It was mere moments before dawn when Spike returned, a reddish glow on the horizon threatening to rise into a beaming ball of light.
Spike had cut it a little finer than usual, not wanting to return to his home, tainted by the sleeping Slayer. It had felt good to be out in the night. Under the dark sky he could almost pretend to himself that the thoughts he was having were evil.
He didn’t have to admit to anyone that he was worried... Scared for the Slayer.
She was still asleep on his bed when Spike returned.
“Oh, if Angel could see me now...” he muttered to himself.
He sat down in his chair, making sure he could see the Slayer from where he sat. She was curled up tight in a ball, barley a bump under the heavy covers.
Her breathing was slow and steady and Spike tried to match it with his own. Exhaling as she did and inhaling moments later.
Her chest rose and fell as she breathed and Spike felt soothed by the gentle motion, eventually dropping off himself, despite his desire to stay awake and watch the Slayer sleep.
The crypt door burst open and Spike woke with a shock as he felt the intense heat charring his skin.
“ARGH!” he yelled as he leapt to his feet and ran to the retreat of his shadows. He took a breath in and turned to face the two angry males.
Xander and Riley both glared at him; both armed with stakes.
“What d’you want?” Spike snapped, grouchy from being woken in such a rude way.
“Seen Buffy?” Riley demanded.
Spike’s head snapped instinctively to the empty bed. Buffy wasn’t there. He turned back slowly.
“Haven’t seen her.” he lied casually. “Why?”
“She walked home from the Bronze alone last night,” said Xander, raising his stake threateningly. “Didn’t make it back. If you’re lying...”
“Please- give me some credit.” Spike scoffed, “I think if I’d have killed the Slayer I would have called the newspaper by now.”
Riley lowered his stake.
“He doesn’t know anything.” he said; convinced.
“About nothing.” Spike agreed.
Xander narrowed his eyes to a glare.
“If you hear anything... See anything...” he said, “Be sure to tell us.”
Spike nodded.
“Run along now,” he added.
The two men swept their eyes around the modest crypt then simultaneously turned away. Spike crossed his arms, watching them go.
So they thought they could stroll in here and confront the big bad- just because he has a chip in his head? Oh- they didn’t know how wrong they were- they-
“Spike?” he span around to see Buffy emerging from under the bed. He blanched in surprise- assuming she had just slipped out while he slept. He had considered her halfway home by now.
“Slayer?” he asked, “What’re you doing here? Didn’t you hear your friends?”
Buffy nodded, looking down.
“I couldn’t face them just yet... I think it’ll be a while until I can let Riley touch me again.” she embraced herself and look around the empty crypt for some outlet of cold comfort. “Thank you for lying for me.” she added.
Spike shrugged, “Hey- I’m evil,” he said, “Lying’s what I do.” there was a moment of silence that Spike decided to fill, “You know- along with stealing and killing and...” his voice drifted off.
Buffy was staring at him. He stared back at her- not sure of what else to do.
“I take it you don’t wanna go home just yet?” Spike asked. The Slayer shook her head decisively.
“Not yet.” she agreed. “They can’t see me in this state.”
It was the same thing the next day, and the one after that. After a week Spike stopped asking; he already knew the answer. Not ready, never ready.
It was at the end of the second week when Xander and Riley returned. This time Buffy managed to get below the trap door and hid quiet as a little mouse beneath their feet.
“You’ve really heard nothing?” Xander asked; exhausted tears in his eyes.
“Sorry.” said Spike.
“But you’re a vampire,” Riley protested, “You must know- must *hear something*.”
“Sorry.” Spike repeated. “But in case you hadn’t noticed, I haven’t quite been myself recently. Seems the other vampires don’t like a reformed character hanging out with them.”
“You’re not reformed Spike,” Riley said with disgust, “You’re just temporarily stilted.”
Spike ignored him.
“Wish you all the best with your Slayer searching- I really do, but I don’t know jack.” he said. Riley glared at him but Xander shot him a warning look.
“Let’s go Riley.” he said, “There’s nothing here.”
Spike glared after them as they slammed the heavy crypt door.
“Nothing here.” he repeated. “The bloody cheek of it...”
He looked over at Buffy’s head appearing out of the trap door.
“Not ready pet?” he asked.
“Not yet.” she agreed. She struggled to pull herself back into the room and the vampire went over to help her. Offering her his hand and then pulling her back to her feet. He held her in his arms for a brief moment then sighed, reaching to gently brush her hair out of her eyes. It was the third time he had gotten so close to her this week; as the days passed by he was surprised how often he hoped that Buffy would never be ready to leave.
“You know what?” he asked. Buffy looked at him wonderingly. “I think it’s time” he continued. “Time you started slaying again.”
Buffy closed her eyes.
“I don’t know if I-”
“Oh come on Slayer- you don’t fool me. I see you weakening. You need to be out there fighting- love.”
She looked up at him, surprised by his use of the word. Slowly she nodded.
“You’re right- of course you’re right.” she agreed. Fairly conscious of the fact that he was still holding onto her.
He let her go slowly, not really wanting to at all... For some reason.
“Tonight.” he promised.
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
