fic From These Seeds (Chapter 9)

Title: From These Seeds (Chapter 9)
Rating: R to NC-17 mostly for violence, some non-con and allusions to rape, very, very dark in places.
Summary: Angelus decides to take Buffy back to the mansion to begin his revenge upon the Slayer who made him feel human. Captive Buffy gets a close-up introduction to this dysfunctional vampiric “family” that gives her new insight into Angel(us) as well as Spike.
Will Spike be able to sit back and watch this Slayer he grudgingly respects be destroyed by the same vampire who created the tragic mess that is Dru?
Can two enemies, now vulnerable to the greater evil of Angelus, become allies and maybe something more?
Setting: S2 goes AU toward the end of “Innocence”.
Disclaimers: Joss Whedon, ME, WB, Fox are the sole owners of all aspects of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”. Thanks to Joss; he allows us to play in his sandbox. I derive no compensation for these flights of fancy. The story concept is my “creation”, as is all dialogue not in the original story scripts. Some dialogue from episodes, (specifically Innocence, Passion, Becoming parts 1 and 2) at times altered for my purposes.

~*~
Chapter 9
~*~

The television news led with two items that caused both Spike and Joyce to focus on the set. The first was a great blaze that had consumed a mansion on Crawford Street. Police were investigating reports of a man seen running from the location of the suspected arson. He was described as a white middle-aged male, receding hairline, wearing a rather old-fashioned suit and glasses.

The other story was of the particularly gruesome murder of a local high school’s computer science teacher, whose name was being withheld pending notification of her family.

“Oh, my God! Poor Giles!” Joyce blanched as she realized just who it was that had most likely killed the gentle gypsy woman.

“Yeah, not too flattering a description. Wonder why the Watcher burned down the mansion. Not like Peaches would still be there,” Spike mused. “He given to starts like that?”

“No, no, Spike! Miss Calendar! She’s the teacher that was murdered–Giles’ lady friend, the one he was going to meet tonight.” Joyce saw the light of understanding finally reach Spike’s eyes.

Spike felt an unaccustomed sympathy for the Watcher and realized that he was already changing in some ways whether he wished it or not. “Right, then. That would explain the arson. I’d best go find him before he gets himself killed tracking down my grandsire. More likely to be killed than do any dustin’.”

Spike headed out the door even as Joyce was trying to keep him from leaving.

‘Oh, dear! We’ve lost Miss Calendar, might be losing Mr. Giles and now Spike too!’ she thought. She called after Spike, “Please be careful!”

“Ta, luv. Back in a tick with the Watcher,” he said as he sped into the night.
~~~

Buffy moved slowly down the stairs. She heard the commotion and then heard the door closing behind her mother’s words of caution. Something was up and she wasn’t about to be lying in her bed while her friends needed her.

“Mom? What’s going on?” Buffy held onto the banister and swayed slightly.

“Miss Calendar has been killed, Buffy. And Spike has gone out to keep Mr. Giles from also being lost to us,” Joyce said in a weary voice. “You need to sit down, sweetie. You’ll need to be up to strength soon, I think. That ex-boyfriend of yours is declaring war from the looks of it.”

“So Spike really is still here? I thought I heard him down here earlier but couldn’t imagine him hanging around.” Buffy frowned slightly. “Of course, I couldn’t imagine him helping me out either.”

“Yes, he’s staying here until we defeat this Angelus.” She caught Buffy’s look and continued. “Yes, I know he’s a vampire, but so far he’s done nothing but good in my book. He’s welcome here in my home as long as he needs a place to stay. Buffy, he’s been drinking beef and pig’s blood. Spike’s not hurting humans and he’s promised not to, at least not until he leaves town.”

“And the world just keeps getting weirder.” Buffy smiled slightly at her mother. “Guess you know all about me and my secret life, huh?”

“Yes, young lady, and don’t think we won’t be talking all about these secrets you’ve been keeping once this is all behind us.” Joyce moved to her daughter and drew her into a hug. “For now, I’m just glad to have you safe and home.
“Buffy, I don’t know all that happened while you were captive, but Spike said you had a really hard time and that you were really hurt where it doesn’t show. He said you loved this Angel and that’s made it even harder for you.” Joyce felt Buffy stiffen in her arms. “I won’t press you, honey. Just know that I’m much stronger than you seem to think and I will always be there for you. I’m not about to judge your life—I don’t even really understand it! I do love you though and know you are a wonderful person and I am so very proud of you. If you WANT to talk, need to just cry .. well, don’t be afraid to turn to me, Buffy.”

Buffy began to softly sob in her mother’s arms. “God, Mom, I loved him so much! I’ve never loved anyone or anything more than Angel. How could he not have any love in him for me? How could he be so cruel and hateful?” Joyce said nothing but continued to rub her daughter’s back gently.

“I’d think it was because he didn’t have his soul anymore, but Spike still loved Dru. Spike had moments of kindness, even toward me. Why not Angel?”

“I don’t have an answer to that, sweetheart. I don’t think even Mr. Giles understands vampires the way you’d think he might since it’s his job. I think they may be as different from one another as people are.” Joyce placed a soft kiss on Buffy’s forehead and drew her towards the sofa. “I’m sure Angel was a fine man before he lost his soul. You wouldn’t have loved him if he weren’t. But you can’t be responsible for his choices, honey. You aren’t responsible for any of this.”

“But I am, Mom! If I hadn’t made him perfectly happy, he would still have his soul,” Buffy wailed.

“Darling, there are so many things I could say to that. I have so many ideas about why he lost his soul, what made him so ‘happy’, but this is not the time. It’s enough to remind you that Angel is a lot older than you are. If anyone has to take responsibility for what happened, it’s him, in my opinion.” Joyce continued to soothe her daughter as she sobbed. “The worst thing you did was follow your heart. It shouldn’t result in anything this bad.”

Buffy calmed down a bit and nestled in her mother’s embrace. She opened up about her life since being called, about loving Angel before she even knew he was a vampire, about her fears of having helped destroy the world she was called to protect by releasing Angelus. Through it all, Joyce listened and let her work out her feelings.

They had moved into the kitchen where Joyce prepared some cocoa for her cried out baby when Spike returned with an unconscious Giles.

“Had to knock the Watcher out. Hell bent on takin’ out the Poof on his own.”

If Spike was surprised to see Buffy up, he didn’t show it. “Can’t say I blame him, but really not a good idea. Maybe we should use some of that packing tape you wanted to use on me, Joyce, and tie the poor sod up before he gets himself killed.”

Buffy was grateful to have something to focus her energies on rather than her own woes. “I have strong rope.” At the surprised look on her mother’s face, she explained, “Part of the job, Mom.”

“Tell me where and I’ll get it Slayer,” Spike offered.

“That’s all right, I can manage. Besides I think you could stop Giles easier than I can right now. All I have to conquer are a few steps.”

They tied Giles to the sturdiest chair they could find and prepared to face the Watcher’s wrath when he came to. They didn’t have long to wait.

“I suggest you untie me before I break this chair into small slivers and stake you as I should have weeks ago.” Giles glared at Spike.

“Don’t think so, mate. Need to have a cool head if you want to keep it,” Spike advised. “They were long gone from the mansion by the time you decided to play Firestarter. All you accomplished was letting the Poof know he got to you.”

“I had only started. Angelus is going to pay for what he’s done.” Giles strained against his bonds, drawing blood for his efforts.

“Yes, Angelus is going to pay. He’ll pay for it all, just not until we know where they are,” Buffy added. She knelt at her Watcher’s side and put a soft hand on his. “Giles, I’m so sorry about Miss Calendar. I know she was special to you, but we have to do this right. We have to take him out all the way and we can’t do that if you’re using your heart instead of your head.”

Giles stopped struggling at her words. “In my years as a Watcher, I’ve buried ….too many people. Some I knew…most I didn’t. Jenny will be the first one that I’ve loved.”

“I know. I’m so sorry.” Buffy hugged Giles awkwardly.

“Not your fault, Slayer. This is all pure Angelus. Bastard always liked the high drama and slow torture.” Spike looked at the broken Watcher and felt another unaccustomed wave of sympathy pass through him. “We’ll get him. Got a plan, remember?”

“I don’t even know how he got into my apartment. I can’t imagine Jenny inviting him in,” Giles muttered.

“If I had to guess, I’d say Dru used her thrall to make the teacher think she was seeing someone else.” Giles’ head snapped up at that. “Used to use that trick lots back in the day. Always worked. Got a gift, my Dru.” Spike had a wistful look on his face as he thought of days when Dru was his and the world was their oyster. “I’m a little surprised the sod didn’t turn her, make you have to put the stake in. Glad he didn’t. That’s never fun.”

“Look, tonight let’s get some rest. We’ll meet with the gang tomorrow and iron out the details. Then we’ll finish this.” Buffy knelt in front of Giles and asked, “If we untie you, do you give your word you won’t go off after Angelus by yourself again?”

Giles looked her in the eye and then nodded.

“Good, ‘cause I really would have hated to think of you tied up here when the rest of us are all comfy in our beds.” She shot a look at Spike and added, “Or wherever you’ll be.”

“Spike has a cot in the basement. It’s dark there,” Joyce answered. “I agree. Rest will do us all good.”
~~~

The group was subdued when they did gather the next day. There was genuine grief over Jenny Calendar and simmering anger as well.

“I’ve been looking at Miss Calendar’s notes on the soul curse. I think I can do it.” Willow said quietly. “It meant a lot to her and she did so much work on the research. I think she’d want us to try it at least.”

“That thing doesn’t deserve a soul,” Giles pronounced. The group looked at the floor or at the ceiling … anywhere but at the grieving Watcher. “However, I do agree that Jenny would have wanted us to try. Are you certain you can attempt this, Willow? It is rather advanced.”

“I worked with Miss Calendar while she was putting it together. I’ve really come a long way since I just floated pencils. Yup, I think I can manage it if I can figure out the pronunciation.” Willow looked confident.

“She’s good,” Oz agreed.

“Can I just say how glad I am that you didn’t develop the woo-woo-witchies when I was dissing you every day,” Cordy said. “I don’t like frogs, even if I do kiss one regularly. I keep hoping he’ll turn into a prince one day.”

“Thanks, Cordy,” grumbled Xander.

“We do have a bit of time. According to my calculations, there is a narrow window of time during which Angelus can perform the needed ritual to remove the sword from Acathla and start the process. I am fairly certain he is privy to that same information since my notes were missing from the apartment.”

Giles closed his eyes in exhaustion. In spite of not being tied to the chair, he had not slept the night before.

“Good!” Buffy chimed in. “That’ll give me time to be in top form and give Will time to check on those foreign words.” She noticed her friends looking everywhere but at her and she reassured them. “Don’t worry. I’m ready to take him out. Either he gets his soul back and leaves town or he’s dust. I don’t think I care much which it is anymore.”

“What about the ‘should be grateful undead’ there?” Xander jerked his thumb towards Spike. “You on board with the whole get out of dusting free thing?”

“Spike’s been more help than you know, Xan. If he wants to take Dru and leave, I’m not going to stop him.” Buffy looked at Spike and was surprised to feel a lurch in the area of her heart as she said the words. She knew that for some reason she was going to miss Spike far more than she would Angel when this was all over.

Spike was equally surprised to see tears glistening in the Slayer’s eyes. Somehow hearing her talk about him leaving forever caused a pain that he didn’t fully understand. He had to get Dru to safety and the only deal the Watcher was willing to listen to involved never coming back to Sunnyhell. For some reason Spike hated that thought.

“Right, then I suppose I should start trackin’ my sire so we know where they’re holed up.” Spike swirled his duster on and headed for the blanket on the end of the sofa. “Mind if I borrow this, Joyce?”

“Of course I don’t mind, Spike.” Joyce frowned in confusion. “Don’t you have to wait for the sun to go down before you go out in it though?”

“Hence the blanket, luv.” Spike smiled at her confused look. “Your town has a wonderful sewer system. Vamp can get most any place on the Hellmouth once you get into the system. There’s a manhole just across the way. Blanket’ll keep me safe enough to get there. I can try sensin’ them out from there and check it out further after the sun goes down.”

Giles looked interested in spite of himself. “Is that some sort of sire connection?”

“Not really. Yeah, I can pick out Dru or Peaches pretty easy, but it’s not like the Amazin’ Kreskin or anythin’. Can smell ‘em though.”

“Can I just say ‘ewwwww’ to the vamp smelling thing?” Buffy scrunched her forehead in an adorable manner.

“Not just a vamp thing; I can do it too,” Oz admitted.

Willow looked at her boyfriend with sudden discomfort. “You mean I smell? Do I smell bad?”

“Actually you smell a bit like ripe melon,” Oz replied as Spike nodded. “Nice.”

“Buffy smells like that shampoo she uses,” Spike added.

“Okay, TMI. This is just getting creepy!” Cordy didn’t want anyone naming her perfume, especially since she was forced to use a cheaper brand since her father’s recent tax problems.

“’Tis a predator thing, pet,” Spike explained. “Comes in handy when trackin’.”

“Good, you just locate the bastard and we’ll be that much closer to ending his existence,” Giles said, his eyes hard as steel.
~*~

 Originally posted at http://seasonal-spuffy.livejournal.com/45246.html