DISCLAIMER:
I do not own anything related to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". It all belongs to Joss Whedon, The WB Network and The Mutant Ennemy. Nor do I own any part of the song 'War Of Nerves' by All Saints.
N.B.:The story takes place after "Becoming" BUT Angel has NOT been cursed. He's still in Hell. Also, Buffy has neither moved to L.A. nor been expelled.
SUMMARY :
Spike and Buffy team up again. Who knows what it'll lead to now ?
whites italics are thoughts
Buffy was lying on her bed, waiting for Xander, Willow and Oz. They had decided to drive with Oz to school. Ever since she told the Gang about what happened the other night with Acathla and Angel, they were all like nursing her. She knew that they were worried for her and that they were just trying to make her life easier but, let's face it ! She's the Slayer, she's just sent the love of her life to Hell, even if she not wanted anymore, half of the school thinks she murdered a girl... How can anybody make her life easier ? At last, they were there. She almost ran outside. It was a warm day. I wonder how Spike's doing ? Last time I saw him, Drusilla was attacking him.Uh, why am I thinking about Spike ? 'Cuz he's a cutie. No ! Bad thought, musn't think that thought ever again. As she opened the door of the van, Buffy was hit by a wave of "Hi!" and "How are you doing ?". It all sounded so fake.
"I'm just fine, guys." she answered.
"So," Xander said, "What do you feel like doing tonight ?"
Killing myself
"We could go Bronzing. Wait, maybe Giles wants me to patrole?"
"Actually," Oz answered "we can't do anything tonight."
"Why ?" Xander asked "Do we have another immortal demon to kill ?"
"No, it's more of a werewolf issue. You guys have to watch me tonight."
"I guess it means no Bronzing, huh ? Too bad. You know what, Oz ? You're pretty lucky. You're only a werewolf three nights a month. Me, I'm a Slayer 24/7. Feel like trading ?"
"No, thanks. That's it, we're at school. How long 'till summer holiday again ?"
"17 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes and... 40 seconds."
As they were headed to library, Xander, Willow, Oz and Buffy ran into Cordelia in the hall. As soon as she saw them, she said :
"You guys should run to the library. Especially you, Buffy. Giles is close to having a nervous break-down."
Buffy, as well as the others, was getting nervous.
"What do you mean Cordelia?"
"Well, I arrived a little early, so I went into the library. Anyway, when I got inside, Giles told me to get you. He found something really important. I dunno what it is but I suggest you run."
"Thanks."
What the Hell could it be ?
Buffy ran into te library. She pushed the door and found Giles reading one of his old, dusty books.
"Buffy! I have to talk to you. Now. Where are the others ?"
"They're right behind me. What is it ? Cordelia told us you were having a nervous break-down."
"Oh. She exagerated."
Xander, followed by Willow and Oz, ran inside.
"Giles! Are you OK ? Cordy said ..."
"I'm allright. Cordelia, in the future, I would prefer that you didn't scare the others by telling them that I'm about to have a nervous break-down."
"What is it you wanted to tell me ?"
"Well, there's a new demon in town."
Spike woke up with Drusilla by his side. For the last two centuires, he had woken up with Drusilla by his side. Even when she got attacked by the mob in Prague, they had always slept in the same bed. Even though she was weak, he never left her. He thought that they would always be together, that they would never leave each other. Untill Angelus came back. The minute he entered the room, she was gone. Buffy was right, Drusilla *is* a big ho'. Why am I thinking about the bloody Slayer ? I wonder why I never kill her. And why she never kills me. Maybe I should go back to Sunnyhell, see how things went between Angel and her? What am I saying?!?! Still, I don't know if I should put with Dru any longer. I never left her, even when she was weak but as soon as I got in the wheelchair, she went off with Angelus. Okay, that's it, I'm outta here.
It was in the morning, about 8-9 a.m. Spike made sure to get out of the bed without awaking Dru. Then he took his car drove back to Sunnydale.
"So," Buffy said, "What kinda demon are we dealing with ?"
"Well, it's called Ikkos. It's not an immortal demon but the only way to kill it is by doing a spell."
"What kind of demon-stuff does it do ?" Cordelia asked, "'Cuz usually they like destroy the world or open a vortex to Hell or just kill people. So what's its thing ?"
"Well, " Giles explained, "Ikkos is ... what do you kids call it again? Tricky. He enjoys seeing humans get hurt. Not physically hurt. He enjoys seeing their feelings get hurt."
"What form does this Ikkos-thing have?" Buffy asked, "I mean, can I punch him?"
"Well, he looks like a human beeing."
"Then how am I gonna know it's him ?"
"Well, that's the problem. He could be anyone. But, no matter what form he has, he always has really strange eyes and some kind of a tatoo on his right hand."
"He looks like an easy one then."
"Actually, it should be an easy one but we have a little problem."
"What is it ?" Willow asked, getting all nervous.
"Well, there's almost nothing about him in my books. Willow, would you mind checking the Internet?"
"I'll do it as soon as I get the time. But how did you know that he was here ?"
"Well, Ikkos can only act twice in every century. And he does it on regular bases. Every fifty years. And well, the time has come."
Spike was finally in Sunnydale.
God I'm hungry. I gotta get someone to eat. But I gotta wait 'till sundown. That's about two hours. I could go the Bronze afterwards, there's always someone to eat at the Bronze. Maybe I'll run into the Slayer. Or I could go to her house. Yeah, that would be fun... Just to see the look on her face. Yeah, I'm gonna do that.
Spike drove all the way to Buffy's house and waited 'till sundown. Then, he went outside his car and walked to the door. He was sure to find someone inside, he had seen both Buffy and her mother come home. He rang the doorbell and waited for someone to open the door. Unfortunately, it was Buffy's mother that answered.
"Oh. Uh, hi! You're Spike, right ?"
"Yeah. Is Buffy in ?"
"Sure, I'll get her."
"Wait ! Don't tell her it's me. I wanna surprise her."
"Allright."
Joyce went back inside and then upstairs to tell her daughter that there was someone for her at the door. Buffy looked out the window but didn't see anyone.
Who the Hell could it be ?
When she got to the door, she got the suprise of her life. She saw Spike standing there and almost had a heart attack.
"Hello Cutie."
"My God! What are you doing here ? Wait, you're not here to kill me, are you ? 'Cuz I got stake waiting for you."
"Calm down, Slayer. I wanted to surprise you. Anyway, if I really wanted to kill you, do you really think that I would have rung the door bell ? I do have a free pass to your house."
"Right. Uh, where's Drusilla ?"
"I left her."
"What ?!"
"Yeah, well, you know."
"No, I don't know. I have no idea."
"Well, she cheated on me."
"Again ?"
"No! Just that thing with Angel. It's just that I finally realized that, as you said, Dru's big ho'."
"It was about time. Do you wanna come inside ? On the other hand, no. Do you feel like Bronzing ? Cordelia and Giles are watching Oz tonight so Willow, Xander and I are going to the Bronze. I gotta meet them in half an hour. Why don't you come with me ?"
"Sure. Do you wanna take my car ?"
"You have a car ? Neat. Yeah, sure. Why not take your car ?"
Well, this is unexpected! Why, of all places in the world, did Spike came back to Sunnydale? I'm gonna ask him.
"Spike ?"
"What ?"
"Why did you come back?"
"I told you, I left Drusilla."
"I know that, I mean why Sunnydale ?"
"Don't know. Maybe I missed the Hellmouth. Maybe I missed you."
They got to the car and Spike asked Buffy if she wanted to drive.
"I don't have a licence."
"Are you serious?"
"..."
"I mean... You're the Slayer, you should know how to drive a car."
"Of course I know how! It's just that I don't have my licence. Yet."
"Then there's no problem. You can drive my car. At least to the Bronze."
"What if the cops want to see my licence?"
"I'll bite them. Okay, since it's a vampire-friendly car, you have to watch the road thru this little hole."
"I can't believe that you're letting me drive your car !"
"If you smash it, I'll kill you."
"If you kill me, I'll kill you."
"Yeah, you and what army ? Okay, drive now."
I still can't believe that Spike is letting me drive his car! Not that it's an easy car to drive but still...
Buffy started the car and drove. Driving a vampire-friendly car, as Spike called it, was easier that she thought. Spike asked her what happened between her and Angel and she told him.
Poor girl, sending the love of her life to Hell must have been pretty hard. Especially when he was all soul-having again. I should try to comfort her but I'm a demon, so I won't.
"So," Spike said,"What's new in Sunnydale ?"
"Well," Buffy answered, "There's a new Demon in town. It's called Icky or something like that."
"You mean Ikkos ?"
"Yeah, Ikkos. Do you know anything about him ? 'Cuz we don't know that much."
"I know the guy! He's really fun. I met him about a hundred years ago. He's tricky. You should watch your back, he doesn't like Slayers."
"Do you think that you could help us with the 'killing him'-issue ? I mean if you feel like it."
"Sure, why not? It's not like I can see him that often. He only gets out twice every century. Do you know what he looks like ?"
"Yes, it's the only thing Giles could find about him. That's it, we're at the Bronze. How did it go?"
"You're a pretty good driver. Now get out of my car. I gotta grab someone to eat so just wait for me inside."
"Do you really have to suck them dry? Can't you just take a little bit?"
"I guess I could. Wait for me inside. I won't be long."
"Okay."
Buffy walked inside the Bronze. Everything reminded her of Angel. She felt like crying but Spike will be getting back any minute now.
I've gotta move on with my life. Angel is gone and he's never coming back. It's just something that I'll have to deal with. Oh, here's Spike.
"So," Buffy said, "Did you find anyone to eat ?"
"Yeah, there was this guy right outside, he was just so dumb, poor boy. I'm pretty sure that his shoe-size was higher that his IQ."
"Oh, well that's good for you. Where are you gonna stay tonight ?"
"I could go back to the mansion but I would get bored pretty fast. I don't know, I could check in a motel or something."
"A motel? What about sunlight?"
"I'll manage."
"Well, my Mom's flying to L.A. tonight and she's gonna be outta town for the rest of the week. And maybe you could stay at my place. That's if you want to."
"Do you really trust me? I could just kill you while you're sleeping or something? Are you willing to take that chance?"
"I think I can trust you. I mean, we had a deal, didn't we? And just to be safe, I'll sleep with a stake under my pillow."
"You're Watcher is gonna freak when you tell him!"
"Big time. So, tell me about this Ikea-guy."
"Ikkos, the name is Ikkos. Well, not only does he have a human form, he can take any human form he wants. And he'll know right away that you're the Slayer, so for the next couple of days, don't go on any dates with anyone."
"Does that include you ?"
"What ?"
"Nothing. Forget it."
"No, no. I heard what you said. Do you really mean it ?"
"Well, no. I mean yes. No. I don't know. Maybe."
"Yeah, that was clear. Isn't that your friends over there?"
"Willow ! Xander ! Over here !"
Buffy was pretty confused.
Did I really mean what I said? No, I don't believe that I wanted to go on a date with Spike. It must have just like fallen out of my mouth.
Maybe it didn't just fall. Maybe I like Spike. Well, if I do, I have my reasons. He's gorgeous, I love how he dresses and he's real fun. Okay, he feeds on human but is it really that important ?
Spike wasn'r sure of what he wanted either.
Did she really meant what she said ? A date with the Slayer. Why not ? I mean, she's beautiful. And funny too. And I could protect her from Ikkos at the same time. But she's the bloody Slayer ! God I'm glad that Buffy's friends showed up !
Xander and Willow arrived. When they saw Spike sitting with Buffy, they almost got heart-attacks. Xander was the first one to talk.
"So, Buffy, are you dating vamps again ? You should be careful, this one doesn't have a soul. Or maybe you just slept with him to make him loose it ? So, what are you gonna on your next date ? Send him to Hell ?"
Buffy couldn't believe her own ears. Why would Xander be so cruel ?
As tears started running down her face, she ran outside. Spike followed her.
What the Hell was wrong with that Xander-guy ? Why did he say those things to Buffy ? Of course, it must have been Ikkos. I am *so* gonna kill him!
"Slayer ! Wait for me !"
Buffy just kept on running. She was feeling like dying again. First she had to kill Angel, then there's this new demon around and now her best friend was doing everything to hurt her.
"Buffy! Wait!"
Buffy stopped as she heard Spike call her Buffy for the first time.
"Buffy. I.. Are you allright ?"
"No. I just... Why did he do that to me ? He knows how things are for me right now..."
"I don't think that it was him. I think it was Ikkos. Remember ? He likes hurting humans."
"I don't know. Maybe you're right. Can't we just go home now ?"
"Of course we can, pet. I'll drive."
Neither Spike nor Buffy said anything on the ride home. Buffy was too sad and Spike too confused.
What's wrong with me ? There I was, all happy and single again. I could have gone to L.A or something but no, I had to come back to Sunnyhell. Come back to Buffy. The minute I saw her, I felt all soul-having again. I shouldn't feel those human emotions again.
Buffy was trying to get to sleep. Spike was in her mother's room, right across the hall.
Was it really Ikkos at the Bronze? Maybe it was Xander, he can be pretty cruel some times. I'm glad that Spike was there. He's so... I can't even find a word to describe him. I wonder how Willow reacted when I ran out and Spike followed me. Tomorrow when I go to school, I'll have to tell Giles that I may have feelings for Spike. I hope that Spike feels the same way as I do.
