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Temptation Waits

One

There was no aspirin.
 
 Willow had looked. She had combed over the whole dorm room, looked under
 everything, in drawers and cabinets... everywhere. The fact the room had
been half
 trashed by Buffy... well the semi cavewoman Buffy. Anyhow, she doubted
they
even had
 any left. There were only two alternatives. One, she could go knock on a
dorm room and
 see if anyone else had any. Unfortunately, it was three A.M. and she ran
the
risk of
 waking people up, and Willow was not in the mood to do that. Her other
choice was to go
 to a drug store, but she didn’t want to do that either. To be honest,
going
anywhere was
 not a good idea. That would mean leaving Buffy alone and she couldn’t do
that while she
 was still in the state she was.
 
 Speaking of Buffy, Willow apparently had woken her up in her rummaging.
 
 “Friend,” Buffy said, looking up through her still mussed hair.
 
 Willow turned around. “Oh, Buffy, you’re awake.”
 
 Buffy pulled herself off the bed and walked slowly to Willow. “Willow lay
down. Willow
 hurt.”
 
 “I’m fine. Willow is okay,” Willow said. She couldn’t help but to suppress
a
giggle. This
 was so bizarre, it was like talking to a child.
 
 A child who could bend a rifle in half.
 
 “Willow hurt head. Willow lay down, go to sleep.”
 
 Buffy then took Willow by the hand and pulled her back to her bed. After
she
was
 confident Willow wouldn’t go anywhere, she decided to sit on the corner
and
watch.
 
 “Aren’t you going to sleep? Remember... Buffy tired?” Willow asked.
 
 The blond shook her head. “Not tired.” She pointed at the TV. “People.
Want
people.
 Friend make people come back?”
 
 Willow got back off the bed and walked to the TV turning it on. Buffy
immediately
 hopped down and peered closer at the TV. “People!” she said happily.
 
 That would keep her busy while she went back to sleep to make the headache
go away.
 She also would rather be unconscious. All sorts of unhappy thoughts were
running
 through her head. Mostly ones of Oz... and Veruca. While she was laying on
the floor
 surrounded by cavemen in a burning building, Oz was off somewhere
with...her.
 
 Willow had been in deep thought when she took notice of Buffy looking at
her
again.
 “What’s wrong, Buffy?” Willow asked.
 
 “What’s wrong?” Funny. It sounded like she was just mirroring her own
speech, but
 beneath it, she could hear genuine concern. The real Buffy was coming back
and could
 see something was bothering her.
 
 “Veruca.. Oz... It’s complicated. I don’t know. You probably still can’t
understand me,
 but I’m scared. I think I might be losing him.. The way he’s looking at
her,
it’s the way he
 would look at me. Now, I just realized he hasn’t looked at me like that
since... since..”
 Her eyes blurred. It took her a few moments to grasp that tears had sprung
up in her eyes.
 
 Buffy’s expression changed to one of sympathy. She got up off the floor
and
picked up
 her stick.
 
 “Veruca bad.”
 
 “No,” Willow said, remembering how she had struck Parker. “No hitting.”
 
 Buffy looked from Willow to the stick. “Veruca bad,” she argued.
 
 “She is, but no hitting.” Willow paused. “Not yet at least.”
 
 Buffy didn’t look happy, but she put her stick down. Willow couldn’t help
but to smile. It
 was nice to have a friend who was willing to do such things, at least in
spirit.
 
 “Okay,” Buffy said. then she walked over to the bed and sat down next to
Willow and
 hugged her tight. “Friend no be sad. Buffy no like it.”
 
 Willow smiled again, feeling more tears, but happy ones. “Willow no be
sad.”
 
 “Good.”
 
 Buffy kept hugging her for a long time. Willow tried to move, but found
the
lock a little
 too tight.
 
 “Buffy?”
 
 She listened for a response, but only heard soft breathing. The Slayer had
fallen asleep.
 
 *****
 
 Traffic sucked.
 
 More than usual, especially for this time of night. Spike growled and laid
his hand down
 on the horn hard.
 
 “Bloody hell,” he cursed.
 
 What was the hold up? There was no reason the expressway should be this
clogged at five
 in the morning. He was hoping he would be back in Sunnyhell by now. Then
he
could go
 some place a little more comfortable to wait until nightfall. Instead now
he
was going to
 be trapped inside the car.
 
 He lit up another cigarette. That was the other reason he wanted to be
back
by now. He
 was down to his last pack. It would be very hard to get another batch in
the
day. Oh sure,
 he could do it, it would just be harder. That pissed him off. He wasn’t
feeling very patient
 as of late. Oh sure, he could bide his time just as well as the next
bloke,
but he had
 experienced a number of big disappointments in the past few days. His
patience has worn
 thin.
 
 However, the thought of her calmed him. The image of her red hair blowing
in
the night
 air sent a delightful shiver through him.
 
 Spike sat back in his seat, feeling a little mellowed by the picture. Her
hair was so soft, so
 fine. He still remembered the texture when he tucked it behind her ear
back
in the factory.
 He would be feeling it again soon. One time wasn’t nearly enough.
 
 He wondered what she was doing right now. Probably sleeping in her dorm
room
with the
 Slayer close by. She was probably tired from a day of college and an
evening
at some
 club. In all likelihood, she had spent the evening with the wolf.
 
 A flash of anger shot through him and he felt his true face rise. He would
have to be dealt
 with. Spike was not one who liked to share.
 
 He drew in a sharp intake of air, even though he didn’t need it. He would
have to be
 careful. the Slayer and the wolf would stand in his way. The direct
approach
may not
 work. He was going to have to play this cool and slow.
 
 Unless of course, he got bored, as he often did.
 
 He smiled and allowed his human face to return. He turned up the radio and
sat back,
 singing along.
 
 “Someone tell me why, I act like a fool when things don’t go my way...
When
you’re
 around me, I’m somebody else...”
 
 He smiled again.
 
 Soon, Red.
 
 Two
 
 “My head, ow.”
 
 Willow’s eyes fluttered open at the sound beside her. There was Buffy,
half
sitting up,
 rubbing her temples.
 
 “Why do I learn everything the hard way? First Angel and premarital.. you
know, and
 then he goes all evil. First time I get drunk...”
 
 Willow sat up, too. “Well, at least you learned something.”
 
 “True, but does it have to suck so bad each time?” Buffy wondered aloud.
 
 “It’s not fair,” Willow agreed.
 
 Buffy got up, stretching her muscles. Then she looked over at the wall.
“Oh
God, did I do
 that? I’m so sorry, Wills.”
 
 “It wasn’t your fault, Buffy. You were under influence.. extra bad
influence.”
 
 “Yeah, I sure was. So what was in the beer that did this?” Buffy asked,
gathering up some
 clothes for the day.
 
 “Xander said that the guy he worked for had a curse put on the beer.
Apparently the guy
 was real bitter about smart college kids.”
 
 Buffy pressed her lips together in a thin line. “Remind me to have a chat
with the bar
 tender later.”
 
 “You’re not going to hit him with a stick, are ya Buff?” Willow asked,
grinning.
 
 “No, but I may hit him with other... Stick? What do you mean st... oh my.
God, I hit him
 twice. I smacked Parker with a stick twice!” Buffy said, feeling her face
flush red.
 
 Willow grinned some more. “Personally, I would have hit him three times.”
 
 “And kicked a few times where it hurt,” Buffy added, feeling a fresh batch
of the giggles
 come on.
 
 “And let’s not forget throwing spitballs at the back of his head, we can
still do that!”
 Willow said, perhaps a little too eagerly.
 
 Buffy stepped into the bathroom, still talking while she changed. “I think
you have it in
 for him a little bit more than I did.”
 
 “Well, it’s the best friend’s job. Sacred duty, yadda yadda yadda.”
 
 “I appreciate it,” Buffy said, coming out while brushing her hair.
 
 “Well good,” Willow said, putting her Pleased Face on. “That means I’m
doing
my job.
 Do I get a gold star?”
 
 “How about I share my Fritos with you at lunch?”
 
 Willow hopped up, already dressed. “That’s good, too.”
 
 “Come on. Even if my head is screaming, we still got to go to class. I
think
the professor
 is out to get me.”
 
 Willow pulled the door shut behind them. “Oh she’s out to get everyone.
Besides, if we
 don’t go, we won’t get to throw spitballs at Parker!”
 
 “Willow, let it go.”
 
 ***
 
 Three hours later found the Scooby gang and their Slayer sitting at the
lunch table.
 Willow was happily munching away on the Fritos promised by Buffy. Every
now
and
 then, Xander reached across the table, pilfering one or two.
 
 Willow slapped his hand lightly. “My Fritos. I earned them.”
 
 Oz sat back nodding. “She fought the battle. The Fritos are the spoils.”
 
 “I suppose you want one?” Willow asked.
 
 Oz nodded. “Yep.”
 
 Willow happily picked one up and placed it on his tongue.
 
 “Thank you.”
 
 Xander just stared. “Must you torture me through snack food, Willow? What
did I do to
 deserve such punishment?”
 
 “Xander, I thought chocolate was your drug of choice?” Buffy asked.
 
 “It is, but... Fritos!”
 
 “Here,” Buffy said, casually tossing a Ho-Ho his way. Xander caught it
with
undisguised
 glee.
 
 “Buffy, you are my god.”
 
 “Blasphemer,” Oz said.
 
 “So how are you feeling, Buff? Better today?” Xander asked, happily
chewing
his
 chocolate.”
 
 Buffy nodded. “I can form sentences and no longer have the urge for beer..
no matter how
 foamy. By the way, I plan to have a talk with your boss later.”
 
 Xander shook his head. “Not my boss anymore. Something about working for a
guy
 cursing food products didn’t sit well with me. Besides, my days of townie
boy are soon to
 be over.”
 
 “How so?” Willow asked.
 
 “I decided to apply here after all, and when I’m accepted for next
semester,
I’m going to
 take out a loan. I miss you guys and taking odd jobs is a pretty much a
ticket for
 nowheresville.”
 
 “Good for you, Xander,” Willow said, genuinely pleased.
 
 “Yep, go you,” Buffy agreed.
 
 Just then Parker walked by. He looked at Buffy once, rubbed the back of
his
head once,
 then passed on.
 
 “I think you put the fear of God into that boy,” Xander said.
 
 “Good,” Willow said.
 
 “I wonder if he knows he has spitballs on the back of his head. Know
anything about that
 Willow?” Buffy asked, looking her right in the eye.
 
 Willow only shrugged and ate another Frito.
 
 ***
 
 Spike was hungry.
 
 He paced back and forth at the mouth of a tunnel, just a hair’s space away
from the light
 of day. He could almost taste the tang of blood on his tongue.
 
 There was still quite aways to go until nightfall seeing as how it was
only
noon. He would
 have to wait.
 
 Noon. Lunch time for humans. He imagined his Red was sitting at a table
with
the
 despicable Slayer at the two strange boys. She was probably enjoying her
meal.
 
 Vaguely, he wondered what she would taste like when the time came.
 
 He would find out soon enough.
 
 Until then, he would have to wait.
 
 So he paced more.
 
 ***
 
 “Are you sure this is the smartest thing to do, Buffy?” Willow asked,
following Buffy
 through the maze of people leading to the bar.
 
 “Yes, Willow. And for the last time, I’m not doing this cause I’m mad...
Well, I am and
 that’s helping, I think, but it has to be done. What he did hurt people,
and
he might be
 hurt more. I would be slacking off as the Slayer if I didn’t do
something.”
 
 Willow nodded. She was right.
 
 “Are those guys okay?” Willow asked.
 
 “Yeah,” Buffy said, biting her lip. “Dazed for the most part. But one of
them got hit by a
 car and is pretty bad shape.” She paused. “You don’t have to come with me.
If he gets
 stubborn, well, things might get really ugly.”
 
 “I don’t mind. I’m moral support.”
 
 “And I feel the support, but wouldn’t you rather be with Oz right now, I
mean... you
 know.”
 
 Willow felt her good mood falter. “He went to see Veruca’s band again. I
didn’t want to
 go, I don’t like her... and Oz knows it.”
 
 “Maybe there’s something going on here we don’t know about,” Buffy
offered.
 
 “I hope to God not!” Willow said sharply.
 
 “That’s not what I meant. Maybe its something else... a wolf thing. Maybe
he’s in...”
 
 “If he was, it would be with me,” Willow said bitterly. “Well, it should
be.”
 
 Buffy could tell her mission to make Willow feel better was failing
miserably. “Well,
 maybe later we could look up wolf things. Maybe I’m right.”
 
 “Or maybe Oz is just being a stupid jerk,” Willow said.
 
 “Or that,” Buffy said, glumly. The two walked into the bar. “You might
want
to wait here,
 Will. I am suddenly feeling not so.. logical. I’m thinking head banging
into
the counter as
 an approach.”
 
 “Gotcha,” Willow said. “I’ll wait here.
 
 She watched as Buffy made a bee line for the counter. the smart thing to
do
would be to
 wait until there was less people around or when he was alone, but the
Slyer
was very
 unhappy. You don’t make the Slayer unhappy.
 
 “Willow?”
 
 Willow turned around to see Riley Finn looking at her.
 
 “Oh, hi Riley. What’s up?”
 
 The T.A. smiled. “I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute,
outside... about
 Buffy?”
 
 “Sure.” Willow allowed him to lead her outside. It probably would be
better
to get him
 outside. He would really wonder about Buffy’s sanity if he saw her
pummeling
the
 bartender.
 
 She leaned against the wall outside. “So,” she asked. “What’s up?”
 
 “Buffy has been acting kind of funny. Is she alright?” Riley asked.
 
 Willow thought quickly for a reply and came up with quite the honest one.
“She’s been
 under alot of pressure and had some people problems. She sorted them out
last night so
 now she’s cool.”
 
 “That’s good. I was kind of concerned about her. She.. She strikes me as a
nice girl.”
 
 Willow could already see where this was going, and she was very pleased
with
it. “She is.
 She cares alot about other people.”
 
 They were temporarily interrupted by the sound of breaking glass and the
sound of Jack’s
 begging.
 
 “I heard she rescued people froma burning building last night. That was
pretty
 incredible.”
 
 “Well, that’s her thing. She was voted Class Protector in high school. No
joke.”
 
 “Wow,” Riley said. “So Willow, I was wondering if you could tell me...”
 
 But Riley didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence. A hand reached out
and threw him
 against the wall. He tried to recover, but before he could even get back
up
on his feet, the
 figure came down on him again, this time picking him up by the neck and
flinging him
 into some nearby bushes.
 
 All it happened so fast. Willow could barely see what was happening.
 
 Then it all stopped and a familiar bleached blond head turned her way.
 
 “Hello cutie,” Spike said.
 
 Three
 
 Willow backed up a few steps, but for each step in reverse, Spike matched.
 
 “No hello for your old pal, Spike?”  he asked with that familiar smirk on
his face.
 
 Slowly, Willow continued on her backwards journey until she hit a wall.
Not
good, she
 thought. Solid objects made escape very difficult, even if she didn have a
chance. If Spike
 was amped about getting her into a corner, he would, not matter how fast
she
ran.
 
 “Um, hello,” she said nervously.
 
 “There, that’s better. I don’t think that was too difficult, do you?”
Spike
said, still
 walking forward. He paused. “You cut your hair.”
 
 All Willow did was nod.
 
 “It suits you, pet. Very becoming.”
 
 Willow glanced down. Riley was in a heap besides a trash can. He was still
breathing
 which was a very good thing, but she did not like the amount of blood
seeping out from
 beneath his head.
 
 Spike followed her gaze. With a small laugh, he gestured towards her
fallen
comrade. “I
 wouldn’t worry about him. Just a nasty knock to the head. He’ll be alright
come
 morning... provided I’m still in a good mood.”
 
 “Oh,” was all Willow managed to say. Silently, she cursed herself. Oh. Was
that the best
 she could do? She was face to face with a  vampire! Not just any vampire
either... One
 who had nearly killed a number of them on numerous occasions and even
kidnapped her.
 The whole “bottle in face” scenario still was in the recesses of her mind.
 
 “Why are you here?” she asked suddenly.
 
 He grinned again.
 
 “A very good question. And as luck would have it, I have a very good
answer.
The reason
 I am here is simply you.”
 
 “Me?” she squeaked.
 
 He took another step forward. Now he was close enough to touch and then
some. If he
 breathed, she would have felt his exhalations on her face.
 
 She did feel the sigh he gave.
 
 “Is it that hard for you to believe, luv?” he asked.
 
 Willow looked to the side for help. Where was Buffy? Was she still in the
bar “dealing”
 with that bartender?
 
 She felt a cool hand touch her face and turn it in the opposite direction.
 
 “I’m talking to you, ducks. Is it that hard to believe?” he asked again.
 
 “What about Harmony?” Willow blurted. She cringed at the sharp laugh.
 
 “Her? Please. I’ll be honest... I have no idea what in the HELL I was
doing
with that
 thing. Maybe I was just jealous, seeing people having someone else....
knowing Dru was
 off shagging a fungus demon somewhere... That and I got very drunk one
night
near San
 Diego... It’s actually a very funny story... But I digress. the point is
that she was nothing.”
 
 “I’m sorry to hear it didn’t work out,” Willow offered, looking for an
escape. “Now if
 you’ll excuse me, I’m supposed to be meeting Oz...”
 
 He placed a hand on either side of her, effectively trapping her.
 
 “Willow.” He paused. Even her name sounded so smooth, almost like silk.
“Be
honest
 now. Did you really want to go to that gig at the Bronze and see him drool
over the harlot
 on stage. That woman is a dog in heat.. and I mean that literally...” He
face fell, suddenly
 becoming sympathetic. One hand cupped her face. “You can do better.”
 
 Willow was afraid. Through alot of mental effort, she managed to raise her
hand high
 enough to pull his hand off her cheek.
 
 “I don’t want to do better.”
 
 He grinned. “You will. Did you know you have been in the corner of my mind
since I
 came back here last year?”
 
 Not good, Willow thought. This was not a good thing. Where the hell was
Buffy?
 
 In a quick breakdown of nerves, Willow moved forward.
 
 She made it all of about three steps before two very strong hands took her
arms and
 pulled her back.
 
 She kicked as she was lifted slightly off her feet. “Let... go!” she
cried.
 
 “I don’t think so, pet. You know, I actually put alot of thought into
this,
but again, I got
 bored. Even with immortality, I’m not good at waiting. We’re leaving now.”
 
 “No kiss goodbye?” came a third voice. Spike turned his head only to have
it
knocked to
 the side by a lead pipe. He let go of Willow who was flung against the
wall.
He looked up
 to see the Slayer standing over him, brandishing the blunt object.
 
 “You just don’t know how to stay gone, do you Spike?” Buffy said, shaking
her head.
 
 Spike let his game face slip on. “What can I say, I like the weather.”
 
 “And getting your ass kicked, apparently.” Buffy brought the pipe down.
 
 Quickly, Spike moved off to the side, narrowly missing getting his skull
smashed in. He
 rolled up to his feet, already in a battle stance. He stepped forward,
kicking the weapon
 out of the Slayer’s hand.
 
 Of course, that wouldn’t stop Buffy. in a instant, her fist was meeting
his
face. He
 returned it by grabbing onto her arm and smashing her into the wall.
 
 “Do you mind?” Spike said, growling and pushing her hard against the
bricks.
“I was
 trying to have a conversation. I don’t like interruptions.”
 
 Just then, Spike was interrupted by a trash can lid being brought down on
his head.
 Behind it stood Riley, still slightly bleeding from the head. Buffy came
up
beside him
 with Willow slowly creeping with her.
 
 Spike was still down on the ground. He shook his head once, shedding his
vampiric
 features. He looked up to Buffy. “This isn’t over, Slayer,” he spat.
 
 He sent a look to Willow with what could only be described as...
 
 ...longing.
 
 Then as quickly as he had appeared, he vanished back into the night.
 
 Buffy let out a choked sigh of relief. that had been awful fast... too
fast.
Something was
 off.
 
 No time to worry about that. She looked at Willow.
 
 “Are you okay?” Buffy asked.
 
 “I’m fine,” Willow said. “Riley...”
 
 Buffy looked over to Riley who was still holding the lid in his hand, but
was close to
 dropping it. He rubbed the back of his head.
 
 “Damn,” Riley breathed. “That hurt.” Then he looked at Buffy. “Are you
okay?
I opened
 my eyes and you were getting thrown into a wall...”
 
 Buffy smiled. “I’m okay. Willow’s okay, but you.. you, Mr. T.A. need to
get
yourself to a
 doctor. You’ve had a nasty knock to  the head.”
 
 Riley shook his head, still hurting. “What was wrong with that guy’s
face?”
 
 “Nothing,” Buffy said a little too quickly. She glared at Willow.
 
 “What? He looked fine to me.. except for the being evil and hurting us
part.
Yup, he was
 completely normal.,” Willow said very quickly.
 
 “Come on,” Buffy said, putting herself underneath Riley’s arm. For a
moment,
she was
 surprised by how right it felt. “We need to get you to a doctor fast.
You’re
seeing things
 now.”
 
 “You might be right,” Riley agreed. He bit back the words “cause I see an
angel.” It
 sounded so cheesy.
 
 Willow didn’t miss the look he gave Buffy and she would be smacking the
Slayer on the
 head if she missed it.
 
 The three slowly walked back into the safety of the stream of people.
 
 Unfortunately, they had eyes on them.

Four
 
 Willow calmly sat on the sofa inside Giles’ house. Well, she was sitting
calmly, but
 mentally she was anything but. Repeatedly, she folded her hands on her lap
while Buffy
 paced back and forth.
 
 “What the hell is he doing back here?” Buffy asked aloud. “Isn’t he tired
of
me smacking
 him around yet?”
 
 “Apparently not,” Oz said, sitting next to Willow. He smiled once at his
girlfriend, trying
 to calm her down. It worked a little bit. She did smile, but it was a
nervous one.
 
 “Let’s get back to the matter at hand,” Giles said, once again playing the
part of the
 grounded one. “What exactly happened?”
 
 Again Willow refolded her hands. “He came out of nowhere. I was talking to
Riley when
 he showed up and tossed him against the wall. And then.. he said.. said he
was back for
 me.”
 
 “For you?” Buffy said, raising a concerned eyebrow. “Why?”
 
 “He said he couldn’t stop thinking about me,” Willow said, biting her lip.
 
 Buffy folded her arms, a worried look painted on her tanned features.
Okay,
what was
 Spike up to this time? Was there some other relic buried under Sunnydale
that he knew
 about and they didn’t. Did he want a spell.
 
 Or worse, did he want pure and simple revenge? After all, what better way
then to start
 messing with her friends?
 
 “Well,” Buffy said. “He better stop and fast. Otherwise he is going to be
carried out of
 Sunnydale in a dustpan.”
 
 Willow felt a pressure on her hand. She turned to see Oz squeezing her
hand.
The look on
 his face was one of comfort, but beneath she could see the wolf. It knew
its
mate was
 being threatened and was not very pleased about it.
 
 “So what’s the plan?” Oz asked. “There is a plan, right?”
 
 “Plan,” Buffy said. it was all happening so fast. She really hadn’t had
time
to think yet.
 “The plan is I’m going out now. I’m going to comb the town, check out the
usual haunts..
 see if I can’t dig up anything. Maybe I’ll pop into Willie’s. It’s a
possibility that he might
 know something.”
 
 “He might be tight lipped. This is Spike we are talking about,”  Giles
added.
 
 “I’ll convince him,” Buffy said, determined.
 
 “Can I go now?” Willow asked. She was tired now. All the action had left
her
close to
 exhaustion.
 
 “No, you’re staying here. You’re not safe at the dorm,” Buffy said.
 
 “But,” Willow started.
 
 “Remember Sunday? Apparently dorms are public places meaning he doesn’t
need
an
 invitation.”
 
 “Oh,” was all Willow managed.
 
 “I’ll stay here,” Oz said.
 
 Willow smiled at him. “Thanks.”
 
 He smiled at her. “I wouldn’t leave you for anything in the world.
Especially not now.”
 
 For the first time all that week, Willow felt a little bit better. In a
weird way, she felt
 grateful to Spike for showing up. At least it distracted Oz from Veruca.
 
 “The couch pulls out and the fridge is full if either of you are hungry,”
Giles said, turning
 to his books while Buffy vanished out the door.
 
 ***
 
 Spike sat in the back seat of his car, his feet propped up against the
front
seats. He had the
 radio on and was calmly puffing away on one of his mentholated smokes.
 
 He grinned.
 
 He touched her and he talked to her. Yes, she had been terrified for the
most part, but he
 had seen her again. Actually, the fear had mesmerized him for a brief
period. Brief
 enough for him to get slapped around by the slayer and the boy.
 
 He felt the demon growl inside. No matter. He would come calling on those
two soon
 enough. He was thirsty for the blood of a slayer again and he would get
it.
Right now
 though, he had priorities. One, find the witch. Two, deal with her.
 
 He smiled again, sinking lower in his seat.
 
 He wondered what she was doing right now. He imagined she was not in her
dorm room,
 probably seeking refuge inside the home of the former watcher, or even the
Slayer’s
 home.
 
 Smart girl if she was. It’s what he would do if he was in her place.
 
 With his foot, he turned up the music.
 
 *Oh I am what I am
 I’ll do what I want
 But I can’t hide
 
 I won’t leave
 I can’t hide
 I can’t breathe
 Until you’re resting here with me
 
 I won’t leave
 I can’t hide
 I cannot be
 Until you’re resting her with me*
 
 He rested his head against the side of the window. This song was fitting,
he
thought. It
 applied to them both. Soon he would rest.
 
 With a redhead beside him.
 
 ***
 
 Forest was getting pissed, but only slightly.
 
 “Damn it,” he said.
 
 All he wanted was a Coke. Just a simple, cold, Coke can, but the vending
machine once
 again had eaten his 75 cents and he was not in the mood to run and get the
key or try and
 find more change.
 
 “Hey,” a voice said behind him. Forest turned to see Riley jogging up.
 
 Forest turned around, a lopsided grin on his face. “Hey man. Would you
believe the
 machine ate my money again?” He quieted when he saw the look on the other
man’s face.
 “Something wrong?”
 
 Riley stopped in front of him.
 
 “We have problems.”
 
 Five
 
 ***
 with one light on in one room, i know you’re up when i get home
 with one small step upon the stair, i know your look when i get there
 if you were a king up there on your throne, would you be wise enough to
let
me go
 for this queen you think you own
 
 wants to be a hunter again, wants to see the world alone again
 to take a chance on life again, so let me go
 ***
 
 Spike paced back and forth underneath the overpass, safe from the rays of
the sun. He
 wasn’t very far from the witch, just a few miles. That fact alone was
driving him to
 madness. He was so very close to her! If he squinted, he could see the
home
of the
 Watcher, no scratch that, former watcher. Well, he may no longer be
employed
by the
 stuffed shirts back in England, but he still did the functions of his old
job.
 
 That included protecting the kin of the Slayer.
 
 Oh, what he wouldn’t give to be able to go back in time and keep that
ring!
No, wait, if he
 had the ability to go back in time, he would have taken Willow when he had
the chance.
 
 He reached out his hand to the light. His fingertips were just mere
centimeters from
 flaming death.
 
 Angrily, he yanked back his hand. It was infuriating how close he was.
 
 Really, it didn’t matter all that much.  It was only a few hours before
sunset. Then he
 could move forward.
 
 He smiled in anticipation. As much as he was anxious to get to her, he did
love a good
 chase.
 
 Such was the life of a hunter.
 
 ***
 
 Willow rested her head against the side of the window. The cool glass was
like heaven on
 her fevered forehead.
 
 The sun had set some time ago. Buffy had gone out to patrol, hoping to
find
Spike as
 quickly as possible. Xander and Anya had gone... doing something. Willow
could
 imagine just what.
 
 She looked over at Oz, who was resting his head, lazily on her knee in
half
slumber. He
 had stayed awake for nearly a day now. He refused to let down his guard
for
a second.
 The last thing she had seen when she had closed her eyes was his face. The
first thing she
 had seen when she awoke were his eyes. It was so sweet how concerned he
was
and how
 hard he worked to protect her.
 
 The question was, would it be enough. Willow hoped so.
 
 Maybe it wasn’t even necessary. Maybe Buffy had staked him already.
 
 She laughed bitterly. Not likely.
 
 Oz shifted. He blinked a few times, then sat up.
 
 “Good evening,” Willow said, smiling.
 
 “Did I fall asleep?” Oz asked, rubbing his eyes.
 
 “Yes.”
 
 “Sorry, didn’t mean to,” he mumbled.
 
 “Don’t be. You need to get some sleep,” Willow chided gently.
 
 Oz shook his head. “I’m not tired.”
 
 “Liar.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. When their lips parted, Oz had
that semi-dopey
 grin on his face.
 
 “You know, this isn’t all that bad. At least this way we get to spend more
time together,”
 Willow said, once more finding the bright side to things.
 
 “This is true,” Oz said. He then went back to laying down on her lap.
 
 “When Giles gets back,” Willow said, tousling his hair. “You are going to
get some
 sleep.”
 
 “But,” Oz protested.
 
 “Resolved face.”
 
 The argument stopped.
 
 ***
 
 Giles had been driving around what felt like bloody hours... Wait, it had
been bloody
 hours. No sign of the vampire. He wasn’t at any of his usual haunts, as
Buffy had some
 vehemently insisted. As it turned out, she was right. He should have known
better. Why
 would Spike hide where they knew exactly where he was?
 
 Willie hadn’t been much help. Not even after a little bit of “Ripper” came
out. It became
 very clear after some... convincing that the man didn’t know anything.
 
 No one else knew anything. Spike certainly was covering his tracks well.
 
 The Englishman stepped out of his car, cursing under his breath all the
while, too angry to
 hear his own thoughts.
 
 Certainly too angry to hear the crunch of steps behind him.
 
 ***
 
 Willow didn’t know Oz snored.
 
 Well, now she knew. Strange, she had slept in the same room with him
before,
and this
 was the first time she had heard it.
 
 Maybe it was because it was so close to the full moon. Maybe Oz didn’t
snore, but the
 wolf did.
 
 Willow shrugged. Didn’t matter. In all honesty, the sound was a little
comfort.
 
 There was a knock at the door.
 
 A sudden shiver went through her. Something wasn’t right.
 
 “Oz,” she said, shaking him gently. “Wake up.”
 
 It took him a few seconds, but in a moment, Oz was on his feet, shaking
the
sleep out of
 his head. “What’s up?”
 
 “Someone’s knocking on the door. It can’t be Giles. The door isn’t locked
and why would
 he knock on his own door?” Willow said, nervously.
 
 “Buffy?”
 
 Willow shook her head, no. “She would just walk in. Same for Xander.”
 
 Oz set his lip at a grim line. He picked up one of Giles’ tall lamps and
walked to the door,
 gesturing for Willow to stay back. Of course, with her Resolved Face, she
would have
 none of it.
 
 He placed his hand on the knob and looked back once at Willow. Then he
swung
he door
 open, brandishing the lamp.
 
 Willow gasped.
 
 Spike, full game face on, stood at the threshold. He had Giles properly
subdued, holding
 his head so his neck was exposed.
 
 He grinned.
 
 “Hello, pet. I would say it’s about time to negotiate, wouldn’t you agree?
 
 Six
 
 Willow froze and took a step back as Oz went from making a move to rush
forward, and
 then stopping himself. All the while, Giles struggled violently to no
avail.
It looked so
 strange. Giles was a big man and was quite strong when he had to be, but
not
now.
 Compared to Spike’s grip, he looked weak. Vulnerable. Doomed.
 
 “You know why I am here,” Spike said. “So let’s talk, shall we?”
 
 “There’s nothing to discuss. Let him go,” Oz said.
 
 Spike glared at him once. He resisted the pull of jealously he felt
towards
the werewolf.
 After all, he had the witch, he didn’t. Her affections belonged to the man
in front of him.
 It was hard not to throw Giles away and reach into the threshold to tear
his
throat out. Of
 course, if he did that, he would have nothing to bargain with and most
likely would end
 up with a stake through his heart.
 
 “I wasn’t speaking to you,” Spike said, half rolling his eyes. “I was
speaking to Willow.”
 He turned his gaze to her. “I’ll let him go if you step outside.”
 
 “I don’t believe you,” Willow said, finding her voice.
 
 Spike allowed himself a grin. “Well, that is to be expected, but think
about
it for a
 moment. How well could I handle three... Alright, I could handle three,
but
not very well.
 Things could get complicated so I would like to leave as quickly as my
legs
can carry us.”
 
 “She’s not stepping out for you to kill her,” Oz said angrily. He drew
dangerously close to
 the border of safety.
 
 “Oh, yes she will, mate. Here’s a little bit more food for thought. It
would
be much safer
 for the rest of you if she comes out now. Willow, if you don’t come out, I
will kill him.
 Snap his neck like that. True, you’ll be safe, but for how long. I’ll just
go find another
 friend to kill. Or maybe a family member. Sheila perhaps... or Ira, I
haven’t quite decided
 yet,” Spike mused. “Yes, that sounds like it will work quite well. So come
out now and
 fewer people die.”
 
 “No,” Giles gurgled.
 
 “Not talking to you either,” Spike said, tightening his grip on Giles so a
small cry escaped
 the human’s mouth. He grinned and turned his gaze back to Willow. She was
cute when
 she was in shock. Her nicely shaped mouth open, her face a little paler...
brought out her
 eyes nicely. No, don’t think of that. Have to keep the focus.
 
 “So what will it be, pet. I kill him, or you step on out?”
 
 “How about I just kick your ass some more?” Then there was a sudden blow
to
the back
 of his head, startling him just enough to release Giles. The older man
stumbled into the
 house, rubbing his sore neck.
 
 They all looked up to see a small fist fly into Spike’s face.
 
 Buffy Summers had arrived.
 
 ***
 
 “Tracking anything?” Riley said, rubbing his temples. He had developed
somewhat of a
 headache.
 
 “Nothing,” Graham said. “Not even civilians.”
 
 “Guess everyone decided to call it an early night. Either that, or they’re
all watching the
 release of Star Wars,” Forest said, looking around.
 
 “I’m thinking about calling it a night. I don’t think we’re going to find
anything, just a
 feeling.”
 
 Forest checked his weapon. “We don’t have to call it a complete night. I
hear K’s Choice
 is playing at the Bronze again.”
 
 “You can go if you want, I’m going to hit paperwork. Maybe then when I
actually do get
 a free night, I can actually do something with it.”
 
 Forest laughed. “I doubt it. You’d probably use it to, I don’t know,
study?”
 
 “Something you might want to try.”
 
 “Bite me, sir.”
 
 “If I could interrupt,” Graham said. “I think we have something...”
 
 ***
 
 Spike was thrown into the threshold, but bounced off the invisible barrier
down onto the
 ground. He moved quickly to the side, narrowly missing the Slayer’s fist.
 
 “Spike, give it up. We know how this is going to play out. You hit me, I
hit
you...” She
 blocked a kick. “You get your ass kicked and leave with your tail between
your legs. Evil
 plot defeated. So why don’t you just leave and come up with a new one so
we
can foil it
 again, already?”
 
 “Sorry, luv. Not giving up this one.” He managed to grab a hank of her
hair
and pulled
 her viciously down to the ground. Before she could move, he placed a boot
oh
her throat
 hard. He smiled at the sound of her gasps.
 
 He frowned though, when he felt a pair of hands, shove him off. Giles had
returned with a
 second wind. His fist came flying, but Spike caught it and threw the man
back indoors.
 
 Unfortunately, Willow had been standing there, not knowing whether to go
deeper inside
 or stay and watch to look for a helpful window. She barely saw Giles’ form
fly towards
 her. She quickly stepped out of the way to avoid being knocked over. The
thing was,
 however, was that she stepped outside while Buffy was still on the ground.
 
 Spike took a few steps forward and grasped a handful of Willow’s hair. He
pulled her
 into his arms.
 
 “No!” Willow cried, scratching at is arms in a vain attempt to break free.
Her struggle
 only made him smile.
 
 He looked down to Buffy as she began to get up.
 
 “Sorry, Slayer,” he said. Then he causally threw Willow over his shoulder
and bounded
 out into the shadows.
 
 “Willow,” Oz said, running out. He stopped at the edge of the front porch,
looking out
 into nothingness, joined quickly by a shocked Buffy.
 
 ***
 
 She was dizzy. Her head hand been hanging upside down for too long. By now
her face
 had to be bright red.
 
 Willow had no idea where she was. Only that it was a wooded area. Twigs
scratched her
 face as Spike ran, still carrying her.
 
 *Where is he taking me?* she wondered. She got her answer when she felt
herself slide
 forward off his shoulder and slammed against a tree.
 
 Spike pushed her into it harder with his bodyweight. He smiled.
 
 “Now, luv, this won’t hurt,” he said, bringing up his game face once more.
“Much.”
 
 He leaned forward, sinking his teeth deep into a vein. He felt her body
tense in pain,
 unconsciously gripping his body. His eyes rolled slightly. God, this was
heaven. Spike
 pulled her closer as he drank.
 
 His victory was interrupted by a sharp blow to the back. No longer did he
see Willow’s
 struggling form or her red hair.
 
 Only blackness.
 
 
 Seven
 
 
 She could have been flying.
 
 Buffy Summers had never run faster in her entire life. She wasn’t aware of
the ground
 beneath her or the trees around her. Even Oz, who was trying desperately
to
mach her
 speed, but failing, did not cross into her mind. There was only the
chase...
or at least she
 hoped it was one. She had no idea if she was getting close or if there was
anything at all.
 There was only the hope that this had been the direction that Spike had
run.
 
 Eventually she did stop. Mostly it was to look around and get some
bearings
on the
 situation. It was also partially to give Oz a chance to catch his breath.
 
 She turned her head to the left, looking off into the shadows. The woods
had
become a
 maze. Too many turns and not enough clarity. She was positive she had hit
a
dead end,
 but there was always room for doubt. What if she left and had been close?
It
could kill
 Willow.
 
 That is, if she wasn’t dead already.
 
 Buffy felt fresh panic rise.
 
 “She’s not here,” Oz said. His voice was unnervingly calm.
 
 “Are you sure?” Buffy asked.
 
 “I can smell her, but it’s not strong. It’s faint. She was here, but
not...
not anymore.”
 
 Buffy let it take a few moments to register. He could smell her.... Oh
yeah,
the werewolf
 thing. She almost forgot how the last year he was able to track her that
way.
 
 “Anything?” Buffy asked, knowing very well that the panic was now in her
voice.
 
 Oz turned around, head up and alert.
 
 “This way,” he said.
 
 They resumed their pursuit.
 
 ***
 
 “Oh bloody hell...”
 
 Spike rolled off his back and onto his side. Damn, how it hurt. Applying
any
kind of
 pressure to the small of his back made his head swim. Couldn’t have that.
He
got the
 feeling he needed each and ever one of his senses intact.
 
 He became aware of some very bright lights. He squinted against the
brilliance.
 
 “What the hell...” He trailed off.
 
 Apparently he had been knocked out and was taken into the X-Files. Any
moment now he
 expected Mulder and Scully to walk by... or more likely the man who smoked
all the
 time. He couldn’t recall if the man had a name or not.
 
 All around him he could see brethren and other such creepy crawlies. Down
the hall some
 he could see another bloke who owed him money. Well, now he knew why he
hadn’t
 been paid back.
 
 Very few things surprised Spike. In all his unlife, Spike’s jaw had never
really dropped in
 shock. He had seen a number of oddities... been friends or associated with
them in some
 way most of the time. Hell, he had made it through the sixties without a
raised eyebrow,
 but today was different.
 
 The humans walking by in the white coats were a surprise.
 
 With the surprise came the anger. Anger at them and anger at himself for
allowing
 himself to be taken down by them. Well, this would have to be remedied.
Quickly, too.
 He somehow doubted he was down there for a photo shoot.
 
 Looking behind him, he noted his cell was empty. No redhead.
 
 He felt a small shudder of fear.
 
 What had they done with his Willow?
 
 ***
 
 Professor Walsh stood with her arms folded before her. She was pleased
that
another
 hostile had been brought in. A successful takedown always did fill her
with
a sense of
 relief, but this time was different. A very unexpected situation had
occurred.
 
 She looked at it through the glass lying in a bed.
 
 They had always talked about what would happen if they happened upon a
hostile with a
 victim, trained for it even, but until now it had never actually happened.
To complicate
 things further, she was looking at the unconscious form of one of her own
students. One
 of her better ones at that. Her presence was going to be missed.
 
 She sighed.
 
 Riley Finn came up behind her. The look on his face was not a happy one.
 
 “This has never happened before,” Riley said, flatly.
 
 “I know,” Walsh said. “You’ve been trained, but...”
 
 “That’s not what I meant,” he said, setting down some of his gear. “I know
her. She’s a
 friend.”
 
 Walsh said nothing. She tried to keep her emotions at bay. She had a job
to
do and so did
 Riley. They couldn’t let things like this get in the way.
 
 “How is she?” Riley asked.
 
 “Stable,” Walsh answered. “She lost alot of blood, but that goes without
saying. She
 hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
 
 Riley kept his face devoid of everything he felt. “Has she...”
 
 “No. She’s still alive. Changes come post-mortem.” She paused. If these
two
had a
 friendship, it would be best to keep him out of the rest. He was the best
of
what she had
 and she couldn’t risk that changing. “You should go now. I’ll expect the
report in writing,
 but you should rest first. Clear your head.”
 
 “Yes, ma’am,” Riley said. He turned and departed, but not before looking
back a few
 times.
 
 Walsh resumed looking at the girl and mentally debated. She had been found
in the throes
 of dying. If she had drunk any of the hostile’s blood remained unknown. As
of yet, they
 hadn’t been able to document the change. All hostiles had been caught be
surprise or
 running, not with someone. They had never found a transformation in
progress. Did they
 have one now?
 
 There was only one way to find out.
 
 ***
 
 Oz stopped in his tracks. He could smell her.
 
 What bothered him though, was how faint it was. It didn’t smell...how
could
he put this..
 It didn’t smell like her. It smelt like something she had been left
behind.
 
 With Buffy at his back, Oz walked about, ignoring the other smells of the
woods.
 
 He crept close to a tree, feeling nausea rise in his stomach. He touched
the
bark and then
 turned to Buffy.
 
 “I smell blood,” he said simply.

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