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He pulled the door shut and hesitated, taking
in big gulps of air to steady himself. What had happened in there? Was Buffy trying to tell him that she loved him? No. That
wasn't possible. She had made it quite clear that although she cared for him, she would never love him. He accepted that.
But
last night.
Last night, he had held her while she slept. She had allowed him - no, asked him - to hold her. She trusted
him.
A shiver went through Spike's body as the realization hit him once again. She trusted him.
Last year during
that terrible, terrible final confrontation, she had told him that she could never love him because she couldn't trust him.
Now she did.
Did that mean that now maybe she could love him?
That thought terrified Spike more than coming
face-to-face with a thousand gibbering ubervamps. Could it be possible that he would finally have the happiness, the true
love, that he had sought so long?
He firmly pushed the hope back down, refused to allow it to blossom. He had hoped
for so long, yearned for what seemed forever. But he had a job to do now. They had a job to do. Save the world; make
it safe for puppies and Christmas. After the world was once again safe, maybe then there would be time to figure out what
was going on.
But not now.
Now he had to go check up on that bastard Caleb. He looked forward to the time when
Buffy met up again with the monster. With that soddin' great scythe of hers she would destroy him. Avenge all the women he
had killed. Avenge Xander. Spike wanted to be there to see it.
When he reached the vineyard it didn't take long to
ascertain that Caleb wasn't there. Picking up his scent, Spike began to track him to the temple that Buffy had been searching
for. Upon entering, he heard the sounds of a fight and hurried forward, ready to lend the Slayer a hand should she need it.
He had her back.
He had just reached the end of the tunnel ready to charge into the room to aid Buffy when
he halted, stunned by the sound of the familiar voice, stunned by what he saw.
Angel.
With one blow, Angel
sent Caleb flying across the room. Buffy looked up in shock at Angel. And then he saw it. The joy on her face as she looked
into Angel's eyes.
Caleb attacked again and after a quick quip to Angel, Buffy returned to the fray. Angel leaned
against a pillar, arms crossed, a smile plastered across his face.
"God, I miss watching this," he said.
And
Spike watched. Watched as Buffy killed Caleb. Watched as they went to each other. Watched as she kissed him. Kissed Angel.
Without hesitation. Without fear.
Spike felt cold. So cold. He could only stare at the scene in rage and disbelief.
Hatred flared through his soul. Hatred for Angel. Hatred for Buffy.
"That bitch," a voice whispered into his ear. Turning
his head he looked into the eyes of the First once again wearing Buffy's face.
"She'll never love you, you know," the
voice continued. A chuckle. "But that's pretty obvious now, isn't it? Angel will always be her one true love. He'll always
be able to take your women from you. First Drusilla, now Buffy."
The voice was dripping with false sympathy. "Poor
Spike." The voice became even softer, more intimate. "I think you should kill them. It's what they deserve. The unfaithful
whore and her lover. Do it, Spike. You know you want to."
Visions filled Spike's head of death and pain and cries of
agony. He envisioned plunging a stake into Angel's heart, watching with pleasure as he dissolved into dust. Heard Buffy's
scream of anguish right before he snapped her neck. The thought made him hard.
The sudden wave of nausea that swept
over him almost made his collapse. Drawing in deep gulps of air, he calmed down. Once he was again in control of himself,
he turned to the false Buffy and said simply, "Bugger off."
Stepping into the light, he announced his presence by saying,
"Angel, welcome to the fight."
The End
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