Change the World, Case 01: All I Had Was You

Clarity Scifiroots

Teen

Content: some regular timeline and then goes AU, sort of Spike-focused, violence sorta, probably some OOC, sort of angsty?

Angelus/Dru, Spike/Dru, Angel/Buffy, Spike/Buffy hints, Willow/Oz, Xander/Cordelia, Giles/Jenny mentions

Disclaimers apply. Title inspired from a line of Tantric’s “Mourning”.

March 2, 2002

~ * ~ * ~

Slowly his eyes opened. That was the first surprise, since the last thing he had felt his body disintegrating, thanks to a well-thrown stake by The Slayer. Second surprise was the ceiling, old with a faded ornate design. Third was the muted sense of his lower body.

Carefully Spike braced himself with his arms and looked around to double-check the suspicions his mind was conjuring. The room was as he recalled, dirty and musty, on a whole very uncomfortable, even for vampire standards. Next to the bed he was lying on was the damned old wheelchair that he had never wanted to see again. He muttered a curse or two for getting a handicap on this trip but his mind didn’t immediately bring forth the image of Buffy being the cause of the situation.

He looked up when footsteps approached his door. Heels, it had to be Drusilla. ‘Well, this is going to be bloody interesting...’ Attempting to regain the attitude and appearance he had had during that period, Spike waited for Drusilla to come in.

“Where’s my poor Spike? Look what mummy’s brought you.” With her typical, secretive smile and insane glint to her eyes, Drusilla appeared inside, dragging the limp form of a little girl with her. “How is my precious? Hungry?” The girl was tossed beside him and soon Drusilla crawled up beside him, propping him up and preparing to help.

It wasn’t very hard to act the part. “What is this? I don’t need you force-feeding me!” Spike shoved the girl’s body away from him and gripped Dru’s wrists and forced them away from him. Glaring into her eyes, he felt his face soften on reflex and he sought the look of old love, already knowing it was lost. Drusilla’s obsession and heart had only one real keeper, and it had always been Angelus. Spike had almost captured her himself, before the poof reappeared even stronger than before.

“Shh, my poor Spike...” she murmured, pouting slightly as she freed her hands and stroked his hair calmingly. “He’s so hungry that he can’t think... let mummy help.”

He felt her body as she reached over him and dragged the girl onto his lap. Drusilla bared the broken neck and sliced a line of red with her nail. The smell of blood assaulted his nostrils, real, warm, human blood that he had not feed on for a long time. The rush hit him and Spike realized how much of a difference there was between the blood of butchered animals and humans.

“I don’t... want it. Pet.” He managed the words, somehow, but his eyes were fixed on the blood that had welled up and was slowly trickling onto his shirt and the bedspread. Oh, to taste such perfect blood again...

Drusilla laughed softly at him and raised the offering closer to him. “Ooo, so close now, open up...”

His lips closed over the wound without thought and then flesh broke beneath his fangs. How long had it been? The thrill ran through him as he felt the fading fear and life of the child that he had been brought. That fear, though, which once sweetened the lust now caused a stone of sickness to settle in his chest. He could imagine the child running, screaming and crying in terror as she was chased by a strange woman who sang morbid lullabies and had painted nails of blood red.

With disgust, Spike tore himself away and threw the body towards the wall where it crumpled to a floor. Angered, he turned towards Drusilla to yell at her, but a third body joining them made him pause.

“The angry child. Tsk. Don’t you know that if you refuse your food, you’ll never be able to get what you want.” Drusilla had risen immediately to cling onto Angelus’ strong build. Now the master vampire was playing his fingers along Dru’s body challengingly, smiling winningly at Spike. “Why don’t you get out for a while. Oh, I guess that won’t work so well.” Leaning over Spike, Angelus patted his thigh. “Don’t worry, though. It’s only... temporary, rollerboy.”

Spike sneered at him, never having forgotten how much he hated his Sire like this. He made a move that he would never have made in the past and spit at the “proud and mighty” one. Angelus sputtered, backhanding the peroxide blond before wiping off the blood-tinted spittle on his face.

Then he laughed, only his eyes glittering with anger, “And that’s all you can do! Don’t forget it!” He walked out, leaving Dru to finish helping Spike.

“Spike, you oughtn’t to have done that!” She scolded him. Drusilla moved him into his chair and wheeled him into the hallway. “It’s very naughty to do such things to my Angel, you will be punished!”

“And I don’t give a bloody shit,” he muttered.

Dru left him in the courtyard, her frown showing her disappointment as she left to find Angelus again.

Alone, now, Spike wheeled himself around the mansion, regaining the knowledge of the territory and trying to place how events had gone during the time period. It appeared that he had been sent back in time to fix things between ol’ da and the Slayer instead of the poofster. And hell was this one bad time to fix.

‘Where the bloody hell is the Slayer?’ They did appear to be completely moved into the mansion, so it was after that one teacher’s death but Acathla didn’t seem to have arrived in Sunnydale yet... “Guess it’s time for a little outing...”

Spike waited until he was a good ways from the mansion before he found a hidden spot where he could test his legs’ mobility. He stood, albeit shakily, and took a few steps. When he stumbled, he knew it wasn’t time yet. Cursing, he returned to the chair and took off with anger-enforced strength. Where was the first place to look for a slayer and her pals? The Bronze, of course.

~ * ~ * ~

"So, I was wondering, you know the dance tomorrow night? Are you going?"

 "You mean the Sadie Hawkins thing? The deal where the girls ask the boys?" Buffy was doing her best to give the guy a chance. It was unusual that someone outside the Scoobies talked to her at all, but now was really not the time where she could appreciate it.
 "Yeah," said, what was his name again? Oh, yeah. Ben. "And I thought maybe, you know, if you're free, you might ask me."
 Feeling panic mode coming on, Buffy exhaled hastily and avoided looking at him. “Oh, gosh... I...” How was she supposed to explain?
 Ben attempted and smile and held up a hand to stop her. “Oh, oh, hey, hey, no, don't, don't worry about it...”
 “No, no, you seem like a really great guy, it's...” She took a long breath before getting her explanation out and briefly as she could, “...me. I-I’m not seeing anybody.” 
 Before her had any time to make further comment, she added, “Ever again, actually.”
 “Oh. That’s too bad.” Obviously rather embarrassed and disappointed, he started to back away. “Okay, well, I better...” he shrugged and walked off.
 Sadly, Buffy sighed softly and murmured, “Sorry.”

It was way too depressing standing up there alone and Buffy headed for the stairs. She reached the bottom and found Willow waiting for her, looking concerned. “Leaving all ready?”

“Ah, yeah. Thought I’d check in with Giles, y’know, patrol-wise and stuff.”

“Oh. You’re all work-Buffy these days. Let’s play, have fun!” The redhead sounded hopeful.

Smiling at her friend’s efforts, Buffy tried to assure her. “I came here tonight, I had fun. Big fun.” Willow frowned, unconvinced. Sighing quietly, Buffy let herself be led to table and sat down.

“Yeah, you came, you saw, you... rejected.” Her eyes trailed towards the upper level.

Wincing Buffy replied, “Not in the dating mood.”

“But, but maybe a date would get you in the mood!” Willow defended. At Buffy’s look, she scolded, “You’re thinking too much. You need to be impulsive.”

Buffy snorted and raised her eyebrows. “Are you kidding? Impulsive? Do you remember my ex-boyfriend, the vampire? I slept with him, he lost his soul, now my boyfriend's gone forever, and the demon that wears his face is killing my friends. The next impulsive decision I make will involve my choice of dentures.”

“O-okay, I’m with you there. Mistake there, but it’s not like everything is that way... Love can be, well...” she smiled, “nice!”

The Slayer smiled softly and gripped her friend’s hand to let her know that she understood. Before she could say anything more, she picked up the sense of strong vampire, although the feel of this one was... “off” somehow. “Duty calls,” she murmured, trying to catch a glimpse of what she might be looking for.

It was Willow who found him. “Buffy,” she whispered, “over there.”

Following Willow’s direction, the Slayer caught sight of bleach-blond hair, hidden by bodies that continually moved in front of the vampire. Angered, she stood. “Spike? What’s he doing here?”

She knew that Angelus was keeping an eye on her; but that meant weak, little minions that didn’t have much sense and weren’t very old. Why would Spike be sent out? Especially in his condition. A wheelchair-bound vampire wasn’t threatening to anybody, at first glance at least, and he would surely not be able to fight.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered as she strode towards him. Willow was tagging along, but she was hardly worried for her friend since she’d always been able to handle Spike. She was annoyed when the vampire wheeled out a door and into the gloom outside, but it wasn’t really a surprise.

“What do you think he wants?” Willow asked as they left the building.

“That’s what I intend to find out.” He was waiting off to the side, slightly sheltered by the dumpster and crates that were piled near the building’s wall. Amazingly he seemed completely calm, his face devoid of any animosity that had always been there. Not taking chances, Buffy loomed over him and demanded, “What the hell do you want? You do know you don’t pose a single threat to anyone, and I can kick your ass when you’re at your best.”

He looked annoyed at that. “Lighten up. You’d think you had a stake up your ass.”

Smirking at that, Buffy drew a stake from her waistband and played with it a bit, making sure Spike’s eyes were on it. “Oh really? Why don’t we see how this looks on you?”

Knowing the situation needed to be steady before he attempted any real conversation, Spike drew back from her a bit to keep a distance between him. This Buffy looked so dead tired and drained, like the words she tossed Spike’s way were some of the first that actually at any sort of feeling behind it. But overall, she still looked so young. It was remarkable how much she would change in the upcoming years.

“I’m getting bored,” Buffy warned him.

“Right, right!” Spike held up his hands defensively, coming back to his senses and this reality. “Ahem. You have problems. I have problems. You have questions, and I have a few answers.” He eyed the skeptical stares he was receiving. Yep, this was going to be difficult, he was hated at this period. “Really, listen to me!”

Buffy rolled her eyes and glanced towards Willow. “Whatever. You’re really lame, you know that Spike? Come on, what’s with the ‘oh, I know how to help!’ bit? You tried to kill me how many times? What about my friends? Please, like you’re welcomed.”

“Oh, is that so? Then why aren’t I a pile of dust?” He took the chance, sticking his chin out defiantly. “C’mon, admit it, you can’t pass up the chance for any help you get.”

The stake was advancing on him and his chances certainly didn’t look so good anymore... “Wait, Buffy,” Willow sighed, coming closer. She looked down at him. “What’s your problem? You’re part of the mighty court now, what more do you want?”

It was Spike’s turn to roll his eyes. ‘Keep on track.’ He knew what to do for Buffy. He’d recalled more details of the time period on his long “roll” towards the Bronze and knew a fairly simple solution to the mess. It had been explained to him and hinted at other times that the gypsy teacher had found the spell to restore Angel’s soul right before she died. There was a copy in her old room somewhere, but it hadn’t been found until it was almost too late.

“I’ve got nothing. Bloody Angelus is being his bastard self and Dru’s become a mindless idiot-“

“That’s new?”

He glared at Buffy, once again more of a reflex than an actual reaction. “All right, so I’m pissed and I’m jealous. You’re, let’s sum it up: hurt, drained, and want everything to be over.” No one said anything. Buffy continued staring at him with a closed expression that was slowly growing impatient. “There’s something that will lift your spirits right up.” He smiled.

The girls exchanged looks, then looked about to jump upon him.

Turning serious, Spike made sure he was locked in Buffy’s gaze, “Restore his sou.”

She slapped him. Really hard, too. Damn that hurt. Buffy yelled at him as she attempted to stake him. Self-preservation forced Spike to fight back and fend off her hand from getting anywhere near his chest. Over her upset cries, he managed to finish another sentence.

“Take me to the bloody school, the gypsy finished the spell and left it in her room!”

Uncertainty that came with hope made Buffy’s attack weaken and she had to step away. Willow as looking at him curiously. “What? That’s not a nice joke, not that you’re nice regularly, but even that’s low. Even if it’s true...” she sounded curious, “how would you know about it?”

Oh, there was the problem of explaining that. Spike raised his eyebrows. Before he could think up a lie, Buffy was behind him and pushing the chair forcefully from the Bronze and down the street. Willow jogged beside them, looking surprised.

“You’re wrong and you’re dead.”

“Fair enough,” he muttered, wincing each time the chair hit a bump. She was really making this ride worse on purpose. He was irritated, but made no comment.

Willow seemed to come up with a problem they’d be facing once they got inside Sunnydale High; “Um, what’re we going to do about stairs? We have to get up to the second floor.”

“We’ll just drag him up,” Buffy said, her tone obviously revealing her anxiety to find out if there was any truth in what Spike was saying.

At least, in a way, she was trusting what he said. That would have to be enough. Spike hid a sigh of relief.

“Ouch!”

“Baby.”

~ * ~ * ~

In actuality, Spike revealed that he could do a few steps at a time once they reached the school. Willow took the job of carrying the wheelchair up the stairs while Buffy was stuck supporting Spike up the stairs when his strength failed him.

“You should think of going on a diet,” Buffy said. They were halfway up the stairs.

Offended, Spike returned, “Diet? I haven’t eaten properly for ages.”

“What, no human slow enough for you to catch?”

He resisted the urge to trip her. “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand. But let’s talk about your diet...” he grinned when she jabbed him in the ribs and hauled him up the rest of the way.

“Never mind. If we even find anything, I’m staking you. I don’t care if you’re being honest or not.” She seemed to be about to say something else, but the trio caught the sounds of shouting from down the hallway. Buffy took off right away and Willow took over wheeling Spike after her.

“I really don’t need help,” Spike informed her.

“Sush,” the redhead scolded.

At least the Witch hadn’t ever had a nasty personality.

“DON’T WALK AWAY FROM ME BITCH!”

Willow rushed forward and they rounded the corner in time to see Buffy tackle a boy to the ground. A gun went flying and skid across the floor, only to disappear. The Slayer yanked the boy to his feet and checked over the girl who had just been cowering against the lockers for any injuries.

“Wh-what happened...?” Both boy and girl looked in a daze.

Buffy had a hard time not punching him. “What happened? You just went O.J. on your girlfriend?”

The boy looked over at his girlfriend, still looking lost. “How...? I don’t know why I got so... so mad...”

“Because you’re a jerk?” Buffy provided, slowly letting him go. She seemed to realize that the situation wasn’t so clear cut.

“We really weren’t fighting a few minutes ago...” the girl whispered.

“We weren’t! I swear, I swear to God!” The boy looked horrified.

Frowning, Buffy asked, “Then why did you have a gun?”

“I don’t know, I don’t even know how I got it...”

The girl was looking around now, her face confused. “I don’t see the gun.”

“Huh?” Buffy looked around and didn’t see it either. Glancing back at Willow and Spike, she asked her silent question.

“It slid and, and poof! Disappeared,” Willow provided.

“Let them go, pet.”

Buffy glared at him before turning back to the couple. “Uh, right. You guys go home and calm down. I don’t want to hear about a murder case tomorrow.” She looked threateningly at the boy before the couple grabbed hands and dashed away.

Willow and Spike approached after they had gone. “What was that?”

Shaking her head, Buffy motioned them another way. “I don’t know. I want to ask Giles.”

“But the library’s that way...”

“Not right now, Will.” Buffy looked uncomfortable as they came to a stop before a classroom door. Motioning towards it, she continued, “I don’t want to... you know, get him all sad. Let’s check this out first.” Brightening slightly, she added, “Then it’s time to stake Spike and find out about the crazy couple!”

“Not bloody likely!” Spike protested.

They entered the room and Willow found the light. Behind them the door closed and they were left to look around the empty room.

“Classrooms look scary with no people in them, you know that?” Willow commented nervously.

Buffy shook her head and looked at the new computer. Spike had given a piece of information that would be too good to be true. How could a “cure” have been recalled? Jenny had said that the spell was long lost and there was no hope for it. Then again, she knew that Jenny had felt awful about being unable to help. Could she have actually tried to help even after Buffy treated her like dirt?

This room had to have been the original starting place of it all. After her death, they’re heard about broken doors and locks around the school and about the flaming computer and ash of paper that had remained here. What if Jenny had just been working on a project that night? Sitting at her computer and printing off the information, getting ready to see Giles and tell him the good news? Angelus would have wanted to interrupt her, wouldn’t he. Could there be some chance of hope?

Shakily Buffy inquired, “So, do you know where it is?”

Spike realized he was being spoken to and was surprised when he wasn’t threatened instead. “Sorry, pet, no. It’s in this room.” She looked so distressed, so he added softly, “I promise.”

Willow started rummaging through the things on the desk carefully. She still didn’t like going through Ms. Calendar’s things, but now there was something they knew they were looking for. “Try the drawers,” she instructed off-handedly. Buffy knelt down and started doing just that. Spike looked around the rest of the room, searching for any other likely hiding place.

“How would she keep that kind of information?”

“Well, something to do with computers,” Willow offered. She bit her lip, looking at the new computer. “I bet it was on her old one and that’s why Angelus destroyed it. Oh God, I hope there’s still something here...”

Spike peered over Buffy’s shoulder at the files she was flying through. Nothing. He had to be right. He knew there was the cure, and it was supposed to be in this room. Where was it?

They began searching the entire room, digging through cabinets and desks, still turning up with nothing. Buffy had finally lost all hope, and she wanted to be so angry and just stake something for it, but she found herself too drained to manage that. Silent tears were escaping and she angrily kicked the file cabinet. With a loud clang it hit the wall and nearly tipped over. Following that excitement, there was a quiet noise of plastic hitting tile.

Willow just looked sadly at her friend. Spike had felt his heart break for the Slayer when he noticed her tears. He braced himself to be staked but instead she took a good kick at the metal organizer next to the desk. The bang of metal made him wince, but the sound following it somehow captured his attention.

There was a little, colorful computer disk that was now lying flat on the floor. It must have been trapped between the desk and cabinet. He wanted to brush it off but instead found himself wheeling nearer to it and reaching down to pick it up. Hesitantly he offered it to Willow, who’s face was slowly brightening with renewed hope. Buffy bit her lip, trying not to hope.

They gathered around the computer, waiting for the machine to boot up before Willow inserted the disk.

With anxious hope they watched as Willow clicked on the floppy drive and the contents appeared. Clicking on the program icon available, Willow held her breath while the hourglass turned while loading. When the new window opened, her eyes scanned the text and her eyes widened.

She jumped up, yelling with joy and hugged Buffy tightly. “Oh my God, Buffy, this is it! It really, really is!” The blond had started to cry again, but this time from delighted shock. Spike grinned, relieved that he’d found it for them.

{Don’t think it’s over yet.} He didn’t know where the voice come from, but he knew it was true. Taking on the leadership role, he tapped the Witch’s elbow. “Better keep that safe. Get the disk to the Watcher and prepare during the day...” He trailed off when he thought about sunrise and felt a bout of panic rush him. Looking through the windows he could tell that there wouldn’t be enough time to return to the mansion. Cursing, he looked at the girls again. “Just take good care of it. He wanted it gone before and will dislike it even more, now.”

“Spike...?”

Looking up a Buffy, he wasn’t prepared for the sudden bear-bug. Her drying tears made his skin itch and he didn’t really know how to react. She quickly pulled away from him, then dealt a whap to his head, but smiled jokingly. “Thank you...” she whispered, too overcome with amazement to say more.

“Oh! What about you? Can you get back to... wherever you are now? I mean, won’t you be in trouble if...?” Wow, everyone cared for him now.

He shrugged. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, Red. I’ll find some other place for the day.” Looking at the sky outside, he added, “And quick...”

Buffy and Willow exchanged worried glances.

~ * ~ * ~

“You’re really going to let him stay here? What’s your mom going to say?”

Buffy looked rather nervous as she eased open the back door and creeped in. “I feel kind of... in debt, you know? I don’t know what else to do with such little time!”

“Hello, right her, luv.” He received a glare from both girls. Sighing, Spike let himself be talked about and looked inside as he wheeled forward to follow them into the kitchen. “Ow!” He ran right into the invisible wall. Well, his body did, his chair actually got farther. Actually, he ended up on his back in an awkward position outside.

Giggling from inside made him grit his teeth. “Bloody invite me in...” he growled.

“Oh, so sorry.” Buffy bowed and formally announced, “You are invited in.”

He managed to crawl inside as the sun shed its first real strands of light. Willow helped him up and straightened the chair for him, still smiling.

“You two are right down giddy. Worse than drunk.” Their faces took on innocent looks.

And why were they suddenly all buddy-buddy with him?

Maybe he’d underestimated how important that spell was to them. He recalled nothing had been finished yet and he began to warn them again when they were all taken by surprised by a parental voice clearing her throat.

“Where have you been. All night.”

Willow smiled nervously as she turned. “Uh, hi, Miss Summers!”

Buffy looked guilty. Seeing Buffy’s mom again effected him, actually, and Spike felt like hugging the woman and telling her how much he had actually missed her. That would get just a little too weird, though. Instead he settled for a smile and, “Hi Joyce!”

All three females looked at him in surprise at his casual comment. Joyce looked him up and down, questioning, “Do I... know you?”

Smirking slightly, Spike reminded her by imitating her holding an axe and saying, “Get the hell away from my daughter.” He raised an eyebrow at Buffy. “She’s pretty kick-ass herself, you know.”

Joyce continued to stare at him. “But that was...” Deciding not to try and figure it out on her own, she turned her attention to Buffy. “I want answers, now. You’ve been acting strange for weeks, stayed out all last night, and when you come home you bring this strange... boy over. Buffy, what is going on?”

Willow whispered to Spike, “I think you should have stayed in the school basement.”

“Hey, I have more class than that.”

“Buffy?”

Nervously the blond was looking at the two next to her and then back at her mom. “Um...” Her face brightened. “Guess it’s time to let you know... I’m in a, a band!”

Joyce looked completely skeptical. Willow shook her head and Spike stayed out of it, having lived through a similar conversation before.

“Mom, it’s too much for you. There’s just this one thing I need to do before. And really, Giles is so much better with explaining things and such so maybe we should just call him over. Oops, school today, hah, I guess I need to be heading back there!”

“Young lady, you are going nowhere until you explain.”

Wincing Buffy looked to Willow for support. The redhead sympathized. Turning to Joyce, she said, “Buffy is right about Giles. I’ll go call him and we’ll clear two things at once. But, um, Buffy, I need you to print this stuff first.” She handed over the disk.

Willow grabbed the phone and dialed Giles’ number while Buffy managed to slip by her mom and into the office upstairs where the computer was. Joyce watched her go with a frown, and then looked back at Spike.

She ran a good look at him this time and seemed to soften. “Goodness, you really need something to eat. I’m sorry, but you look deathly pale and sick.”

Spike smirked, hiding a laugh. “I’ll really be okay, there’s nothing here that I can have. Oh. Unless you have a beer?” The look he got in return was answer enough. “Uh, pardon, a joke.”

~ * ~ * ~

Giles thanked the Powers That Be for the sunny day as he exited magic shop with the materials Willow had told him to bring. She said that they had found a spell to “fix things” thanks to a tip from someone the redhead didn’t name over the phone. It also seemed like the day had finally come to reveal Buffy as the Slayer to her mother. It was going to be a long day. And tomorrow there would be hell to pay when they met Snyder.

~ * ~ * ~

“What is that?” Joyce asked from her position on the couch. Willow was studying printed papers carefully while Buffy cleared a space on the floor. Spike had moved himself out of his wheelchair and into a more comfortable seat when they’d moved into the room but since then he’d said very little. Everyone seemed tense and it was working up her as well.

There was a knock on the door and Buffy hurried to open it. “Giles! Do you have everything?”

“Buffy, what is this spell you’ve found?”

“Spell?” Joyce stood up as her daughter walked in with the librarian. She sighed. “Mr. Giles, I hope you will clear this all up. No one will explain what is going on.”

Giles nodded in reassurance as he set his bag of supplies down. Willow was digging through it immediately. Moving his gaze to find the identity of the last person in the room, he started. “Spike!”

“That’s me mate.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Giles. I didn’t want to tell you on the phone because, well, you know, you’d think we’re crazy...?” Willow looked up guiltily.

“Ridiculous... I wouldn’t think you ‘crazy’...” He paused. “Spike?”

Buffy groaned and collapsed onto the couch in the seat nearest the vampire. “Giles, please. Help my mom, then we’ll help you.”

“It’s not really so simple,” Giles started as he turned back to Joyce.

Getting tired of all the prologues but no story, Spike announced, “Buffy’s a Vampire Slayer. Demons are real. The Scoobies are her friends. I’m a vampire. Red’s boyfriend is a werewolf. And I’m getting bloody sick of you all just standing around!”

“A what?” Joyce was the only one looking at him with questions. The others were just surprised he spoke up at all. “Slayer? What are you talking about?” She looked at her daughter. “Make some sense.”

“I-it’s all the t-t-truth, actually.” Giles focused back on Joyce. “I-I know it’s strange t-to understands...”

“Mom?”

“I need to sit down.” Joyce did just that as she tried to sort out what was going on. “...Don’t you think you need to see someone about this?”

“Mom, I’m not crazy!” Buffy looked at her pleadingly. “They’re not either! I mean, yeah, we’re sort of a weird crowd but... I, I didn’t want you to know...”

Joyce just shook her head, still in a daze. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Um, guys, maybe we should take care of Angel first before we try getting through the whole story. And, hey,” she finished cheerily, “there’ll be a happy ending!”

Giles was surprised at her statement. “What do you mean, take care of Angel?”

Buffy stood, licking her lips nervously. “It was Spike... he told us that, that Ms. Calendar had found the curse.” She say Giles’ pain beneath his outer expression and pressed on. “I can’t believe it... I don’t know why’d she’d do that, for me. After I... Anyway, we looked in her room last night - this morning. We almost didn’t but...”

“But we got it!” Willow help the disk triumphantly and smiled pleadingly at Giles. “And I know exactly what to do!”

Shaking his head, Giles protested. “Even i-if Jenny did write this... it’s much too dangerous, Willow.” He cast Spike a look. “It is likely to be a trick and Spike planted it there. Who knows what you will conjure?”

“Hey! Do you really think I like that wanker striding around with Dru glued to his arm? I’m definitely liking my soddin’ Sire inhabited by a soul.”

Willow nodded and pointed to the text in her hands. “You can at least translate some of this offhand, just look! It’s the real thing. Giles, please...” She looked towards Buffy who had fallen silent. “It might make everything right again. I-I mean... for Buffy, you know?” She didn’t want to bring up Jenny again.

“Spell? Soul? Angel? Wasn’t he that college boy who was helping you with history...?”

Buffy tried to smile. “Yeah, sort of. I’m sorry. He’s,” she shook her head, “he was my boyfriend. You know that though, it’s just that he’s... a vampire.” Shrugging her shoulders she tried to explain better, “Not the usual vampire, though, because then I’d have to stake him. He had this curse and his soul was restored and he acted completely human...”

“There’s a clause somewhere in that curse that makes him lose that soul if he ever achieves true happiness and whatall.”

Surprised once again by Spike’s interruption, Buffy spared a glance. When she looked back at Joyce, she realized that her mother was slowly coming to terms with the situation and seemed to understand to some degree.

“I am getting the entire story after this,” she ordered, “but you solve whatever this problem is first.”

Buffy hugged her tightly, “Thank you, Mom.”

“Now, hop to it. I don’t bloody like doing nothing.”

Exasperated, Buffy stood to help Willow and Giles. “You won’t be doing anything anyway, idiot. If you forgot, you can’t move properly. It’s your own fault that you’re stuck here!”

“Um, how do we know if this works?” Willow suddenly wondered aloud.

Giles removed his glasses in his typical thinking pose. “I would imagine it could be seen right away...”

“But no one’s right there with him... And we won’t be sure if we see him later because it could just be an act.” Buffy considered her options quietly, then moved towards Spike. Standing in front of him, she asked, “Where are they?”

“That’s probably not the best-“

“Spike, location. Please.”

She was firm, all-business again. He knew that she could take care of herself, why worry about sending her out? It was daylight after all and she’d bring weapons. “Fine...”

~ * ~ * ~

It wasn’t hard to track down the mansion. Willow had shown it to her once. Standing outside of it, she realized that this was where everything lay on the line. If the spell worked, she knew she’d make things work out. But if it didn’t... if it didn’t she would have to end it. Here. Now. And that meant killing the only person she loved so much. Bracing herself, she made her way carefully towards the courtyard that looked in on the wide hall. Through tattered curtains she would still be able to see inside while she hid in an area with “protective” sunlight.

***

Joyce watched the others silently from her position on the couch. Willow sat cross-legged on the floor with a bed-tray before her, holding the bowl and the Orb of Thesulah. Giles was kneeling to her left, holding tied incense. Spike was sitting awkwardly on her other side and also holding incense. Before each of them was a printout of the spell.

“Are we ready?”

“Smelly herbs a go,” Spike affirmed.

He’d turned much more serious since Buffy had left. In all honesty he couldn’t figure out how he had so easily fit into this time. It should have been incredibly difficult, it should feel so different, but it really didn’t. Not having Dawn in the house was extremely odd, but otherwise he recognized the general events and could identify with the people he had ran into thus far.

The question that plagued him, along with the “will this really work?”, pertained to his ability to go back to his own, ah, time period.

“Let’s do this.” Willow took a deep breath, preparing herself. Nodding, she cast her stones and motioned Giles to begin:

“Quod perditum est, invenietur.”

She followed it, “Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call.”

***

“Why has no one seen him?” Angelus was obviously furious. Buffy glimpsed parts of his pacing from time to time and felt sick when Drusilla would slide up to him and coo, trying to calm him. “Idiots. That’s all I work with! How could he even go anywhere? His legs are useless!”

“Oh, my Angel is so upset. Mummy told Spike he was being naughty. Now my poor Spike will be punished...!”

“Shut it, Dru.” He was irritated to the point that he didn’t feel like dealing with his lapdog.

***

“Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the... evil... realm.” Willow’s sentences were beginning to break up as she panted, sweat trailing down one temple. Giles glanced at her worriedly, but said nothing as she pressed on. “Return.

“I call on...”

Her head snapped back suddenly and her eyes opened wide. An obvious power hit the room but before anyone reacted, Willow’s eyes shot to the Orb, staring at it with an incredible focus.

“Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.” Her words were uttered in a steady chant and spoken so clearly.

“This a good thing, mate?” Spike staring at the possessed Witch.

“Nici mort, nici al fiintei...”

“Is she all right...?” Joyce had felt a chill when Willow’s voice had changed.

“Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el.”

***

“Ooo...” Drusilla’s moaning caused Angelus to stop his pacing. She gripped onto him, her face pained as she clawed at his arm. “Ooo, my Spike... What has he done...? My Angel, don’t go, don’t go...!”

Outside, Buffy waited anxiously. They had to be close... This would work. This would work. This would work...

***

“Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!”

***

“My poor Angel, my Spike has gone to the Slayer! He has betrayed us. My poor Angel!”

Angelus looked ready to barge out the door and challenge the sunlight, but he did have enough common sense to know he would hardly get anywhere. Buffy crossed her fingers and waited, it only had to be a little bit more...

***

“Acum!”

The Orb blossomed with light for a moment before it disappeared again. Willow’s body finally relaxed and she shook her head, looking around.

“Whatever it is... it’s over...” Giles murmured, staring at the Orb.

“Yeah,” Spike managed.

***

Drusilla’s wailing increased by the second, making Buffy wonder why the hell Spike even wanted to have her back. Angelus seemed to be fed up with her as well and shoved her far away from him. He started walking out of the room when he stumbled and Buffy felt the rush of something fly by her.

In seconds she was on her feet and standing just before the doors that led inside. She watched, anxious to see any sign that he was back. Dru’s moaning had stopped and she looked from her spot on the floor towards Angel as he slowly regained his balance and looked around.

His dazed expression was enough for Buffy. She rushed inside, a cry all ready falling from her lips before she made it to Angel, looking desperately into his lost eyes.

“Buffy... what’s going on?”

She cried, collapsing against him and holding him tightly. The others had managed the spell. He was really here. His soul, his soul was there again.

Off to the side, Drusilla wept for her own reasons.

~ * ~ * ~

The small group waited in the Summers’ living room quietly. Spike continually glared at the bright, closed curtains. He wanted the sun down, now. He needed to see if things had worked out. Then he might need to explain himself... He’d also have to save Dru, somehow, though he wasn’t too sure on that. Right now he was only really worried about Buffy. In this world and in his.

Watching Willow twisting her hair with worry on the couch also reminded him that the group he had left behind could be waiting like this as well. Not because they cared about him, no one liked him all that much, besides Dawn, that is; they would be waiting for sanity to return to their Slayer, their protector. His Sire would be hoping to have his girl back, and if Buffy was in her right mind, she’d want the wanker as well.

“Bloody hell,” he cursed under his breath.

“Spike, how did you know about the spell?”

That hadn’t been a question he wanted to answer. He avoided the Watcher’s gaze when he spoke. “Call it foresight. There’s not much better to explain it.”

“Then, why would you help?” Willow watched him curiously.

“I already told you.” He couldn’t go further in explaining. If he said he was doing all this, traveling through time for gods’ sakes, to make Buffy happy, they would really think he was off his rocker. Knowing that two vampires were in love with their Slayer would probably not make a happy Scooby team.

“Buffy’s okay, right?” Joyce asked, worry evident.

“She’ll be just fine,” Giles assured her. “She’s very strong and was only spying while there to see if things worked out. She hasn’t returned and that’s a good sign for us, it means th-that Angel is back and she’s seeing to him.”

Neither Spike or Willow missed his strained tone when he mentioned Angel’s name. No one could blame the man, either. After all, the demon Angelus had cruelly murdered Jenny and left a scene that would never leave Giles’ memory.”

~ * ~ * ~

That night found the Scoobies in their typical meeting area of the library. Half of the group were visibly disturbed to have Angel in their midst while most of the group kept giving Spike skeptical looks. He still sat in his wheelchair but kept off to the side, amazingly silent. The air was too thick to give him much in a way of starting an argument with someone.

He felt muted guilt and sadness at the news that Drusilla had been staked when she had gone kamikaze and charged Angel after he had re-turned. Buffy had managed to actually sound a bit sorry when she told him, but after that she had hardly paid any attention to him, instead clinging to Angel as much for her sake as for his.

“So, like, you’re all ‘I’ve got a soul’ Angel again, right? ‘Cuz otherwise I need a spray can full of holy water.”

“He’s fine, Cordy,” Buffy defended, rubbing the hand she held defensively.

“I won’t even get in on that line of thought.” Xander was certainly bitter. Spike couldn’t recall ever having seen the boy so obviously disturbed before. Hmm, someone to outmatch his dislike of Angel. “I do want to know why blondie even got in on this.”

Focus went to Spike.

“What? I can’t have sudden bursts of kindness?”

“You? Oh please.” Cordelia rolled her eyes. “But whatever, you helped Buffy so yay! You’ve had your cheer, so run along.”

Spike glared at her. She really was irritating. Willow spoke up for him, and that made him grin. “He did us a huge favor. So, okay, I don’t know why he’s not charging us right now, because he said he wanted Drusilla safe after this... but still...”

“Thanks Red, but I don’t need defense.” Spike wheeled towards Angel and Buffy. “Actually I need a little stroll to think over what I’m doing. I say goodbye, mates, just in case I disappear on you.” He received quizzical looks for that. Ignoring that, he looked at Buffy long and hard. “You ought to be all right now, luv, got your boy back, you have.” He glared fiercely at his Sire. “If you leave her, you bloody bastard... You don’t want to know what happens.”

He wheeled towards the exit without further comment and made it out into the hall.

“What was all that?”

“Hello! Isn’t it so obvious? He likes her! God, does anyone not fall for her?”

“That’s ridiculous, Cordelia!” Buffy protested.

Oz raised an eyebrow. “She actually has a point.” He was referring to the brunette.

“Huh? What? How?”

~ * ~ * ~

About forty-five minutes later Angel and Buffy stepped out into the halls for a break.

“It’s hard to believe you’re here,” Buffy whispered, clinging his arm tightly. “I missed you.”

“I’m sorry... I...”

“Shh... it’s over, let’s forget it for right now. Please? I just need you to be here.” They stopped and she smiled up at him. “I love you, you know that, right? I can’t just let you go...”

After a soft kiss they parted and Buffy moved ahead, not noticing as Angel shivered unnecessarily.

“You're the only one. The only person I can talk to.” Buffy turned around, confused at the tone that Angel had taken.

“Are you okay? I-I mean I’m flattered but...” She watched as he turned to face her.

“You can't make me disappear just because you say it's over.”

“Angel? It’s not over! Who said anything about-“ Something invaded her body. “I just want you to be able to have some kind of normal life. We can never have that, don't you see?”

“I don’t give a damn about a normal life! I'm going crazy not seeing you. I think about you every minute.”

Buffy’s hand raised to touch Angel’s cheek. He looked down at her sadly. “I know. But it's over. It has to be!” She bit back a sob and started to walk away.

Angel went after her angrily. “Come back here! We're not finished!” With long strides he’d easily caught her and gripped her arm. “You don't care anymore, is that it?” he demanded.

Crying softly, Buffy replied, “It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter what I feel.”

“Then tell me you don’t love me!” He shook her. “Say it!” Tears were streaking down his face.

Trying to hold strong, Buffy turned the corners of her mouth up to smile at him. “Is that what you need to hear? Will that help? I don't.” Her eyes shone with other tears but she bravely held them back, watching Angel. “I don’t. Now let me go.” She turned away and tried to leave again.

In Angel’s hand appeared a revolver. The hammer pulled back, he aimed it at her. Buffy watched him with fear. “Love is forever. I'm not afraid to use it, I swear! If I can't be with you...”

“Oh my God!” Buffy took one last look and then ran down the hall.

“DON’T WALK AWAY FROM ME, BITCH!” Angel screamed at her, chasing her down.

Buffy lunged through the doors leading to the balcony hallway.

“Stop it! Stop it! Don’t make me!” Angel made it outside as well.

Finally Buffy stopped next to the railing and turned her tearful face back towards him. “All right... just...” her voice was entwined with fear and her hands shook. “You know you don't want to do this. Let's both... just calm down. Now give me the gun.” She reached out her hand hopefully.

Frustrated, Angel cried, “Don't. Don't do that, damn it!” He took a step forward, tears still running down his face. “Don't talk to me like I'm some stupid...”

The gunshot rang out, seemingly echoing over the entire town. The others in the building who had been searching for the shouts now made their way towards the new sound.

Buffy flinched and touched a hand to her chest and drew it back, stunned to see the blood coloring her hand. She looked towards Angel, his mouth open in shock.

“James...”

Spike stumbled outside at that point, having forced himself from his wheelchair to get through the door. He caught sight of Buffy, the bleeding wound that stained her chest made him freeze. As she uttered the name “James” she fell back over the railing edge.

“BUFFY!” When he reached the railing, he was breathing heavily, too shocked and horrified to believe she was dead. Her petite body lay crumpled at an awkward angle on the steps below and her eyes were dull, staring into nothingness. “Buffy!” he cried again.

Anger drove him as he turned around, ready to tear apart her killer himself. He was further surprised when Angel turned around, his sight blind. The vampire reentered the building as if in a daze and Spike moved after him, cursing as he needed the wall for support. Where were the Scoobies, damn them? Why weren’t they there? Why hadn’t they save Buffy?

Buffy was dead?!

Spike looked inside the room where Angel had entered. He stayed motionless, staring numbly as his Sire turned on the record player as if in a trance. Slowly it was dawning on him that Buffy and Angel had been possessed. He’d heard Angel’s shout that had been identical to the boy’s the night before. This was how it ended? This was how the ghosts died?

My love must be a kind of blind love // I can't see anyone but you

Pushing himself into the room, Spike made his clumsy way towards Angel, getting an eerie feeling when he saw his Sire looking in the mirror where another reflection gazed out. His hand was lifting the gun slowly. Oh shit... “Bloody hell, you idiot!”

The second gunshot that night went off. Spike sank to his knees once Angel had fallen. He knew that the vampire would be able to get up again, to walk around and live his undead life, but he also knew that once Angel found out what he had done - possessed or not - he’d kill himself properly.

Staring at his hands, Spike wondered how something that had been going so right had turned so wrong. He’d failed Buffy. She was lying dead on the cement outside. He could hear the reactions of the others down the hall as they found her. Dead? The Slayer dead from this?

It really was a pathetic ending...

Epilogue/Continuation Note

He hadn’t been aware that he had fallen unconscious but knew he must have when he came awake in a plain chamber. Looking around he spotted an alter before him and two shadowed figures seated upon raised thrones.

“What is this?” he demanded. He noticed that he was standing perfectly. The wounds from his trip seemed to have vanished.

{You have failed in your first trial.} The voice was neither male nor female and seemed to be the combination of many voices all at once.

“Yeah... I know,” Spike muttered, trying not to think about Buffy’s bloody form.

{If you give up now, she will forever be dead.}

“What do you mean?” he questioned suspiciously.

{You have another trial to complete. Consider all factors this time, William.}

“Why are you doing this?”

{We have been called. You are the one who is taking the actions.}

A portal appeared beside him. “Wait a bloody minute. Who are you?”

{We will speak in due time. Go and fulfill your quest.}

When he vanished, the voice spoke to the empty room. {You must learn of the real path to follow.}

~ * ~ * ~ The End ~ * ~ * ~

The true end of Case One this time! Anyway, I know it was... bizarre and not so great, but it’s the first case and Spike was still kind of out of it. Buffy should be more up-and-at-‘em in the next case so that should get Spike more into the quest. Heh. So, shall I keep a-going?