzing…
“Buffy, turn your alarm off!” Willow shouted. “This is my only day to sleep in, and I would actually like to, so turn it off.”
“Sorry Wil, I was just…”
“Dreaming?” Willow sat up. “Did you have that dream again?” She was now fully awake and awaiting an answer.
“Yeah, but this time it was a bit different.”
“How so?”
“Ah, nevermind…it’s nothing. I’ve got to get to class. Don’t forget we’re meeting Xander and Anya for lunch today. Ok? Now, try to go back to sleep.” Having already put her head back on her pillow, Willow released one final sentence before taking the slayer up on her suggestion.
“Already done.”
* * *
Anya and Xander had just made their entrance onto the Sunnydale U campus. They were headed for their weekly lunch with Buffy, Willow, and Oz. However, the trio was now down to two with the recent departure of Oz. Anya took any moment of silence as a chance to voice her opinions about how Xander treated her. “Why is it whenever I’m talking you never want to listen to me?” Anya was losing her patience with this mortal boy. She couldn’t control her attraction to him nor the feelings she felt in her heart. She had never known these emotions before, but when Dehaphron had turned her into a “normal” teenager, she got the whole package.
“Because if I have to hear one more story about the blinding torment you caused those who share my gender, or how you castrated some poor guy just because he looked at another girl…I swear I’m gonna yak up my frappaccino.” Xander couldn’t understand his attraction to Anya either. She had inflicted hundreds of torments on countless men in her days as a vengeance demon…but for some reason he cared for her.
“Well, that’s all I know about…I’ve only been at this “girl” thing for a little while. I don’t know what else to talk about.”
“Let’s talk about how Xander’s never going to have his testicles set on fire if we ever happen to break up…can we talk about how relieved I am about the fact that you don’t have powers anymore?”
Anya realized it was time to change the subject. “Well, how’s the job search coming? Any prospects?”
“It’s about as good as can be expected.” Xander replied, knowing this wouldn’t make Anya happy in the least bit.
“Well, I hope you find something soon. I’m tired our dates consisting of me coming down to the basement and eating your family left overs’. If I have to be a real girl, I should at least be treated like one.”
“If you start acting like a real girl, does that mean I’m not getting any until I get a job.” Anya couldn’t help but let a smirk form across her face.
“Yep, if I were you I’d start looking real hard.”
They were close to the dining hall. Xander hated paying six bucks just to eat college cafeteria food every Friday, but he knew it was for the good of the group. He didn’t mind being the only original Scooby Gang member who wasn’t attending college, but he knew that the group had to stay together no matter what. He hated to admit it, but he was completely vulnerable without his two best buds. He would do what must be done to keep them all together. Xander and Anya spotted Buffy and Willow at their usual table in the cafeteria. They headed over and sat down.
“Ladies…you’re looking academically engrossed as usual. How was class?” Buffy looked up and gave her usual answer every time Xander asked that question. She never saw any reason in going into great details with Xander about all the interesting things they had learned in class. She knew that it would only make Xander feel even more left out then he already did.
“It was good. How’s life in the land of monogamy?” Anya wouldn’t give Xander the chance to answer this one.
“Fine if you don’t mind eating left over pizza and then being begged for sex only to be left unsatisfied and then have to listen to the limp body next to you grind his teeth all night long.”
Xander could feel the red filling his face as Anya said the words. “Ok, welcome to ‘Let’s Embarrass Xander’ Anya’s in the lead with 2000 points.” Willow hadn’t had feelings for Xander for quite some time, but she still couldn’t stand to see her best friend uncomfortable, so she took this opportunity to gear things in a different direction.
“Buffy had a dream.”
“Well, that was subtle Wil.” Buffy knew that Willow wouldn’t be able to resist. She was actually surprised that she had lasted this long.
“A dream…the world ending again? Cause if it is, I could just stop the job search right now and live my last days the way I always wanted…in my favorite pair of boxers, in my orange recliner, with a remote in my hand and not a care in the world.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that you’ll want to meet your maker in a pair of skid mark stained Snoopy boxers.” Anya knew that one would hit home, but he deserved it…he didn’t even mention her in his list of last things to do.
Xander felt that one, but he could take this opportunity to move the conversation along. “Well, it now seems that Anya has a commanding lead with 4000 points. So, Buff, what was the dream about? Zombies? Baby sacrificing Demons? Snyder back from the dead?”
“No, I’ll tell you about it on the way to Giles’” Buffy decided to take the lead and proceeded to pick up her book-bag.
“But, when are we going to eat?” Xander could feel his stomach starting to growl
“You can raid Giles’ pantry, I’m sure he has more than left over pizza to offer.” With that Buffy headed out the door. The rest quickly followed and were on their way to Giles’ apartment.
* * *
As, they had been sitting, they were unaware that they were once again being watched. She sat in the corner trying to decipher what this motley crew was discussing. Now that Spike had been detained, there wasn’t much need for her presence in Sunnydale. But, she knew she was to stay until the battle. She knew deep down that she wanted to stay too. After all this time, she couldn’t very well leave him. No, she realized that the only way she would leave is if she….no, she wouldn’t allow herself the think that way. She would have to release Spike and somehow get him to The Mochbor passage way to talk to The Powers That Be. She needed to confirm what she was suspecting. She knew this had to be done, but how could she do it without breaking the sacred code? I’ll figure something out before it’s too late. I have to.
* * *
They had only been there fifteen minutes, but Giles already knew he would need to pay a visit to the grocery store later in the day to compensate for his visitors. Buffy had already begun to tell Giles about her most recent dream. “So, the only basic difference this time is that you heard a female voice before you were knocked down? What did the voice sound like?” Buffy couldn’t quite think about how to describe it, but then it came to her.
“She sounded not too unlike Druscilla…only without that ‘I belong in the funny farm’ edge to it.”
“Hey, I heard that.” Spike wasn’t going to let that one go. He may have been tied up in the bathtub, but he could still hear the conversation out in the living room. Buffy chose to ignore him this time…the dream was more important.
“She was English and fairly young…I’d say mid 20’s or so.”
“So, do we start with the researching?” Xander was hoping for a “yes.” This was the only thing he usually was able to offer the group.
“Well, I wouldn’t really know where to start. This sounds like a normal run of the mill kind of dream. I suppose we could check the lunar cycle to see if anything is expected in the way of a prophecy right now. I can call some friends on the council and see if they know about anything.” That wasn’t the answer Buffy was hoping for, but she accepted Giles’ answer anyway.
“Alright, I guess I’ll just patrol as usual tonight. You guys have fun, I’ve got some homework I want to get done before the weekend.” With that said, Buffy was on her way back to campus. Giles went into to full watcher mode by saying,
“Ok, Willow, Xander, and Anya why don’t we get to work, that way we can take a dinner break around night fall.”
“Does that mean you’re buying dinner?” Xander was starting to like this idea.
“We’ll see…as long as it’s a McDonald’s dinner break…maybe.” Giles hoped that would suffice his team of crack researchers.
“Oohh, McD’s…I’ve been dying to try the new McBurglar slide they have in the play center.” Xander was almost giddy with excitement.
“Yes, yes, that’s grand, now let’s get to work.” Giles said putting himself back in the position of leader.
* * *
She had heard the plan from outside the apartment. She chuckled to herself. Englishmen and their fascination with leaving windows open…it’s like he’s inviting me to hear everything he’s saying. Night fall would work out just spledidly. She knew she didn’t have much time to work a conceivable plan, but she had just been handed the only opportunity she would have, so she knew that any plan would have to do. She went over it time and again. Do what you have to do just as long as he doesn’t see you. Yes, William, soon we will see just how much time we both have left here in Sunnydale.
* * *
Spike would never admit it, but he hated when they left him alone in the apartment. “How long are you going to be gone.” He yelled from the bathroom.
“We’re only going to dinner, don’t be such a whiner.” Giles said as the gang headed out the door.
“Wait, can’t you at least turn on the tellie?” Spike was mad…Roswell would be on soon and he simply had to see if Max and Liz were going to actually kiss this week or if the previews were only a clever plow to get him to watch yet again. “Humans, and they think we’re cruel?” It had only been a few minutes when Spike heard the front door open. “Did we forget Xander’s car seat?…Giles?….Hello?” No one answered, but he heard a steady set of footprints. “Ok, if you’re trying to rob the place…take a good look around and realize what kind of apartment you’re in.” “Hey, if you’re going to take the old man’s stuff, the least you could do is untie me…I’m in the bathtub…come on.” Nothing…only footsteps. She was stealth in her approach…she knew she couldn’t let him see her. That was forbidden. She had taken care in wearing a black ski mask. She caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror and found it humorous how much of a criminal she resembled. Spike tried to look up when he heard to footsteps enter the bathroom, but all he saw was the receiving end of a quick punch to the temple.
“Sorry William.”
It didn’t take her long to get the restraints off. She knew she would have to hurry. She wasn’t sure how long the group would be, or how long Spike would remain unconscious. She quickly carried him out of the apartment and was on her way to her car. She binded Spike’s hands and feet and put the mask she once donned on his head. That would do until she could get him to The Mochbor passage way. They were off…headed toward their inevitable fate.
* * *
Xander was the first through the door, but didn’t even take notice that it was unlocked. He was still eating his ice cream cone and was headed for the paper towels to clean up what had melted in the car. Willow, and Anya were right behind him. Giles was still locking up the car and getting his mail.
“Xander, how did you get in?” Willow picked up on the unlocked door immediately.
“I just opened it.” Xander didn’t quite get what she was leading to. Willow had barely let him finish before she was in the bathroom. Giles walked in with a most peculiar look on his face…he didn’t remember giving Xander his house key so the gang could get in. Willow bolted out of the bathroom…
“Spike’s gone!”
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