Chapter 9

Buffy stayed as long as she could in the outer cave, adding the remaining firewood to the fire and huddling next to it as cold wind and rain blew past the entrance. When the cold finally drove her back to the inner cavern, she saw that Spike had gotten dressed and was now lying down, his eyes closed, perfectly still. She couldn't tell whether or not he was actually asleep. She took a wide path around him and found her own place to curl up. She tried to sleep but too many thoughts kept running through her mind; the way she was unable to control her attraction to Spike, his care for her since they'd come to this world, and, no matter how much she tried to not think about it, the feeling she'd had as they'd...

Her mind shied away from calling it making love. You made love with someone you cared about. She'd made love with Angel and Riley. Hell, at the time she considered it making love to Parker. But she wouldn't - couldn't - call it making love with Spike. It was a thing. A bad thing. A really bad thing. A really bad thing that'd felt really, really good.

Buffy rolled over with a groan. Okay, it really wasn't anything worth obsessing over. She'd already decided to break up with Riley, so she hadn't cheated, technically. Besides, lots of people have sex with people they don't even know and they enjoy it and it's no big deal. They get off, get dressed, and go home without a second thought. That's what this was. No big deal. Spike had been right about one thing. It was just sex, nothing special. Buffy pushed down the hurt the memory of his words caused.

At least Spike wasn't a stranger, Buffy continued with her rationalization. She'd known him longer than she'd known Riley, even if it was in a "we're mortal enemies and I'm going to kill you now" kind of way. Anyway this whole mess was probably the fault of their being in this dimension, or maybe they were suffering a hangover from that stupid spell of Willow's. After all, she really hadn't felt much like staking Spike since then.

Buffy blinked as that realization hit her. Okay, that's what this was all about, she thought with a sigh of satisfaction at solving the mystery over her sudden, overwhelming attraction to Spike. It was all Willow's fault. She closed her eyes just knowing that now she would fall asleep.

She felt soft lips on her mouth, a tongue slipping past her lips to caress her tongue, hands gliding wraith-like over her skin, passing lightly over her breasts, teasing her and bringing her body to readiness for him. Her eyes flew open to find that she was alone. She was trembling in frustrated longing, her heart pounding and her breath coming out in little panting gasps. Sitting up, she ran a shaking hand through her tangled hair. She looked at the gently steaming pool and decided to take her aborted bath. The water would help relax her, calm her down. Glancing at Spike, she saw that he still lay in the same position he'd been in when she'd returned, obviously asleep. As quietly as possible she removed her clothes and slipped into the pool.

The water felt glorious and she luxuriated in it, allowing the heat to soak away her tensions. As quietly as possible she swam across the pool using the exercise to calm her, concentrating on each stroke of her arms and blocking out any thoughts of Spike. At last tiring from her swim, she found her footing and stood upright. She cautiously glanced at Spike again. He'd rolled to his side facing her, but he still appeared to be deeply asleep. Buffy began to rub lightly at her body with her hands, washing as best she could without soap. When she was finished, she allowed herself to float, shutting her eyes and drifting aimlessly. As her body drifted, so did her mind, and she was back in the pool with Spike, his hands and mouth touching her in ways she'd never known before. She relived every touch, every whisper, the feel of him as he entered her, the taste of his mouth, the texture of his skin. She was aching with the memories when a small noise disturbed her reverie. Her eyes flew open to see Spike crouched at the edge of the pool, his eyes glowing hotly as he watched her. Buffy gasped, righted herself and crossed her arms over her chest in an effort to cover herself. She wanted to yell at him to stop looking at her, to go away and leave her in peace, but her body betrayed her and she found she couldn't speak. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was amazed that the sound didn't echo off the cave walls. Her gaze remained locked to his, and though she tried to turn away from him, she took one step forward instead. He didn't move, didn't speak, but Buffy could feel him pulling her toward him. She took another step forward.

He stood up and extended a hand toward her. Buffy hesitated, trying to fight the pull. He still didn't speak, just stood there with hand extended. As if drawn to him by an invisible cord, she waded though the water on shaky legs. When she reached him, she held up her hands. He grasped them and pulled her out of the water. With a growl, he pulled her tight against his body plundering her mouth with his own. Buffy could feel his clothes becoming soaked from the water that drained from her body, but neither paid attention to it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and answered his kiss with her own desperation. He swung her up in his arms and headed back to where his duster lay like a pallet on the cave floor. He placed her gently down and then moved back to hurriedly remove his clothing. Spreading her legs, he positioned himself to enter her, and then hesitated.

"Who am I, Buffy?" he said in a tight, strained voice.

"Spike," she whispered.

"What am I, Buffy?"

"Vampire," she gasped as the tip of his penis slipped into her.

He smashed his mouth to hers once more as he plunged into her, cutting off the words that were on the tip of her tongue. Much later, when Buffy was able to think coherently again, she was glad he'd silenced her before she'd let slip words she wasn't ready to say.

They made love for hours. He taught her things about her body she never knew and things about his body she'd never suspected. His body became marred with scratch marks and love bites; hers with bruises caused by his strong fingers and sucking mouth. At last, they fell into an exhausted, sated slumber.

It was the discomfort of her insistent bladder that awoke her several hours later. She was wrapped tightly in Spike's arms and had to wiggle her way out of his embrace while he slept on like, well, the dead. Buffy picked up his discarded shirt and pulled it on, buttoning it up as she walked to the tunnel. The outer cave was even colder than before and shrouded in complete darkness when she reached the tunnel's end, the fire having long since burned out. A dim light from the cave mouth guided her to the entrance. The lightning and thunder had passed, but rain still poured down. Buffy slipped outside allowing the overhang of the mountain to shelter her a bit and relieved herself. Shivering from the cold, she stepped back into the cave's entrance and stuck out her cupped hands to gather some of the rainwater. She brought her cupped hands to her lips and greedily drank down the water then thrust her hands out again.

"Buffy? What are you doing out here, love? You'll catch your death."

Buffy turned to see Spike, once again nude she noted with amusement, walking toward her.

"I had to pee," she said. "And I'm dying of thirst." The cold rain blew in on her and a shiver tore through her body as she finished speaking.

"Yeah, well, tell you what. Let's get you back inside where it's warm, and I'll bring the flask back, fill it up, and you can have a nice drink. How's that then?"

Buffy stared at him in amazement. Every time he did something like this, thought about her comfort, brought her food or gave her water, it surprised her. Spike just wouldn't fit nicely into the Vampires, All Evil All the Time mold. He held out his hand to her and she took it. He pulled her to him for a kiss and then led her carefully through the cave and passageway and back to his duster. Searching through the pockets of the coat he pulled out his hip flask and started to rise when her stomach growled loudly. He grinned at her embarrassment and then reaching into another pocket, he brought out a slightly bruised and battered fruit.

Handing it to her he said with a shy smile, "Sorry, love. I was going to give this to you last night, but then, well..." He gave a one-shoulder, half-apologetic shrug. Buffy reached out and took the fruit.

"Thank you, Spike," she said around the lump in her throat.

He looked embarrassed now and quickly stood up. "Right, I'll get you some water to go with your breakfast." He walked rapidly across the cave and disappeared into the tunnel.

Buffy wiped the fruit off on Spike's shirt and took a bite. Chewing slowly, she tried to make her meal last as long as possible. By the looks of things, the rain wasn't going to stop anytime soon so there was no telling how long it would be before she got anything else to eat.

Spike was back before she'd gotten half the fruit eaten. Sitting down next to her, he opened the flask and held it out. Buffy took it gratefully and drank several refreshing swallows before handing it back to him. He recapped the flask and laid it aside, watching as Buffy took another bite from the fruit.

She swallowed and was bringing the fruit back to her mouth to take another bite when Spike said, "You've got a bit in the corner of your mouth, love. Let me get it."

Buffy expected him to wipe it off with his thumb. Instead he leaned forward and licked the corner of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. Buffy's heart started thumping, and when their eyes met Spike's mouth descended, his arm slipped around her back, and he pulled her to him. The fruit fell from Buffy's hand as she wrapped her arms around him.

He removed his shirt from her and lowered her back down onto his duster, his hand cupping her breast, his thumb flicking across the nipple, his cock pressing against her thighs, his mouth capturing her sighs and groans. Buffy opened her legs to him and threaded one hand through his hair while they kissed. God, she loved kissing him. He could be savage and tender and teasing, all in the blink of an eye. He moved his hand down between her thighs separating her outer lips so he could slide his cock over her clitoris. Buffy moaned and bucked under him while sparks danced under her closed eyelids.

"You like that, baby?" Spike grunted, his mouth sliding over her mouth and neck.

"Oh god, yes,"

His mouth returned to hers kissing her deeply as they continued to rub together. Finally he lifted his head gasping out "Need you, Buffy. Need you now."

Buffy raised her legs, inviting him in. He slipped inside her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him moving to his rhythm until once again they cried out in release.

He collapsed on top of her, drawing in deep lungfuls of calming air. Rolling over, he pulled her on top of him. Her thighs tightened around him keeping him trapped within her. He was still hard and Buffy knew that if she wanted to, she could ride him until they both came again. But Buffy truly believed that if that happened, she'd become a gibbering idiot from orgasmic overload.

At last he softened enough that he slipped from her and Buffy sighed and laid her head on his chest. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to get back in the pool and bathe. Her stomach growled.

"I lost my fruit," she murmured sleepily.

She could feel his lips curve into a smile as he kissed the top of her head. "I'll get you more fruit, love. I'll get you anything you want."

She lifted herself up slightly and looked into his eyes.

"I want to go home."

Spike frowned slightly and pushed her hair back from her face. "Can't wait to get away from me, eh, Slayer?"

Now it was Buffy's turn to frown. She pushed herself up further, inadvertently giving Spike a lovely view of her small breasts.

"It's not that, Spike. I'm the Slayer. I have responsibilities. While we're here making..." her voice trailed off and she blushed. "While we're lost here, anything could be happening in Sunnydale. Who knows what that little toad demon that sent us here is up to? And we've been here, what? Four days? My mom and my friends must be worried sick by now. I need to get back home."

Spike ran a finger over the silky skin of her collarbone. "And what happens to us when we get back home?"

Buffy rolled away from him and stood up. Grabbing up his red shirt again, she slipped it on and walked to the pool. She stood with her arms wrapped around herself, her back to him, staring into the steaming water. "I don't know."

"So this is what? A holiday shag?"

Buffy just shrugged. "I don't know what this is, Spike, except something that shouldn't be happening." She glanced over at him and away again. "Anyway, I thought you said I wasn't anything special."

He stood up and walked over to her. He slipped his arms around her waist and drew her back until she was resting against him. "Yeah, well I was lying, and you know it. You keep saying that this shouldn't be happening between us, Buffy, but do you think this'll all go away once we're back home?"

"It has to, Spike," she said in a barely audible voice.

He turned her around then, took her face in his hands and kissed her. She resisted for about three seconds and then her arms slid around his waist and she opened her mouth to his insistent tongue. His hands slid down and grabbed the rounded globes of her ass, pressing her tightly against his rapidly hardening cock.

Lifting his mouth from hers, he asked, "Do you want me again?"

"No," she lied.

He recaptured her mouth and pulled one of her thighs around his waist. Bending his knees, he found her slick opening and easily slipped inside. Buffy gasped, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and allowed him to pull her other leg around his waist lifting her up until she was wrapped securely around him. Turning, he walked back to their nest, knelt down, and lowered her onto his duster. Still kneeling, he raised her hips with his hands and began to thrust, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Look down, Buffy," he ordered softly. "Watch what I'm doing to you."

Buffy obediently looked down and watched his long, thick cock slowly sliding in and out of her body. It was the most erotic thing she'd ever seen and she felt her stomach muscles clench in reaction.

"We're perfect together, Love," he continued, his words coming out in rhythmic grunts. "And when you have your Slayer strength back, we'll knock Sunnydale down to bedrock."

Lowering her hips, he pressed closer to her, thrusting harder, holding her head and kissing her fiercely. Buffy responded in kind. She was getting sore, and she was tired, but she couldn't resist him. And when he brought her to climax yet again, she cried out his name and hugged him to her riding out the shudders that ripped through her body.

As they recovered yet again, Buffy really began to worry about what would happen once they were back in Sunnydale again.

And that was assuming that they could get back to Sunnydale again.

Chapter 10

They fell asleep again, and when they awoke they made use of the pool to bathe. Both of them were getting very hungry, and a trip to the outer cave showed that darkness had once again fallen and the rain had finally stopped.

"It'll be muddy as hell out there tomorrow, Buffy, but we'll need to leave and find food and water for you. And I need to hunt."

Buffy turned to look worriedly at him. "You okay for now?"

Spike smirked and ran a finger down her neck causing little goose bumps to break out over her flesh. "Don't worry, love. Any bites I give you will be purely recreational."

As if to prove his point, he leaned down and lightly nipped at her shoulder. Buffy smiled and turned her face up to him. He obligingly kissed her.

Turning back around to look out into the night, she couldn't keep a sigh from escaping. She was so tired of being here. She was tired of being hungry and cold and sleeping on the hard ground and being dirty. Bathing in the pool was better than nothing, but without soap, Buffy didn't feel clean.

As if reading her mind again, Spike wrapped his arms around her and murmured. "Come on, love. Let's go back inside. In the morning we'll start searching for a way out of here again." She nodded and they returned to their haven to wait out the night.

The next morning they made love, bathed one last time in their pool, and left the cave. Spike had been right; the footing was muddy and hazardous, made even more so by the thick mist that covered the hillside and valley floor. They returned to the forest, and Buffy discovered that the fog had no apparent affect on Spike's vampire senses as he led them unerringly through the woods to one of the fruit trees. The storm had knocked the fruits off the tree, and Buffy gathered as many as she could while Spike went off hunting for his own breakfast. Another stream was nearby, the current running fast with runoff from the storm. Buffy was thankful that the water wasn't muddy and drank deeply, then filled the flask Spike had handed her before leaving. She found a relatively dry rock and sat down to eat her breakfast. She was on her third piece of fruit when she heard a sharp animal cry in the distance. Spike had found his own breakfast.

He returned to her, his cheeks flushed with the blood of his kill, and sat beside her on the rock, his arm around her waist. They had just started discussing which way they should travel when blinding light surrounded them.

They cried out and clung to each other as a wave of vertigo overcame them.

When the dizziness passed, Buffy looked around in amazement. Jumping up, she exclaimed, "Are we home?"

Spike stood up more slowly, taking in the playground fixtures, the benches, water fountain, and hedges. "Looks like it."

"How?"

He shook his head. "Don't know, love. I'm just glad we made it back before sunrise." He nodded in the direction of the east and Buffy saw that the sky was beginning to lighten.

"Spike, you better get home before you get caught in the sunrise," she said in alarm.

"We'd better make sure this really is Sunnydale, love, and everything's back to normal." Moving close to her again, he set his body and stuck out his chin.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, confused by his actions.

Spike sighed. "Hit me, Slayer. Make sure you've got your strength back."

"Oh," she said in comprehension. Instead of hitting him, however, she walked over to one of the park benches and easily lifted it from the ground. "Yep, everything seems to be in working order," she smiled. "Now go on, Spike. Get home before it's too late."

"I think I'd like to know how long we've been gone before we split up, Buffy."

Buffy considered his words and then nodded. "Yeah, everything looks the same but it's best to know. Come on, there should be a newspaper vending machine at the end of the corner." They took off running, and Buffy delighted in her returned strength and speed. They came to the corner just as the newspaper delivery truck was leaving. Walking up to the vending machine, Buffy read the date on the newspaper.

"Spike," she exclaimed. "It's tomorrow. I mean, the date is the date of the day after the day we left."

She saw Spike's amused look at her rather convoluted sentence and pouted, "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, love, I do."

She looked up at the rapidly lightning sky and turned to Spike. "We were there what? Five days? But here, it was only about eight hours."

"So it seems."

With each second that passed the sky grew lighter. Buffy glanced up again and said insistently, "Spike, you have to go now!"

"Yeah, all right." He pulled her into his arms. "You coming by the crypt later?"

No, Buffy thought. We're home now. It's all over and I can't be with you like that again.

But when she opened her mouth she heard herself saying, "Yeah. As soon as I can get there this evening."

Spike smiled, kissed her, gave her a swat on the ass and jogged off, playing chicken with the rising sun.

Buffy sighed as she watched him disappear around a corner. When had her evil twin, Vamp Ho Buffy, completely taken over her life? But she knew exactly when. The first time they'd lain together on the cold hard ground in the other dimension and he'd wrapped her in his arms.

Or maybe even before that, but she didn't want to dwell on the subject too much. Turning toward Sunnydale University, she headed for a hot shower and her own soft, warm bed.

***

Willow was still sound asleep when Buffy crept quietly into the dorm room. Grabbing up her pajamas, toiletry bag, and towel, she hurried into the showers. She stood under the hot running water, shampooing, conditioning, shaving and scrubbing until her skin was pink and tender. Getting out of the shower, she toweled off, pulled on her pajamas and brushed and flossed until she finally felt clean. By the time she was finished, the stress and exhaustion of the past several days caught up with her and she stumbled back to the dorm room to collapse face down on her bed. She immediately fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

"Buffy? Buffy? Wake up now, Buffy."

The words drifted into Buffy's consciousness and her eyes fluttered opened to see the face of a very concerned Giles.

"Giles? What's up?" Buffy said groggily.

"Buffy, thank god you're awake. You've given us quite a fright."

"Why? What happened?"

"I couldn't get you to wake up," Willow's voice said nervously. "You wouldn't wake up this morning, but I just figured you'd had a rough night battling the forces of evil so I just let you sleep in. But then you didn't wake up when I came back to the dorm at noon, and you were still sleeping when I came back from the library. I was afraid you'd been bitten by some kind of tsetse fly demon or something, so I called Giles."

"Yes, we've been terribly worried. I have Xander and Anya back at my apartment doing research in what could have caused your condition. Willow stayed here with me in case I needed her assistance."

Buffy sat up pushing her tangled hair out of her face. She hadn't even bothered to dry it before falling into bed last night.

"What time is it?" she asked through a yawn.

"Past six," Giles said.

"In the evening?" Buffy asked shocked.

"Yes, so you can see why we were concerned. Can you tell us what happened to make you sleep so deeply?"

"Yeah," she said, wondering how best to stall the explanation until she was more coherent. She wasn't ready for them to know about everything that had happened while she and Spike had been away.

"Look, I need to get dressed and get something to eat. I'm starving. Could we meet back at your place in say, oh, about an hour or so? Then I can tell you everything that happened. Okay, Giles?"

"Well, yes, if you feel well enough now," Giles said stepping back away from the bed. "Willow will stay with you just in case you need her, all right?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you later, Giles."

Nodding, her Watcher left the dorm room.

"You sure you're okay?" Willow asked nervously. "I swear I didn't do any spells that could have caused this, Buffy." Her guilt over the disastrous results of her last spell was still obviously preying on her mind.

Buffy smiled at her friend as she began to gather her things together. "I know that, Will. It really has nothing to do with you." Once she had everything she needed she headed back over to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she returned to the dorm room. She quickly dressed in a long denim skirt, scooped neck pale blue sweater and knee high boots. She pinned her hair up, put on her makeup and then turned to her worried roommate.

"Come on. Let's go get some dinner."

***

"That's it," Buffy said pointing at a picture in one of Giles's books. "That's the toad demon I was fighting."

Everyone leaned over to look. Buffy had given them a carefully expurgated version of her adventures over the past several, to her, days.

"Oh, that's a Todalious Demon, Buffy," Anya said. "You didn't need to attack it. They're non-violent."

"Non-violent?" Buffy exclaimed. "Anya, it knocked Spike and me around like we were sock puppets and then sent us to another dimension. We didn't even know if we would ever get back!"

Anya shrugged. "You attacked it, Buffy. Of course it defended itself. And it brought you back when it was finished with its business here."

"What business, Anya?" Giles asked in concern.

"Shopping, I'd imagine."

"Shopping?" a chorus of voices inquired.

"For what?"" Buffy asked.

"Mushrooms."

Giles removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "You're telling us that this, uh, Todalious Demon came here to buy mushrooms?"

Anya nodded. "Portabello."

"Why?" Buffy asked, a thoroughly nonplussed look on her face.

"Because they like them and can't grow them in their home dimension," Anya answered reasonably. "A merchant who comes here and buys a few pounds of mushrooms would become moderately wealthy." Turning suddenly to Xander, she said, "Xander, you could do that. Then you wouldn't have to sell dry tasteless energy bars to your friends. You could make lots of money and buy me many nice things."

"Yeah, good idea, Anya." Xander said dryly. "There's only the little problem of actually, you know, getting to the toad's dimension."

"Oh," Anya said downcast. "Yes, that would be a problem."

"Plus, I understand the currency exchange rate between Earth and the toad dimension really sucks right now," Willow quipped.

"So this Toadalicious demon didn't cause any problems while I was gone?" Buffy asked ignoring the byplay.

"Not that we are aware of, Buffy," Giles answered. "And in point of fact," he continued, "you were only gone a few hours by our reckoning."

"Seemed longer to me," Buffy murmured.

Giles gave her a small smile and made a little sidewise nod. "Yes, well having had to endure Spike's company for an extended period of time, I can sympathize. I can only assure you that one does eventually recover from the experience."

Buffy stood up abruptly. "Yeah. Well, now that I know that the toad demon didn't cause any problems, I think I'll return to my regularly scheduled patrol."

"If you wished to take tonight off, Buffy, I don't think Sunnydale would suffer overmuch."

"Thanks, Giles," Buffy said as she headed to the door. "But I'm fine. I'm all rested, clean, and fed, and I really need to go burn off some energy. I'll see you guys later."

With that, she slipped through the door closing it tightly behind her.

Chapter 11

Buffy drew in a deep breath and headed in the direction of Spike's crypt. During dinner, Willow had casually asked Buffy if she were going to see Riley that evening. Buffy had made the excuse that she didn't know exactly when Riley would be back. Which was true, even if it wasn't the reason she wasn't going to see Riley tonight. She knew that tomorrow, or the next day, whenever she did see Riley again, she would have to break up with him. It wouldn't be easy because she really did care for him, and she was aware of how much he cared for her. Plus, he had been her way into The Initiative, and she really wanted to know exactly what they were up to. But that was a worry for tomorrow, or the next day.

The sun had set and the vampires of Sunnydale would be on the prowl, but for tonight, Buffy was concerned with only one particular vampire. Maybe, at some distant point in the future, Buffy would recover from the experience of Spike, but for now... Buffy's heart stared pounding and her body warmed at the thought of Spike, and she started walking faster.

She was halfway to Spike's crypt when she started to slow up and finally stopped completely as the realization of where she was going, what she was planning on doing when she got there, sank in.

Oh god, she whispered desperately to herself. I'm rushing to have sex with Spike.

Not just sex, Buffy's irritating little internal voice told her. You want to see him, talk to him. You miss him, and it's only been a few hours since you were with him.

Buffy groaned, leaned against a tree, and lowered her head to her hands. She couldn't argue with herself over that. She did want to see him, be with him. She was well aware that he was irritating and arrogant and, well, evil. But he could also be sweet and considerate and funny. She'd come to know a whole different Spike on their adventure. And when it came to making love... Buffy flushed at the memory of their lovemaking.

But it all came back to one thing. Slayer - vampire.

I can't do this, she thought miserably. I shouldn't do this. What would her friends think? What would Giles think? What would her mother think? She was seriously thinking about breaking up with a perfectly nice, normal guy so she could date another vampire. Well, okay, she was going to break up with Riley no matter what; she'd decided that even before she'd had sex with Spike. But she just couldn't continue with Spike.

She was the Slayer. She knew what was expected of her. Being with Spike was wrong. She knew it. Not seeing him again was right. She knew that too.

Why did she feel so miserable about doing the right thing?

She pushed away from the tree, glanced in the direction she'd been heading, and determinedly turned in the opposite direction. She'd do what she'd told her friends she was going to do. Patrol. And when she was finished, she'd go back to the dorm, study, and go to bed. She'd put Spike and what had happened between them out of her mind. As for Spike, well surely he would realize she'd changed her mind when she didn't show up.

When she found herself standing outside Spike's crypt thirty minutes later, she sighed. Okay, she felt guilty about just leaving Spike hanging, waiting for her to show up. She'd do the right thing and tell him she wasn't going to be with him. That way she wouldn't have her conscience nagging at her. Opening the door, she was surprised to see the interior of the crypt was pitch dark.

"Spike?"

"Down here, love."

Buffy glanced around in confusion until her eyes adjusted enough to the gloom for her to make out a glow coming from the floor near the sarcophagus. Walking cautiously over to it, she saw that it was a trapdoor leading down to a lower level.

"Spike? You down there?"

"Yeah. Come on down, Buffy."

When Buffy reached the lower level she saw Spike holding up a tape measure against one of the walls of a chamber that appeared to be carved out of the bedrock.

"What are you doing?"

He glanced at her with a smile. "Grab the end of this, will you, love? I'm measuring to see where it'd be best to put the bed."

"Bed?" Buffy asked weakly.

"Well, yeah. Don't expect you'd want to use that sarcophagus upstairs when you come to visit so I thought I'd fix this room up. Bring in a nice comfy bed. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Spike, look, we have to talk," she said uncomfortably.

He looked at her and pulled the tape measure away from the wall.

"Don't tell me," he said with a sigh. "Let me guess. You've changed your mind again. You're the Slayer; I'm a vampire. This is wrong. Blah. Blah. Blah."

"It is wrong, Spike," Buffy said quietly, "and you know it is."

"Yeah, I do know it, Buffy. And I don't care." He came up to her and laid his arms over her shoulders, clasped his hands together and leaned into her. "I don't care if it's wrong," he repeated softly. "I just want to be with you. And you want to be with me; I know it."

"Spike-" But she got no further as he captured her mouth. Buffy's knees betrayed her once again and she grabbed onto him for support. His arms slid off her shoulders and he wrapped them around her waist, drawing her tightly against him. Their mouths parted and came together again as the frenzy of their passion grew. Spike lifted her up and pushed her against a wall, his hand trailing down to pull up her skirt. Buffy lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist as his hand slid up her thigh and over her hip. His mouth caressed her neck and Buffy's gasping breath filled the small cavern.

"Need you, Buffy," Spike whispered as his hand trailed around and pushed aside the crotch of her panties. Buffy gasped as his fingers slid over her clit and she titled her head to give him access as he nibbled at her neck. "It's been too long since I've had you, love."

"This morning," Buffy panted.

"It was morning there," Spike said is a growling, passion-driven voice. "Days have passed there since we were together. I can't be without you for days, Buffy." He pushed a finger inside her. She was so ready for him that he easily slid inside. He added another finger, stroking her swollen inner flesh until she sobbed in need. His hand left her then, and he fumbled at his zipper trying to free himself.

The sound of the door upstairs slamming open and the shouts of male voices broke through the haze of their lovemaking. Their heads snapped to the side as a voice called out, "This crypt's occupied, men. Fan out and search for the HST."

"Riley," Buffy whispered as she pushed Spike away. The sound of Riley's voice had immediately cooled her ardor. She straightened her clothes and then turned to Spike. "I'll get rid of them. You stay here and keep quiet."

Spike nodded and glanced nervously up at the trapdoor. Buffy hurried to the ladder and then hesitated a second. She came back to Spike, took his head in her hands and kissed him. "Goodbye, Spike," she said softly with a hitch in her voice.

"Buffy," he whispered, desperately grabbing at her, but she slipped from his grasp.

She scrambled up the ladder and shielded her eyes when several flashlight beams blinded her. "Hey, guys! It's me."

"Buffy!" Riley hurried over to her and held out a hand to help her out of the opening in the floor. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought you guys were out on marauders."

"Maneuvers," Riley answered with a smile. "And we were. We got back about an hour ago. We reported in and Professor Walsh had an emergency assignment for us. We're searching for a Polgara demon that was reported in the area. Have you seen it?"

"Nope. Never heard of it," Buffy said casually leading Riley away from the trapdoor.

"So what were you doing down there?"

"Down there? Oh, uh, just taking care of the crypt's occupant. You guys don't have to worry about him."

"Good. So, you want to join us in our hunt?"

"No, thanks, Riley. I really need to get back to the dorm."

Forrest was standing next to a small TV set and as he turned to leave, he lifted up his rifle preparing to smash the butt of the rifle into the TV's screen.

"Stop!" Buffy shouted.

Riley looked at her in surprise.

"Uh, it's just that if that TV works, uh, Xander needs a new TV and maybe he might want it."

"At ease, soldier," Riley officiously told Forrest.

Forrest scowled at Buffy and left the crypt with the rest of the unit.

"He really doesn't like me, you know."

"Sure he does," Riley insisted.

Buffy shrugged, not really caring if Forrest liked her or not, and followed the men into the cool night air. Outside the crypt, Riley stopped her. "I'm not sure how long we'll be tonight, but if you want to wait in my room..."

"No," Buffy said a bit too quickly. Calming down a bit, she explained, "I really need to study tonight. Could we meet up tomorrow for coffee or something?"

Riley gave her a pleased smile. "Sure, I have a free hour at ten. We can meet for coffee then if you like."

"Yeah, okay. That's good for me too. I'll meet you at the cafeteria, okay?"

"Okay." He glanced around to where his men were waiting for him. "Look, I've got to go. See you tomorrow."

Buffy watched for a bit as the men moved away, and then looked once more at the door to Spike's crypt. It was hard to resist the desire she felt to return to Spike and finish what they'd started, but she pushed past her feelings and left. She walked through the cemetery with her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if holding herself together.

Tomorrow she was going to break up with one boyfriend because she was afraid she would never love him, and tonight she'd broken up with another because she was afraid she would.

Welcome to my life, she thought miserably.

Chapter 12

Spike waited anxiously while Buffy headed off the goon squad that had invaded his home. He hated the fear he felt every time he saw one of the uniformed bastards, and he hated hiding behind the Slayer's skirts. One day he would be free again, and on that day he vowed he'd get his revenge.

At last he heard them leave and he relaxed slightly. It was then that he began to worry about Buffy. Was she going to return to him? He knew she'd been as worked up as he was, but she was a stubborn little thing. She'd come to break up with him, but he'd been able to wear down her resistance with a single kiss. He just needed to keep her on her back until she was as addicted to him as he was to her.

He cautiously climbed the ladder to the upper level, listening to make sure the soldiers didn't suddenly return, and crept to his front door. Pressing his ear against the thick wood, he tried to make out any sounds from outside. He heard the murmur of voices and sensed Buffy's presence. He decided to return to the lower level for a while until the commandos had time to leave the area.

When he felt he'd waited long enough, he climbed up the ladder and hurried to his door. A quick listen assured him that no one was talking outside, and he couldn't sense Buffy's presence any longer. Carefully opening the door, he slipped out, listening, scenting the air. The commandos had gone one way but Buffy's scent led him in a different direction.

Breaking into a loping trot, he followed the musky scent trail and soon caught sight of Buffy. He slowed up as he watched her walk. She had her arms wrapped around herself and was hunched in on herself.

Poor lamb, he thought. Once she gives over, admits she wants me, she'll be happy again. With that thought in mind, he ran up to her and took her arm, turning her around.

"Didn't think you could get away from me that easily, did you, pet?" he asked with a smile. He stopped smiling when she jerked her arm out of his grasp.

"Go home, Spike. It's over between us."

"It's not, Buffy. You were all over me back there before your soldier boy showed up."

Buffy closed her eyes briefly. "You need to get over what happened in that other dimension. We were forced into a weird situation and it made us crazy, but we're home now and things need to go back to normal."

She turned around and started to walk away from him, but he reached out and grabbed her arm again. The force of his body hitting a tree startled him more than hurt him, and he felt his temper rise. He jumped up, ready to hit back, but stopped. Not because the chip wouldn't allow him to hurt her, but because he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Leave me alone, Spike," she whispered. "I don't want you anymore."

He watched silently as she ran from his sight.

***

Spike spent the next week or so in an alcoholic haze that he didn't come out of until he was beaten bloody by a group of demons at Willy's. They warned him against killing any more his own kind but left him undusted, at least for now. He managed to get home just before sunrise and spent several days healing.

After that, he spent less time drunk and more time hunting. The first ones he tracked down were the demons that had beaten him up. The fights and violence helped him keep his mind off of Buffy. He saw her occasionally from a distance. Sometimes he'd follow her, watching her as she patrolled or hung out with her friends. The lack of Riley Finn in her entourage intrigued him, but he never approached her. The memory of the tears in her eyes tore at him, and he didn't want to cause her further pain.

Sometimes though, he raged at himself for allowing the memory of tears to hold him back. Ever since he'd awakened to his new life, he'd taken what he wanted. Tears had never stopped him. He'd thrived on tears and pain and sex and fear and blood. But now he couldn't take the thing he wanted most. Not just because she was the Slayer he told himself, but because of the chip in his head. He'd do just about anything to get that hated bit of wiring out of his cranium.

***

Winter passed into spring and the buzz in the demon community centered around two subjects. The first was that Maggie Walsh, the bitch in charge of The Initiative, had been skewered by a Polgara demon and was dead. He drank a silent toast in honor of the demon that had put Maggie Walsh out of everyone's misery. The second was that a powerful new unknown was killing and dissecting humans and demons alike. Since very few of the bar's patrons would associate with him - the rather gruesome deaths of the demons that had beaten him up had not gone unnoticed and he was given a wide berth wherever he went - Spike learned this news by overhearing the gossip in Willy's.

Feigning disinterest, Spike listened carefully to the conversations going on around him. He didn't care about the deaths of either human or demon, but he knew that whatever the thing was that was doing the killing, the Slayer would be on the hunt for it. Hearing nothing that would either help or hurt the Slayer, he tossed back the last of his blood chaser, got up, and left the bar.

**

It was late the next morning and Spike was snoozing on the sarcophagus in his crypt when footsteps slowly approached. Just as a hand was about to reach his throat, Spike grabbed it. Without opening his eyes he said with amusement, "From the sound of those massive mud flaps, I'd peg you as a demon. Which means you're in for a world of..." He opened his eyes to see a huge Frankenstein-like demon. "Pain," he finished, his eyes widening. He threw aside his blanket, jumped off the sarcophagus, and looked in shock at the massive monster.

"Spike, I want you to come with me."

"Do you?" he asked with a shrug. "Well, let's go then," he said agreeably. He acted as if he were turning to leave and then swung back to punch the intruder in the gut. It was like punching concrete. He shook his hand as it throbbed with pain. "Ow."

"Come," the monster said taking a step forward. Spike jumped back. "You're going to help me with my problem."

"Why is that, exactly?"

It smiled in pleasure. "I'm going to help you with yours."

***

The lights were on in Giles's apartment. Spike hesitated for a second, then straightened his shoulders, put on his Big Bad, and turned the doorknob. The door was unlocked and he walked in unimpeded by human or supernatural barriers. Giles sat in an armchair reading a book while music played softly from the stereo. A glass of amber liquid sat on a side table within easy reach.

"I wouldn't say no to a drink, Giles. Thanks."

Giles started up out of his chair and frowned when he saw Spike. Taking off his glasses he demanded, "How did you get in here?"

"Through the door," Spike explained with a smirk. "It was unlocked. You should watch that. Someone dangerous could get in."

"Or someone formerly dangerous and now merely annoying," Giles shot back. "What do you want?"

Spike shrugged, walked over to the side table and took up Giles's drink. "This will do for a start," he said, saluting Giles and downing the whiskey. "Good stuff."

"You've had your drink," Giles said coldly. "Now get out."

Spike set the glass down and sighed. "Look, I didn't come here for drinkies, mate. I've got important information I thought you might like to know about. It concerns the Slayer."

"And this information would be?" Giles asked distrustfully.

"I know what's been mutilating the bodies that have been showing up."

"Thank you, Spike, but we're already aware of what it is."

"Oh. Then I guess you know what its plan is."

Giles hesitated. "Are you telling me you do?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm telling you."

"And how would you know this information?"

"Wouldn't mind another taste of your Scotch," Spike said with a smirk as he settled himself comfortably in Giles's armchair.

"And I wouldn't mind driving a stake into your chest, Spike." Spike's smirk turned into a scowl. "So if you wish to avoid that fate, I suggest you tell me what you have to say and then get out."

Spike stood up again, a look of anger on his face. "Fine, Rupert. You want me to leave; I'll go. And when your Slayer is lying dead at your feet, you can blame yourself." He headed toward the door with a swirl of black leather.

"Spike, wait!" Giles called after him.

Spike stopped and glanced over his shoulder at the Watcher.

Giles sighed. "Come back here and tell me what you know. If it's useful, you'll be compensated."

Spike turned back around and said simply, "I had a visitor at my crypt this morning."

***

"So this creature is planning the complete annihilation of the human race?"

Giles was sitting in his chair starting intently at Spike who was sitting is a chair across from him.

"Yeah, nice, innit? No more of you lot clogging up the roadways."

Giles glared at him. "Why are you telling me this, Spike?"

"Think, Giles. I'm a vampire. I may be shackled right now, but eventually I'm going to get rid of my little affliction. And when I do, humans will be back on the menu, won't they? But if this Adam thing gets rid of all of you, it's pig's blood for eternity."

"Why did Adam come to you and tell you his plan?"

"He wants my help, doesn't he?" Spike explained. "He knows I was in with you lot, and he thinks I can lure the Slayer into a trap. Get her to lead the humans into a massacre."

"What did he offer you for your help with his plan?" Giles asked shrewdly.

Spike hesitated, and then decided to stick with the truth. "He said he'd take my chip out."

Giles sat bolt upright.

"Calm down, Rupert. If I was going to go along with him, I wouldn't be telling you all about it, now would I?"

"Forgive me if I fail to put my full trust in your integrity, Spike. I don't see why you would come to me when there's an opportunity, however slight, to get your chip removed."

"I've already told you, Giles. No people equals pig's blood for eternity. Not something I'm willing to sign up for."

Giles looked at him suspiciously for a minute and then stood up and walked to his telephone.

"You calling the Slayer?" Spike asked, also standing up.

"Yes. She needs to know about this right away."

"Look, hold off a second." Spike reached into his duster pocket and pulled out several computer disks. "Adam gave these to me as a lure for the Slayer. I was supposed to use these as a means to get back in good with you lot. There are supposed to be files, design schematics, all kinds of tidbits about The Initiative on 'em. He's says it's all good information about Maggie Walsh's little house of horrors. There's even supposed to be information about him in them." He shrugged. "I guess he's not too worried about anything you find out about him. You can have Willow look at them, and she can figure out if they're useful or not." He threw them down on the coffee table and started to walk to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Me? I'm out of here. Mr. Bits is going to figure out I double-crossed him, and I don't want to be around when he does, so I'm off for parts unknown."

"You'll stay here and tell your story to Buffy first."

"Look, Rupert, I told you everything I know. Just tell Buffy exactly what I told you."

"You can lead her to him."

"If I do, she'll get killed." He ran his hand through his hair causing curls to pop up all over his head. "Look, you lot need to make a plan before she confronts him. I hit the bastard and damned near broke my hand. He's not your average demon, Giles."

"So that's what this is all about, is it? You're frightened of him," Giles said derisively.

Spike took immediate umbrage. "Sod off, Giles. I'm leaving because the Slayer wants no part of me. I told you everything I know. I gave you the disks, now I'm off."

"And I'll send Buffy right after you. I don't know what you're up to Spike, but until Willow has had a chance to look over those disks and we've had a chance to investigate your story, you're not going anywhere."

Giles turned his back and Spike glared impotently at him. This was not going according to plan. He'd known the Watcher was alone, that was why he'd come in. He was just going to tell his story, drop off the disks, and leave. He watched anxiously as Giles said into the receiver, "Joyce? Giles here. Is Buffy still there?"

Chapter 13

The door opened some ten minutes later and Buffy breezed in. "Okay, Giles, I'm here. What's the big emergency?" She stopped abruptly when she spotted Spike, her face paling visibly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Not my idea, Slayer," he told her in a toneless voice. "I told Giles everything I knew, but he wouldn't let me leave."

Buffy looked over at her Watcher who stood in the doorway of his kitchen, a cup of tea in his hand. "Giles?"

"Spike's met our friend Adam."

Buffy's eyes flew back to Spike. "Are you okay?" she asked anxiously. Her eyes flew to her Watcher again and she added, "I-I mean, Adam's been killing everything he sees."

Spike tilted his head to the side and studied Buffy intently. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Giles came into the living room, frowning slightly. "Tell her what you told me, Spike."

Spike repeated his story, answering Buffy's questions and finally pointing to the computer disks that lay on Giles's coffee table.

"So, we need to get Willow on this ASAP," Buffy said.

"ASAP, Slayer? Is that jargon from your soldier boyfriend?" The sneer was evident in Spike's voice.

"Shut up, Spike."

"Yes, please do, Spike," Giles chimed in. Looking at Buffy he said, "I left a message on the answering machine in your dorm room, Buffy, but she hasn't-" At that moment the phone rang and Giles went to answer it.

Buffy and Spike sat in tense silence while Giles spoke on the phone. Buffy seemed nervous in his presence, which intrigued Spike.

"Ah yes, Willow, good. We were just talking about you. We need your computer and your expertise. Yes, of course. Outside your dorm. Very well."

He hung up and said to Buffy, "I need you to go pick up Willow."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Me? Giles, you know that cars and Buffy are unmixy things."

"Yes, well as much as I hate to turn the keys to my car over to Spike again, he can drive you."

"Oh, no. That's really not a good idea," Buffy said with a hint of panic in her voice. "Why don't you go pick her up? I mean we. You and me. We could go together to pick her up."

"I daren't drive right now, Buffy," Giles explained. "I've had a couple glasses of Scotch."

"Yeah, you really should watch that, Rupert. Sitting here alone and drinking. Turn you into an alcoholic, that will," Spike mocked.

"Shut up, Spike," Buffy said again automatically.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but remained silent.

Grabbing her jacket up from where she'd thrown it across the back of the couch, she sighed. "Come on. Let's go pick up Willow."

Spike eyed her as she walked to the front door and then took the keys that Giles was handing him.

"Wreck this car, Spike, and I swear I will stake you."

Spike smirked, snapped him a little two-fingered salute and followed Buffy out the door.

He made the obligatory penis reference when he saw the sleek red convertible. Buffy just rolled her eyes and walked around to the passenger door and then tensed when Spike unlocked the door and held it open for her.

"I can open my own door, Spike."

"Yeah. Just get in, Buffy."

She got in the vehicle, being careful not to brush against him, Spike noted, and buckled her seat belt. Spike closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. He got in, adjusted the seat, and slipped the key in the ignition. The car purred to life, and he caressed the steering wheel.

"Not a bad car, really," he said in appreciation.

"Don't even think about stealing it, Spike," Buffy said dryly.

Spike grinned at her and put the car into reverse backing it out of the carport. He drove more slowly than usual, wanting to stretch out the time with Buffy. He hadn't wanted to see her tonight, hadn't wanted to put himself though the pain of being near her and not touching her, but now that she was here, he was going to take full advantage of his time with her. For her part, Buffy sat quietly looking out the side window. When Spike reached the stop sign at the end of Giles's block, she looked over at him and asked, "Why are you really doing this?"

"Because you're a lousy driver and Giles is drunk."

Buffy glared at him. "That's not what I meant and you know it. Why did you come and tell us about Adam?"

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and then returned his attention to the road. "I told you the first time we teamed up that I like this world just fine the way it is. I mean, come on, Slayer, have you ever seen a demon playing footie? Pathetic."

He saw a brief smile cross Buffy's lips, but then it disappeared. "But you could get your chip out. I thought that's what you wanted."

"Yeah, it is." He hesitated for a moment and then continued. "Let's say I went along with Adam - helped him annihilate the human race. After it was all over he would either keep his promise to remove my chip, or he'd decide I'd outlived my usefulness and dust me. I know demons, Buffy. They aren't big on making good on their promises. Now let's say he did remove my chip. The other thing about demons is they aren't big on letting go of minions unless they kill them themselves. And I have no desire to spend the rest of my unlife as a minion to Maggie Walsh's bouncing baby boy."

"Oh."

They were silent again until Spike said softly, "So, how have you been, Buffy? You look good."

"I'm okay. You?"

"Livin' la dolce vita, love."

Quiet filled the car's interior once again until Spike said, "I've missed you, Buffy."

"Spike, don't."

"Look, I know there's no future for us. You've got your Captain Cardboard, and-"

He stopped when Buffy looked at him in surprise. "What?"

"We broke up."

Now it was Spike's turn to be surprised. "You did? When?"

Buffy shrugged nonchalantly, though Spike could sense her discomfort. "The day after, uh..."

"The day after you broke up with me?"

"The day after we got back from the other dimension," she said firmly.

Spike smirked. "So soldier boy couldn't make the grade after me, eh?

Buffy rolled her eyes. "You really aren't all that, you know."

"Yeah? Want to put that to the test, love?" They had entered Sunnydale's business district, and Spike suddenly pulled the car into the lot of a drive-through branch of the Bank of Sunnydale. Ignoring Buffy's protests, he pulled around to the back of the bank where the car was hidden from the view of oncoming traffic. After he turned off the car engine, he twisted in his seat, reached over, and trailed the back of a finger down the side of Buffy's face. "Prove to me I'm not all that."

"Spike, stop it." Her voice was slightly breathless.

"Afraid, Buffy? You told me you don't want me anymore. Prove it to me."

He felt a shiver pass though Buffy's body, and he could smell her reaction to his touch. Even all these weeks later, his slightest touch made her ready for him.

"Don't touch me, Spike," she said in a quavering voice. She reached over to push him away, but he captured her hand and brought it to his lips pressing a tender kiss to the back of her hand. Buffy closed her eyes, and he could hear her heartbeat accelerate. He turned her hand over and pressed another kiss into the palm. Letting go of her hand, he found the button that released her seat belt and pressed it. The belt retracted and Spike slipped his arm around her waist. He lowered his head to her neck and lightly kissed the tender skin. Buffy gasped and moved her head aside giving him greater access. He trailed kisses up her neck, over her jaw and up to her mouth where he gently bit her lower lip. She moaned and opened her mouth for him to plunder. He accepted her invitation and kissed her deeply, his tongue entwining with hers. She grasped the sleeve of his duster and turned into him.

His hand slid up from her waist to cup her breast, pinching the hardened nipple between thumb and forefinger. The tiny whimpers and moans that escaped from Buffy's throat drove him on and he unbuttoned her shirt. Slipping his hand inside, he pushed up her bra and lowered his head to take her breast into his mouth. His hand slid between her legs and he began to stroke her through her slacks. Buffy thrust up into his hand, keening cries of need filling the darkened interior of the car. Lifting his head from her breast, he gasped, "Let's get into the back seat, love."

He knew immediately that he'd made a mistake. Buffy's eyes flew open and she pushed him away forcefully. Straightening her clothes and refastening her seat belt, she said with a trembling voice, "We're not doing this, Spike. Let's just go get Willow."

Spike's hands curled in frustration, and his cock throbbed in painful need. He turned angrily in his seat, started the car, threw it into gear, and pressed down on the accelerator causing the car to fishtail as he pulled out of the lot.

"Slow down!" Buffy yelled as he raced down the street. He slowed down not only because his chip was beginning to fire a bit, but also because, even as angry and frustrated as he was, he really had no desire to kill Buffy in a car accident. The remainder of the trip was made in frosty silence.

When they pulled up in front of Stevenson Hall, Spike saw a blonde girl standing next to Willow. Buffy released her seatbelt and scooted forward, pulling the back of her seat up so that the two girls could get into the back seat. The blonde entered first and Willow followed.

"Hi, Buffy! You remember Tara don't you? From my Wicca group? We were practicing some spells and-" She stopped babbling when she spotted Spike at the wheel.

"Spike!"

"Red."

She looked wide-eyed at Buffy who explained tensely, "Giles couldn't come."

"Oh."

Spike's senses were still filled with the scent of Buffy's arousal, but as the girls settled in, another scent reached him. He looked from Willow to the girl she'd called Tara and back to Willow again. Willow cast a nervous glance at him and he raised an eyebrow. His eyes drifted back to Tara, and he gave Willow a knowing smirk. Willow paled under his scrutiny, cast a panicked look at Buffy who was refastening her seatbelt, and turned pleading eyes to him.

"Spike! Are we going or do you plan to sit here all night?"

Spike scowled at Buffy, but turned back around and drove off. As they drove, Buffy filled Willow in on the situation. By the time they reached Giles's apartment, Willow was eager to look at the computer disks.

Spike followed the girls into the apartment and perched on one of the stools that stood in front of Giles's counter. Willow turned on her computer and slipped one of the disks into the floppy drive while Tara hovered at her side. As the files opened, Tara said, "It looks like gibberish."

"Rats," Willow said in disappointment. "They're encrypted."

Spike snorted. "You didn't think he was going to give you something easy, did you? You can fix 'em, can't you, Red?"

"Crack a government encryption code on my laptop? Easy as really difficult pie."

"How long is it going to take?" Buffy asked impatiently.

"I don't know, Buffy. Hours? Days? Anyone suggesting months would not be accused of crazy talk."

"Adam wanted us to have this information. It can't be that hard."

Willow just shrugged. "I'll do the best I can, Buffy."

Buffy had been pacing since they'd entered the apartment and casting furtive glances at Spike. The scent of her arousal was still strong and it teased at Spike so that his need for her never lessened. Realizing that it was probably going to take some time before Willow would crack the encryption code, Spike stood up gathering his coat around him to hide his bulging erection and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked sharply.

"Home," he answered without stopping. "You lot don't need me anymore." He exited the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Chapter 14

He hadn't gotten far before Buffy was beside him, grabbing his arm and pulling him around.

"You're not leaving just yet, Spike."

"Yeah, actually. I am. I have something needs taking care of."

"What?" she asked suspiciously. "Another meeting with Adam to let him know his plan is working?"

Spike glared at her. "I told you the truth, Buffy, so, no, I'm not meeting Adam. It's something personal I need to take care of."

"What?"

Instead of answering her, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his erection, curling his hand over hers so that her hand encircled it. "I can't stand this any longer, Buffy," he said in a strained voice. "I've got to go take care of it."

He moved her hand up and down his length. Buffy's eyes closed and her breath sped up as she leaned into him. He dropped his hand away from hers, but her hand remained on him.

"Oh, god, love," he moaned as he pressed his forehead against hers, his breath coming is panting gasps. Buffy lifted her face and he could see his need reflected in her eyes. She hooked her arm around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss as she continued stroking him. They stood only feet away from Giles's front door, but neither was aware of anything but their renewed passion.

"Come with me to my crypt, Buffy, please," he begged. Buffy shook her head. Dropping her hand from his erection, she pulled away from him and said in an agonized voice, "I don't want this, Spike."

"Yes you do, love." He pulled her back into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

"Why can't I get you out of my system?" she whispered raggedly.

"I ask myself that same question every day."

She tilted her head up and Spike kissed her. He molded his hands around her buttocks and pulled her hips tight up against him. She clung to him rubbing against his erection. Spike feared he was going to come right then and there. "Buffy, my crypt, please," he begged again.

"We can't go to your crypt," she said breathlessly. "Adam might show up there."

"Giles's car?"

"You gave him back the keys."

"I can rip off the door."

A choked laugh escaped from Buffy. "You're not going to destroy his car, Spike. He'd kill you."

"Then where, Buffy? You're not saying no again, are you? I can't take it, love."

"No."

He stiffened and started to pull away, but she held onto him. "I mean, no, I'm not saying no again. I'm tired of fighting it, Spike. As long as I didn't see you, I told myself I didn't want you. But being near you, touching you, having you touch me..." She looked into his eyes. "I want you."

He pulled her to him, crushing her against his body. They kissed again and then he looked around trying to find a dark, private corner where they could go.

"Not here, Spike. Willow's going to be tied up for a while. We can go to my dormitory."

He nodded, kissed her again and pulled away. Together they ran through the streets of Sunnydale. The denim of his jeans chaffed against his hardened cock, but the knowledge that he would soon be making love to Buffy again spurred him on.

Buffy's hand was shaking as she fitted the key into her room's lock. The door finally opened and they spilled in. Buffy shut and locked the door and then grabbed Spike by the lapels of his duster and shoved him up against the door pressing her body to him and kissing him. She pushed his coat off his shoulders and it fell to lie in a puddle at his feet. When she drew back for air he smirked, "I like a woman who takes charge."

"Yeah? Then you're going to love this." Grabbing him by the shoulders, she tossed him across the room and onto her bed. He bounced and when he landed back on the mattress, Buffy leapt on top of him. She leaned forward, grabbed him by the hair, and kissed him hard. Leaning back she pushed at his shirt until it was over his head. She carelessly flung the shirt aside then ran her hands over his torso, stopping to lightly rub her palms over his nipples and then down to feather her fingers across his taut stomach. Her warm fingers felt like fire branding him and he arched his back. She leaned over to kiss his chest flicking her tongue over his nipples before scooting down his body so that she could kiss her way down his stomach to the area just above the waistband of his jeans. Spike's head was thrown back on the pillow and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, lost in the feel of her mouth on his skin. He felt her hands on his belt buckle and lifted his head to watch her unfasten his jeans and tug them past his hips and down his legs. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was finally released from the tight confines of his jeans.

She stopped long enough to remove his boots and then pulled his jeans the rest of the way off. Spreading his legs, she nibbled her way up his inner thighs until she reached the juncture of his legs. She gathered his balls into her hand and squeezed gently, then ran her finger along the skin between his scrotum and anus. Spike moaned loudly and bucked under her touch. Locking her eyes with his, she slid her tongue along the thick vein to the tip of his cock. She wrapped her hand around his length and then, taking just the head into her mouth, she began to suck and stroke him until he whimpered. Pulling back the foreskin, she twirled her tongue around the tip and dipped her tongue into the slit. Spike's head fell back on the pillow, and he almost sobbed when she took him full into her mouth.

He was rapidly losing control. It'd been too long, and Buffy's hot, sweet mouth and warm, strong hand were almost too much for him. "I'm going to come," he warned as he thrust into her mouth. She lifted her head from him and he gasped when her thumb and forefinger encircled the base of his cock and squeezed. He looked at her with wide eyes. "I didn't teach you that."

She smiled smugly. "Nope. Heard a couple girls talking on the quad at lunchtime one day."

Spike grinned. "Gotta love a girl with a higher education."

"Is it working?"

"Yeah, but I want you to get your clothes off now."

Buffy twirled her tongue around the head of his cock and sucked one more time, then rolled off the bed quickly pulling off her clothes. She straddled him, but before she could position herself over him, he grabbed her hips and pulled her up his body.

"Not yet, love," he murmured. When he had positioned her over his face, he spread her open and licked. Buffy moaned and grabbed tightly onto her headboard. He pulled her clit into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue over the swollen nub while Buffy whimpered and writhed above him. His fingers found their way inside her and he stroked her in time with the flicks of his tongue. She was so wet, so hot. Spike lapped at her greedily, reveling in the taste of her sex, loving the music of her groans.

When he felt her begin to tense, he pushed her back down his body until she hovered over his erection. He guided himself to her opening, and then grabbed her head, bringing her mouth to his. As they kissed, tongues entwining, teeth biting, Buffy slowly lowered herself onto him. When he was all the way in, she sat back, closed her eyes, and began to move. He held onto her hips and took in the view of her lovely nude body. Her small breasts bounced in time with her movements and sweat trickled down her breastbone. Unable to resist, he raised his hands to cup her breasts, pinching her nipples and squeezing the small, firm globes gently.

Buffy hissed in pleasure and tightened around him, squeezing him almost painfully. The sight of her face tense with the pleasure she was getting as she rode him and the feel of her slick, tight walls grabbing him brought him close to climax again. He moved his hands back down to her hips and put his thumb on her clit, rubbing lightly. Buffy whimpered and leaned forward, gasping as she moved faster until she cried out. She rode out her climax and then collapsed on top of him. Spike wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over onto her back. He thrust deep and hard, twisting his hips, hitting her in all the right places until he brought her to climax again. When he could no longer hold out, he cried out with his own release.

He lay in a boneless heap on top of her until enough strength returned to his limbs so that he could roll off her. She rolled onto her side and snuggled up against him, her head on his chest. He closed his eyes and ran his hand through her long, silky hair. The sex was even better than he'd remembered. Making love to Buffy the ordinary girl had been the most amazing thing he'd ever felt. That is until he'd made love to Buffy the Slayer. What that girl could do with a set of muscles...

He couldn't help but start wondering where tonight was going to lead them. He knew he should wait before pressing the matter, but he was an impatient sod. He pressed a kiss into her hair and asked, "What's going to happen now, Buffy? Is this just a one-night stand?"

Buffy lifted her head to look at him. "Way to dim the afterglow, Spike," she said dryly. "Do we have to talk about this already?"

"Are we going to talk about it?"

Buffy lay her head back down on his chest. "The problems are the same as they were before."

"Yeah, Slayer - vampire. Helluva tag team if you ask me."

He could feel her lips curl briefly into a smile, but then she sighed. "Is this just sex?"

"No, pet, it's mind-blowing sex."

She glowered at him and he smiled. "Teasing, love. It's more than sex. At least for me."

Buffy sighed again, laid her chin on the back of her hand, and looked up at him. "Us getting together would be the biggest disaster ever, Spike. You know that. We're supposed to be mortal enemies, not boyfriend-girlfriend."

"Do you feel like I'm your enemy now, Buffy?"

Buffy gave him a wry look, glanced down at their naked bodies pressed together, and said, "Right at this moment? Uh, no."

Spike smiled and ran his hand down her body. She drew in a ragged breath and pressed her hips into his leg. He could feel her wet curls dampening his thigh. They started to kiss, and it was some time later before they collapsed again in a sated heap.

When Buffy's breathing had calmed again, he said, "I know why you're worried, love, but I'm not Angelus." Buffy stiffened and pulled away from him. One hand lightly grasped her arm and she stilled.

"I don't want to talk about this, Spike."

"I know you don't, but we need to. I don't want to lose you again, and you don't want to lose me."

Buffy gave him a cold look. "You sure about that?

For some reason, that infuriated him. He fell back on the bed and snapped, "Fine, Slayer. Then leave."

"This is my dorm room, Spike. You leave."

He glared at her, rolled out of the bed and picked up his jeans. Tugging them on, he said, "You know what you're problem is, Slayer? You're so afraid of feeling something for someone again because of that sodding poof, you push everyone away."

Buffy knelt in the middle of the bed and snapped, "You don't know what you're talking about, Spike. You think because I don't want an evil boyfriend that I push everyone away?"

Spike buttoned his jeans and yanked up the zip. Turning around, he searched for his T-shirt. He glared at her as he snatched it from Willow's headboard and pulled it over his head. "What about your little soldier boy, Slayer? You tossed him out on his ear. Was he evil too? Oh, wait, hold a mo, he worked for that Walsh bitch, so I guess he was."

"Oh, he so was not! I broke up with him because, well, because!"

Spike snorted and sat down on the bed to pull on his boots. "Oh, that's a good reason. Because," he mimicked. He went to pull on his boot, but stopped.

"Are you going to let me leave, Buffy?" he asked softly, not looking at her.

She was quiet for several seconds and then he felt the mattress move. Her arms encircled his neck and he felt her head on his shoulder. "This can't have a happy ending, Spike."

"Happy endings are for fairytales, love. All we can hope for are happy moments."

"Wow, you're really a cock-eyed optimist, aren't you?"

He twisted until he faced her again and ran his fingers gently down her face. "I know more about this world than I hope you ever find out. And I know that happiness, real happiness, is rare. We have that, love, and not just when we're in bed. I want to give you happiness, Buffy. Let me."

Buffy swallowed and whispered, "You came back to Sunnydale to kill me, Spike, and now you want to make me happy?"

"I came back to Sunnydale because I couldn't get you out of my mind. I thought it was because I hated you. I was wrong. I learned that when that toad sent us to Oz. I don't understand these feelings I have for you, Buffy. I just know they're there and they're real."

Buffy sat back on her heels and looked down at her entwined fingers. "I have feelings for you too, Spike. But I'm afraid. I can't make another mistake."

"I know, love. But I promise you I'll be the best man I know how. And when I'm not, I'll have you to set me straight."

"I don't want to have to set you straight, Spike. I want a man who already knows what's right."

"I know I'm starting off with a handicap, being evil and all, but I can choose my own way, Buffy. I'm more human than you think. Even that great blue git, The Judge, said so. I was evil because I didn't have a reason not to be. Now I do."

She looked at him, a myriad of emotions flashing across her face, and he was afraid she was going to turn away from him again. He took her face gently between his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. "Buffy, please, love. If you care about me at all, give us a chance."

She pulled back and remained silent for an interminable time, but at last she said, "The gang is going to have a collective cow when they find out."

Relief spread through Spike's body. "So I guess we just have to be careful. Keep our relationship quiet, yeah?"

She shook her head. "I've learned the hard way that Buffy secrets always seem to come out at the worst possible time. If we're going to do this, Spike, it has to be out in the open."

He grinned wickedly. "Well, I don't mind public sex, Buffy, but I'm surprised you're into it."

"Oh!" she said in mock outrage and punched him lightly on the arm.

He laughed and pulled her to him for a deep kiss. "So, you and me, yeah?" he asked when they broke apart.

"I think I must be out of my mind, but yeah."

Chapter 15

Spike wanted to make love again, but Buffy insisted that they return to Giles's apartment. "Willow may have decrypted those disks by now."

"We could call and if she hasn't, we can stay here a bit longer," Spike wheedled, pressing kisses along the back of her neck. His hands slipped around and cupped her breasts, pinching and teasing her nipples.

Buffy allowed him to fondle her, but then pushed his hands away and got off the bed. "Later, Spike. Rule number one of the hero biz: kill the bad guy, then play."

Spike sighed and stood up. "I can already see this hero stuff is going to be a pain in the arse."

Buffy just grinned wickedly at him, grabbed her robe and wrapped it around herself. "I'm going to take a shower. You should too. I don't think we need to go back to Giles's smelling like, um..."

"Smellin' like we just shagged ourselves raw?" Spike said with a smirk.

Buffy blushed and handed him a towel and soap. Gathering up her own things, she exited the dorm room. Pointing to the men's shower, she entered the ladies bathroom and shut the door firmly in Spike's face. He grinned and made his way down the hall.

When they were ready, they left the dormitory. As they walked down the sidewalk Buffy said hesitantly, "Maybe we should wait until after we take care of Adam before we tell everyone that we're dating." Off Spike's look, she explained, "I just don't want to get everyone all upset right now. We need to stay focused on the job."

"Whatever you want, Buffy, but I know at least one of your little friends that'll probably be more open-minded than you might think."

"Huh? Who?"

Spike grinned and said, "Our little Willow has her own secret."

"What're you talking about? Are you saying Willow is dating someone and not telling us? Why would she do that?"

Spike shrugged. "Probably afraid you all would toss her out of the Scooby Squad."

Buffy stopped, put her hands on her hips, and demanded, "Spike, just tell me what you're talking about."

"Her little witch friend."

Buffy looked confused. "Tara? What does Tara have to-" Her eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Oh. Oh! Oh, no, no, no. You're so wrong, Spike. If Willow was... No, she'd tell me."

Spike shrugged again. "I smelled it when we picked them up tonight."

"Smelled what?"

"Them. All over each other. Just like I can still smell us all over each other."

Buffy's eyes widened again. "You can smell us?"

"'Course I can. Soap and water doesn't remove it that easily. Humans can't smell it, but demons can."

"Oh my god. You could smell it whenever I..."

Spike grinned wickedly and leaned into her. "My favorite time to smell you is when you're havin' your monthlies. Like you were the first time we fought."

Buffy covered her eyes with her hands and groaned, "Oh, god."

Spike opened his mouth to tease her some more when the bright beam of headlights and the toot of a car horn drew their attention. Spike looked up to see Xander's car pull over to the curb. The passenger side window rolled down.

"Is that man bothering you, little lady," a voice called out from the car's interior.

Buffy leaned down and said brightly, "Hi, Xander!" and then less enthusiastically, "Hi, Anya."

"Buffy," came Anya's disinterested voice.

"Where're you going, Xander?"

"We're on our way to the Multiplex. Wanna come?"

"We can't."

"Uh, wasn't actually including Spike in the invitation there, Buff."

"No, of course not," Buffy said quickly. "I just meant that, uh, none of us can. Spike brought us information about Adam. Willow's at Giles's and that's where we were headed. Want to join us?"

"Heck, yeah. You don't mind, do you, Anya?"

Spike could hear Anya sigh. "I guess not."

"Good. Get in, Buffy."

Buffy straightened up and opened the back door. "Come on, Spike."

"Do we have to include Fangless?" Xander whined.

Spike just smirked at Xander as he settled in beside Buffy. Buffy filled the couple in on Adam's visit to Spike and the disks Willow was working on.

"So, you actually believe this story Spike's telling?" Xander asked Buffy. "Uh, no offense there, Spike."

"Offense taken," Spike growled back.

"Yeah, I do believe it," Buffy said, surreptitiously patting Spike's knee as Xander pulled to a stop in front of Giles's apartment complex. Everyone in the apartment looked up as the door opened and the quartet filed in.

"Buffy! We were starting to get worried, you were gone so long."

"Yeah, sorry," Buffy said with no further explanation. "How's the decryption coming along?"

"Oh, pretty good. As long as pretty good means no progress at all." She sighed. "Spike, are you sure Adam actually wanted us to read these files."

Spike shrugged. "I told you what he said."

Willow sighed again and returned to typing furiously on her keyboard, mumbling words that made no sense to Spike. He headed to reclaim his seat on the barstool, but spotted a plate of cookies on the coffee table. Detouring, he snatched one up. Anya took a seat on the sofa and Xander sat on the coffee table so that he was facing into the room and within easy reach of the cookies. Buffy sat on a stool beside Spike and said to Willow, "I really hoped you'd have made more progress by now."

"Sorry, Buffy. I told you this wasn't going to be easy. I'm doing the best I can." The last was said in a bit of a plaintive wail.

"She's working really hard on it," Tara defended. Buffy and Spike exchanged glances. He wiggled his eyebrows and Buffy looked back at the two witches, a frown on her face.

Spike raised his cookie to his mouth and had just fastened his teeth on it when it was suddenly snatched away. He looked with a scowl at Buffy who had grabbed it from him and was now chewing contentedly on her ill-gotten gains. A gurgling sound captured his attention and he turned to see Xander staring wild-eyed at them.

"What?"

"B-buffy just took that cookie. From your mouth. And put it into hers."

Buffy's eyes widened and she looked at the cookie as if she'd never seen it before, then she looked at Spike, then at the cookie again, and then at Xander.

"Oops."

"Oops?" Xander's strangled voice asked. "Oops? What does 'oops' mean?"

Giles, Willow, and Tara were all staring at them now, too. Anya had been leafing through a magazine she'd taken from her purse and looked up in curiosity.

Buffy sighed, ate the last of the cookie, brushed her hands on her slacks and said, "Look, guys, I was going to tell you after we'd taken care of Adam."

"Tell us what?" Xander demanded. Then, "No, don't tell us. Do NOT tell us what I think you're going to tell us because... because, just no."

"I-I don't understand," Tara said.

"Buffy and Spike are having sex," Anya said. "Spike is a vampire, in case you didn't know," she informed Tara helpfully.

"That isn't at all what she said, Anya," Giles said in denial.

Buffy and Spike exchanged glances that left no one in doubt that Anya had been exactly right. Buffy looked desperately at her Watcher. "I know you're probably not happy about this, Giles, but..."

"Probably?!" Giles interrupted. "Buffy, have you completely lost your mind?"

"Of course not, Giles. It's just..."

"Willow!" Xander exclaimed in a voice of understanding. "Willow's done another spell."

"No I haven't," Willow protested. "Tara, tell them. We've only been trying to float stuff and little things like that. Tell them, Tara. I haven't done any wacky spells."

"She really hasn't," Tara assured everyone.

"This has nothing to do with Willow," Buffy insisted. "It's just... Look, I didn't tell you guys everything that happened when that toad thing sent us to that other dimension. Spike and I got to really know each other, and well..."

"Know each other?" Xander choked. "As in the biblical sense?"

Spike grinned, "What do you think?"

"Spike," Buffy warned. "Let me do this."

Spike shrugged and leaned back comfortably on the stool. He was content it was out in the open. He'd have gone along with keeping it secret, for a while at least, but he liked the idea of everyone knowing that Buffy belonged to him.

"Buffy, you really can't be serious about this," Willow said imploringly.

"Spike thought you at least would be more open-minded about this, Willow. Guess he was wrong, huh?"

Willow paled slightly and glared at Spike.

"Why would Willow be more open-minded?" Xander demanded. "None of us are going to be open-minded about this, Buffy. This is...is... bad."

"It's not that bad, Xander," Buffy insisted. "Spike's on our side now."

"Oh, please, Buffy, you cannot possibly believe that," Giles said in exasperation. "Whatever tale Spike's spun for you that he's good now, I remind you he doesn't have a soul, and that chip is no replacement for one."

"Well if you think I'm going to run out to the nearest gypsy and get one shoved in me, you're seriously mistaken, Rupert," Spike said.

"See, Buffy," Xander said. "He doesn't even want a soul."

"Why would I? So I can be all tortured and broody and then lose it the next time Buffy and I get together anyway? Forget it."

"Spike's fine the way he is," Buffy insisted. Spike turned to her, captured her head in his hands and kissed her.

"Thank you, love."

Protests abounded throughout the room until Buffy stood up and shouted, "Enough!" When the room had quieted, she said, "Spike and I are dating. Deal with it. Now, can we get on to more important things, like how we're going to get rid of Adam?"

There was general grumbling, but conversation returned to the impossible task of taking out a seemingly invincible monster. Willow returned to working at her computer and Buffy came over to her. Willow tensed slightly when Buffy asked quietly, "When were you going to tell me?"

Willow glanced uneasily at her. "He told you, huh?"

"Yeah. But he shouldn't have had to. I'm your best friend, Willow. You can tell me anything."

"Like you told me what really happened in that other dimension?" Willow countered in a hurt voice.

Buffy sighed. "I guess we've both been keeping secrets because we were afraid of what everyone else would think." She smiled at her friend. "I think now might be a good time to tell since nothing could upset everyone more than what I'm doing."

Willow smiled at Buffy and then looked at Tara. "What do you think, baby? Ready to come out of the closet?"

An hour later, everyone had come to grips with Willow's lifestyle change. Giles had gotten out the Scotch bottle and had made serious headway through its contents when Buffy decided it was time to leave.

"We'll get a fresh start tomorrow," she decreed. "Let's meet here at three. Xander, can you make it then?"

Xander agreed that he could. He offered rides to the girls, pointedly leaving Spike out of the invitation. Spike didn't care. He was of a mind to head to Willy's for a few drinks and a listen to the gossip. He never knew when a drunken demon would let slip something profitable. They walked out to the car and while everyone else got in, Buffy and Spike stopped on the sidewalk and wrapped their arms around each other.

"You can make it to the meeting tomorrow, right?"

"I'll be here, love. Just make sure Giles has the door unlocked and unspelled."

Buffy smiled. "I will." They were kissing goodbye, tongues entwining, hands exploring, when the blat of Xander's car horn intruded. Buffy pulled out of his arms. "Gotta go. See you tomorrow."

"All right, love. Sleep tight."

He watched until the car had disappeared from sight then turned to walk to Willy's. He hadn't taken more than a half-dozen steps when a creature stepped into his path. Spike jumped back in surprise. It was obviously one of Adam's get, and, if Spike wasn't mistaken, based on the creature's clothing had once been one of the Initiative louts. He wasn't looking too good right now, though. The top of his skull had been cut off and replaced with a mottled-skinned demon's skull. Electronic gadgets were stuck on either side of his head and demon skin covered his chin and neck. His left arm and hand were human while the right had been replaced by a demon's arm ending in a long-clawed hand.

"Adam sent me to find you."

"Yeah? Well, you found me."

"Come."

It turned and walked away without another word, apparently confident that Spike would obey his master's order. Spike swallowed nervously, but followed. The creature led him into the hills surrounding Sunnydale and into a large cave that Spike immediately recognized as the one Adam had brought him to just that morning. Tunnels opened east and west. The creature didn't hesitate, but led Spike to a small cavern filled with banks of computers and a few pieces of moldy furniture. Adam was sitting at one of the computers. A cable ran from a port in the side of his head into the computer's hard drive. He glanced up when the two entered the cave.

"Ah, Spike, good. I see Forrest found you."

"He was with the Slayer."

"Right, I was," Spike interjected quickly. "As per your orders."

"He was kissing her."

Adam looked at Spike curiously. Spike shrugged, smirked, and threw himself down comfortably on the ragged couch. Slipping a cigarette between his lips, he lit it, inhaled deeply, blew out a long column of smoke, and then rested his arms along the back of the couch, the picture of indolent ease. "Yeah, let's just call that a little bonus for me."

"Bonus?"

"For all the aggravation that bitch has given me over the past two years. I get to have a little fun with her," he ran his hand suggestively over his crotch, "and she thinks I'm besotted with her so she believes anything I tell her. The girl's a bit dim, you know. Then, when you give the word, I lead her like a lamb to the slaughter, and you take out this sodding chip."

He took another drag on his cigarette and exhaled. "Now, can we call this little meeting to order? There's a drink with my name on it waiting for me at Willy's."

Adam stared at him and then nodded. "Very well. I want to tell you the next phase of my plan."

Chapter 16

By the time Spike left the cave, there were only a couple hours left before dawn. He walked down the hill away from Adam's lair to the road that led into Sunnydale. As soon he was sure that he couldn't be seen from the cave's entrance, he began to run at top speed. He reached Stevenson Hall minutes later. A quick twist of the outer doorknob broke the lock and he entered the darkened lobby. Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached the second floor and ran down the hall to Buffy's room.

His pounding stopped when the door was wrenched open by an angry Buffy. She blinked in surprise when she saw who was banging on her door.

"Spike? What are you doing here?" She opened the door wider and stepped back, allowing him entrance. Willow sat up in bed, her face anxious and her hair a tousled mess.

"Just came from another meeting with Adam, love. I know what his real intentions are."

***

The sun was well up and the gang was once again assembled in Giles's living room. The Watcher looked the worse for wear; his indulgence of the night before was causing him grief this morning.

"Okay, Spike," Buffy ordered. "Tell the others what you told Willow and me."

Spike nodded. "Adam sent one of his minions after me last night. It led me to a cave in the hills where Adam has his lair. Adam isn't just planning on annihilating the human race. He plans on making an army of things like himself. A new life form, he called it. Better, faster and stronger than either humans or demons. Most of his army will just be drones mindlessly obeying orders, but a chosen few will be leaders. And the head of that group is going to be Buffy."

"What?!" Xander asked, shocked.

Giles looked as if he were going to be sick. "How?"

Spike took a cigarette out of his pack and lit it. His fingers were trembling and no one protested as he inhaled a deep drag. "The Initiative's overflowing with demons right now. Those prats have taken in more than they can contain. Adam plans to release them tomorrow night at just the right time - the time I lead Buffy into his trap. Once Buffy's assured him of maximum carnage in the fight between humans and demons, he's going to make sure Buffy's killed." He took another deep drag on his cigarette, walked over to the kitchen counter, and drank the last of the Scotch that remained in the bottle. Crushing his cigarette butt out in a teacup that sat there, he turned back around.

"There's supposed to be a secret laboratory in The Initiative. After she's dead, he's going to sweep up a few choice demon parts and build a better Buffy." He looked at his girlfriend. "Congratulations, love. You're going to get a new dad."

Giles ran his hand through his hair and looked intently at Willow. "Willow, you must crack that code on those disks. There may be something of use in them."

"I hope so, Giles," Buffy said. "But regardless, I have to stop Adam, and I need to do it today. I can't allow him to start his war so he can build his army."

"Yes, Buffy, I'm aware of that."

"No," Spike said emphatically.

"No?" Buffy said.

"You can't go up against him, Buffy. He's too strong; he'll kill you. Unless you want to become The Terminatrix, you have to stay away from him."

"I can't stay away from him, Spike. I have to do my job."

"Oh, don't tell me about your job, Slayer. I know all about your job. You've been trained to take on the monsters so a bunch of self-satisfied gits can sit on their fat asses and pretend they're the ones protecting the world. One Slayer snuffs it and another takes her place, right? You're just a renewable commodity to them, Buffy."

"How dare you?" a cold voice said from behind him.

Spike turned to see a look of icy rage on Giles's face.

"What's your real plan, Spike?" Xander sneered. "Keep Buffy away from Adam so he can complete his plan?"

"My real plan is to keep Buffy alive," he snapped back. "Unlike you lot, I'm not willing to sacrifice her for the greater good."

"Hey!" Willow said angrily. "You just watch yourself, buddy. While you were busy trying to kill her yourself, we were on the front lines helping her."

"Then help her now, Willow. Find a way for her to take out Adam without getting killed herself."

"Do not presume to come in here and tell us to help Buffy," Giles said coldly. He took a step closer to Spike. "Personally, I think the best way to help her right now is to eliminate you."

"All right!" Buffy shouted. "That's enough. Everyone just calm down." She turned to Spike. "I know you're just trying to protect me, Spike, but I'm going to face Adam. It's what I do. My friends will help me. It's what they do."

"Buffy..."

"This discussion is over, Spike." Looking at Willow, she said, "Get to work on that code, Willow."

Willow nodded, opened her laptop and turned it on. Buffy walked into the kitchen and began to make coffee. Spike followed her.

"Buffy, I'm sorry, love. It's just..."

"Hand me the coffee out of the pantry."

He knew she was upset, both by what he'd told her about Adam's plans and by the scene that had just played out. He knew he'd gone about it the wrong way, but these new feelings he had for her were overwhelming what little good sense he had. All he wanted to do was keep her safe so he could have her with him for a long, long time. He didn't care how many others died in her stead as long as she was safe.

But he was beginning to understand that if he wanted the girl, he was going to have to tamp down his own natural selfish tendencies. Being with Buffy meant accepting the whole Slayer package: stubbornness, pride, self-sacrificing heroics and all.

Well, if she was going to take on Adam no matter what he said, he needed to tell her everything. He could at least take one weapon out of Adam's hands.

He handed her the coffee tin and said, "Buffy, there's something else you need to know."

She gripped the counter and said in a slightly shaky voice, "What?"

"When that Forrest creature..."

"Forrest?" Buffy exclaimed, paling visibly.

"Yeah. He was one of those Initiative gits. Did you know him?"

Buffy nodded her head. "I didn't know he was dead."

"Sorry, love," he said though in truth he wasn't sorry for anything that happened to any of the soldiers responsible for his chip. "Anyway, when he found me, he saw us kissing."

Buffy looked at Spike in surprise. "Didn't he tell Adam?"

"Yeah, almost the first words out of his mouth when we walked into Adam's lair. Look, love, I had to cover up the truth, so I told Adam I was just using you, getting some of my own back by having you on yours."

Buffy swallowed and nodded. "Okay."

He took her face in his hands. "That's not how it is, Buffy. I care about you. So much I've turned my back on everything I ever was. I just wanted you to know what I told him in case he says something to you when you finally go up against him. I don't want you doubting me, doubting us. All right?"

Buffy nodded, and he leaned in to kiss her. At first she was stiff in his arms, but then she relaxed and opened her mouth to him. They held each other tightly until Tara said, "You did it!"

They looked over to where Willow was staring in confusion at her computer screen. "I didn't," she protested. "I haven't even finished typing in the new code I was going to try."

Giles walked over and read over Willow's shoulder. "Spike said that Adam wanted us to have this information. Apparently, it was programmed to decrypt on its own."

"Well, poop! I almost had it," Willow pouted. Then looking up sheepishly at Giles, she amended, "I mean, yippee! We have the information."

Giles smiled indulgently at her and continued to read. "Well, this confirms everything Spike just told us. Except the part about you, Buffy," he said glancing up at his Slayer. "Apparently Maggie Walsh's plan was indeed to build an army of cyber-demons. Adam is simply taking her plan and using it for his own ends."

"Does it give us any information we don't have?" Buffy asked as she joined the others at the computer.

"Wait," Willow said, rapidly typing. A schematic of a body came up on the screen with information regarding it to the side. "I think this is the blueprint for Adam. Oh, look!" She pointed to something on the screen. "Here's something we didn't know. His power source. It's a uranium core imbedded in his chest. There, see?" She pointed again, this time to an area on the body's schematic. "It's by his spine."

"Great," Xander said. "We just ask him to lie down quietly while we do some exploratory surgery."

"Maybe we could magic it out. A super-duper uranium core extraction spell," Willow offered. Then she sighed, "I know. I'm reaching."

Giles straightened up. "Perhaps a paralyzing spell." He went over to his bookcase. "I know of one that might work."

"Good," Buffy said. "How long would the spell last?"

Giles found the text he was looking for and took it from the shelf. Riffling through the pages he said, "I don't know, Buffy. Against a normal human, the spell lasts nearly an hour. Against a creature such as Adam? Perhaps only seconds."

"Which kinda tosses out the exploratory surgery plan," Xander said.

"Yeah, but it would give me time to punch my way in and rip the core out."

"That is if you could punch your way through his thick plating, love. I punched him and didn't make a dent."

"Yeah, well Buffy's stronger than you are," Xander said.

"Not by that much," he informed the boy. "We've always been pretty evenly matched in our fights."

"Yeah, right," Xander snorted.

Spike just rolled his eyes in disgust and returned his attention to Buffy. "Even if we both took him on at the same time, I don't think we could punch through his tough hide."

"Too bad we can't give Buffy a power-up," Xander said.

Giles looked up at him from where he sat leafing through his book.

"Yeah, I know. Shut up, Xander," he said apologetically.

"No, actually, that is a brilliant idea."

"It is?" everyone said in unison.

"Yes. There's a spell that we can use to temporarily increase her strength. The only problem is, we need to drain someone else's strength to give to her."

"Mine."

All eyes turned to Spike.

"If you use me," Spike said, "then you'll nearly double Buffy's strength."

Buffy looked at her Watcher. "Giles?"

Giles removed his glasses and stared at Spike thoughtfully.

"You'll be completely helpless while the spell is in effect," Giles warned.

Spike just shrugged.

"You're willing to make yourself that vulnerable?"

"I just said so, didn't I?" Spike said in annoyance.

"Very well then, Spike. I think that may just work."

Chapter 17

It took the rest of the day to get everything ready. Giles, Willow, Tara, and Anya worked out the adaptations to the spells that would temporarily paralyze Adam and imbue Buffy with Spike's strength. They also worked on the timing of the spell castings. Since Giles wasn't sure how long either spell would last, the power-up spell, as Xander was calling it, needed to be cast first closely followed by the paralyzing spell. It was decided that Giles and Anya would cast the paralyzing spell, and Willow and Tara would cast the power-up spell. To allow Buffy to have the maximum amount of time possible to extract the power core, Buffy and Spike needed to be in close proximity to Adam before the spells were cast.

Both Spike and Buffy had been antsy through most of the day. They'd tried to help research by going through the reference books that Giles was using to adapt the spells, but they both quickly became bored. Xander at least had gotten to leave the apartment on several occasions for doughnut, hamburger, and, not without a scowl, blood runs, and had driven Anya and the two witches to the magic shop to pick up needed supplies.

Spike did his best to hide his edginess. He'd said that he was willing to give Buffy his strength, and he'd meant it. He just hoped that whatever mucking about they were doing on the spell didn't bollix things up.

***

Spike was standing at the window watching the light fade when Buffy came up to stand beside him.

"They're almost ready."

Spike nodded. "All right."

"You sure you want to do this? Give me your strength?"

Spike turned to her and ran the back of his fingers down Buffy's cheek. "I'd give you my soul if I had one, Buffy."

She captured his hand and pressed a kiss to it.

"Let's do this then."

***

There was some discussion as to which route to take to Adam's lair. The tunnels from Spike's crypt offered more protection from early detection, but the route through the hills was much shorter. In the end it was decided to go with speed over stealth, and so everyone piled into the two cars for the trip to the hills by Kingman's Bluff.

Spike was a little concerned that they'd run into more of Adam's soldiers, but to his relief, they managed to reach the cave without interference. Once they were inside the main cavern, Giles, Willow, Tara, and Anya quietly went about getting everything ready for the spells. Spike and Buffy waited tensely for the nod from Giles that would be their signal to enter Adam's lair.

When the signal came, Buffy put her hand on Xander's arm. "I'm counting on you to watch over everyone out here, Xander."

"Don't worry, Buff. I'll take care of everything here. You just go and kick Frankenstein's ass."

Turning to her partner, Buffy said, "Come on, Spike. It's showtime."

They burst into Adam's lair. Adam was once again seated in front of his computer console and looked up in surprise.

"Spike, what is this?"

"Little change of plans, mate. Instead of me leading Buffy to her death, I'm leading her to yours."

Adam calmly stood up. "You surprise me, Spike. I don't like surprises. Forrest, kill him."

"With pleasure."

The cyber-solder lumbered up to Spike and swung his fist while Adam attacked Buffy. Spike ducked out of his way, twisted around and landed a hard kick on Forrest's stomach that sent him stumbling backward onto the ratty sofa.

Buffy jumped up onto a nearby ledge and caught Adam in the jaw with the toe of her boot. Adam's head snapped back, but it didn't faze him, and he grabbed for Buffy. While Forrest struggled to get up, Spike turned to aid Buffy, kicking out and catching Adam on the side. It distracted Adam enough that Buffy was able to handspring onto the floor and out of reach.

Finally back on his feet, Forrest came after Spike again. Spike threw a punch that caught him in the head. Shaking out the pain in his fist he grouched, "Goddammit, these things are tough."

"Yes, which is why we'll win. Too bad you won't live to see it," Forrest boasted as he struck out. His fist caught Spike in the stomach, knocking the vampire against Adam's chair. Spike stumbled as the chair rolled away from him but quickly caught his balance. Grabbing it, he threw the chair at Forrest, who batted it away and came after Spike again. Spike ducked out of the way of another punch and swung around to find himself back-to-back with the Slayer as their opponents closed in on them.

"How's it going, love?"

"Not bad," Buffy said as she weaved out of the way of a punch. "You?"

"Duck!"

They threw themselves in opposite directions just as Forrest threw a punch. It landed solidly on Adam's solar plexus. Adam grunted and backhanded his subordinate sending him flying across the room to crash against the cave wall. A small rain of dust and rock cascaded down onto the soldier.

"Good one!" Buffy called to Spike as she tumbled out of the way of Adam's swinging fists. Springing up behind Adam, she kicked him in the back of the knee, causing the large cyborg to fall to his knees. Snatching up one of the computer monitors and yanking it away from its power cord, she crashed it down on Adam's head.

Spike grinned at her. "That's my girl!"

"Thanks!"

Spike threw another punch as Forrest got to his feet, this time aiming for Forrest's nose. The sound and feel of crunching bone and sinew made Spike laugh.

"Ooh, that's gotta hurt," he smirked.

Forrest bellowed in outrage and pain covering his injured nose with his hands. Spike jumped onto his back, locked an arm around his thick neck and tightened it in a choking hold.

With another roar of outrage, Forrest reached up and grabbed Spike's head. Bending over, he threw Spike over his shoulder. Spike sailed over the sofa and landed in a heap behind it.

"Spike! You all right?"

"I'm fine, love," Spike called out as he bounced back up.

Squatting down, Spike hooked his fingers under the couch and heaved it at Forrest. The heavy sofa hit Forrest on the chest, knocking him to the ground and trapping him under it.

The demon arm flexed and Forrest tossed the sofa off him and out of the way. It landed upside down against the back wall of the cavern. Spike took advantage of the extra room to build up speed for a flying leap. Just as Forrest got back on his feet, Spike's boots connected with Forrest's face, knocking him back once again. He banged into a desk that held more computer monitors. The monitors and Forrest crashed to the ground with a horrendous sound of breaking glass and fried electrical components. The air was thick with the smell of ozone.

Spike was aware that time was running out. He needed to finish this fight and soon. Bouncing back to his feet, he glanced over to see how Buffy was doing in her fight. He was just in time to see Adam grab Buffy and throw her against the wall of the cave. She hit hard with a grunt and landed in a heap on the floor.

"Buffy!"

He took two steps toward her, but she rolled instantly to her feet, unhurt, and began to toss punches at Adam. They had no effect, and Adam was able to land another punch that sent Buffy flying into the passage outside of the cavern.

In his concern for Buffy, Spike had ignored his own opponent for too long. His inattention allowed Forrest to come up behind him and lock strong arms around his torso, trapping his arms to his sides. Spike struggled against Forrest's hold, but his feet left the floor as he was lifted up. With a heave, Forrest tossed him across the cavern. He landed on his back across the upturned couch, and his head cracked sharply against the wall. Before he could gather his wits and straighten up, Forrest was looming over him, his face a bloody mess. He wrapped his demon hand around Spike's neck.

"I'm really going to enjoy pinching your ugly head off," the creature sneered and tightened his hold. Spike wrapped his hands around Forrest's fingers and tried to pry them away. Despite his efforts, Forrest increased the pressure on his neck.

And then Spike felt his strength start to drain from him.

Oh, bugger, he thought.

"Oh, yeah!" Buffy yelled out and Spike could hear the sound of punches connecting solidly and grunts of pain from Adam.

"That all you got?" Buffy taunted.

"No, I've got more," Adam answered calmly.

As Spike continued to weaken, he heard the snick of something sliding - like a sword from a sheath, the sound of heavy footsteps, a small grunt from Buffy, and then the sound of something snapping.

"Broke your arm," Buffy gloated.

The sound of Buffy's triumphant voice was followed by more blows and more grunts from Adam, and Spike knew that Buffy was taking advantage of her increased strength.

His own strength was nearly completely gone now, and he could no longer struggle in defense. His hands fell limply to his sides, and he knew that Forrest would have his head off in a matter of seconds. He cursed the fate that had given him Buffy only to let him die twenty-four hours later. He could only hope that once he was dust, Buffy would keep his strength. It would be his last gift to her.

"Spike!"

A sound that could only be Adam being thrown against a wall and another grunt from Adam immediately followed Buffy's cry of alarm. Spike heard the sound of running footsteps, and then Forrest's eyes suddenly went wide and he stiffened. His hand slipped from Spike's neck and he fell to the floor, dead. The bone skewer that Buffy had snapped from Adam's arm was firmly imbedded in the back of Forrest's skull.

Spike's legs could no longer support him and he began to slide off the couch. Buffy grabbed him and carefully lowered him to the floor.

"Sorry, honey. Gotta go," Buffy said with a brief caress of his face, and then she was gone.

Spike was as limp as a rag doll, his strength completely gone. He couldn't even turn his head to watch Buffy fight. He could hear the battle though, and by the sound of it, things were going well. Buffy was making quips and confused consternation came from Adam followed by the sound of grunts of pain from rapid-fire blows as Buffy's increased strength allowed her to dominate the fight.

Then it went quiet.

"What's the matter, Adam?" Spike heard Buffy say. "You're looking a little stiff."

There was the sound of flesh meeting flesh and then a sucking sound.

"Ooh, look," Buffy said. "Pretty."

"How?" Adam gasped, and then there was a loud thud as he collapsed.

"Through the power of love," she said softly.

***

The two warriors sat side-by-side, resting against the wall of the cavern. The power-up spell had faded and both Spike and Buffy were drained from the experience. They watched quietly as the day's final spell was performed.

"Are you sure this power core won't do any damage to the world we're sending it to?" Willow asked.

"Positive," Anya said briskly. "There's no life on this world, and it has so much of its own radiation, this little bit won't even be noticed."

"Sounds good, Will," Xander said. "Dial 'er up."

Willow nodded and began chanting. A small portal was opened and Giles tossed the power core into it. Willow stopped chanting and the portal closed with a small popping sound.

Everyone gathered their belongings and headed for the exit. Xander slung his axe over his shoulder and said as he headed out of the chamber, "I'm voting for Apocalypse Now and deep dish."

"Not again, Xander," Willow wailed as she followed him. "I want Bedknobs and Broomsticks and thin-crust. And no anchovies."

"Well, I don't mind deep-dish," Giles's voice drifted back to Buffy and Spike, "but I agree with Willow. No anchovies. And I think we should watch Branagh's Henry V, this time."

"Guess it's time for the post averting of apocalypse ritual," Buffy said as she and Spike wearily pushed themselves up from the floor. Spike staggered a bit and Buffy caught him, wrapping an arm around his waist.

"You all right?" she asked in concern.

"I'm fine, love," Spike said, warmed by her concern. "Still just a little wobbly on m'pins."

He laid an arm around her shoulder as they headed for the cave exit.

"So, what's this ritual you were talking about, love? We go back to my place and shag ourselves silly? Because that sounds good to me."

She shook her head and said with a tired smile, "Nope, sorry. Rule number two of the hero biz: always have pizza and a movie after every averted apocalypse."

"You're joking."

"Nope. And besides, you don't seem to be up for a shag right now anyway."

"Give me a half-hour and a couple pints of blood and you'll see just how up for it I am."

Buffy grinned at him mischievously. "Well in that case, after the ritual, I may be able to talk Willow into spending the night at Tara's."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And just why would you want to do that?"

"Well, I thought maybe my boyfriend might want to come to my dorm and spend the night."

"I think that's a brilliant idea," he said, pulling her into his arms and crushing his mouth to hers.

When they came up for air, Spike said with a devilish twinkle in his eyes, "If we're voting on movies to watch first, I'm voting for Deep Throat."

"Ohh," Buffy said in mock anger, "I'll give you Deep Throat."

Spike grinned wickedly and pulled her tighter against him.

"That a promise, Slayer?"

Buffy blinked when she realized what she'd said, then smiled her own wicked smile. Sliding her hand down his body, she found what she was searching for and gave him a squeeze. At his groan, she whispered in his ear, "Yes, Spike. That's a promise."

They kissed again, but drew apart when they heard Xander yell for them to come on. Holding hands, they walked out of the cave and down the hill to Giles's car.

Walking away from Adam's lair, Spike couldn't help but feel a pang of regret that he'd walked away from his chance to get his chip removed. Still, he was confident that one day he would, and that he'd be his own man again.

But even if he knew he'd never have another opportunity to get the chip out, he wouldn't have done anything differently. He longed to be free of the chip, but if he had to choose between Buffy and the chip, Buffy was always going to come out the winner.

It wasn't going to be easy for him, this hero biz. He'd loved his life as the Big Bad, and all his instincts led him in a direction completely opposite from the path of a hero. But it was the path Buffy trod, and so he vowed to walk it too.

They were a team now.

Strange how the smallest decisions could completely change one's life. If he hadn't decided to take a shortcut through the park all those weeks ago, if he hadn't gone to investigate the sound of fighting, if he hadn't stuck around to watch the Slayer's pas de deux with the little demon, things would have worked out very differently. He would have accepted Adam's offer and done his best to betray Buffy and lead her to her death, just to get the chip removed.

The very thought sickened him.

Buffy settled beside him in the back seat of Giles's car, and he pulled her close up against him. She smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder. He remembered how he'd told Buffy that the most anyone could expect out of life were a few rare moments of happiness. He closed his eyes, nearly overwhelmed by one of those golden moments.

And he knew deep in his being that for him, those moments would no longer be so rare.


The end