Relentless Revenge ((COMPLETE))

Title: Relentless Revenge, Chapter 1
Author: MadRog
Email: madrog@ev1.net
Rating: NC 17
Category: Spike-Buffy

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters, it's all owned by Joss Wheldon and Mutant Enemy. Yada, Yada Big thanks for letting me borrow them.

Summary/Spoilers: *Complete* The Sequel to “Who is Who.” How will the gang keep Buffy safe from the growing attacks and convince Spike to come back to Sunnydale permanently this time? Surprises abound.

Distribution: If you want to, just ask.

Feedback: Pretty Please!!

The is the Sequel to Who is Who. I strongly suggest that Who is Who is read before Relentless Revenge since there are many references to the first book.
Hope you enjoy!!!

Chapter 1: Operations and Maneuvers

Three nights after Spike’s departure from Sunnydale back to London, Dawn and Willow entered Buffy's bedroom without knocking and found the slayer lying on her bed staring sightlessly at the ceiling. Willow sat down in the chair at the dresser while Dawn took her usual spot on the bed next to Buffy.

With an unusually harsh laugh for someone so young, Dawn began. "I didn't know Slayer meant stupid in personal life.” Buffy’s eyes snapped to glare at her little sister. Dawn, however, had trouble hiding a smile. That certainly got Buffy out of the daze she had been walking around since the vampire left. “I can't believe you let Spike leave. Did you even try to talk him into staying?”

Sensing the fight to come, Buffy tensed and sat up. “News Flash to Dawn: Spike – Vampire, Buffy – Slayer. His job is to feed off humans, and mine is to kill him.”

Dawn rolled her eyes, “Ha, Ha, like you could stake him. You couldn't when you did try and now you wouldn't if you could. Your job is to stop evil, and to stop evil acts, not just kill any demon you run across. Besides, who has he fed from lately? Spike told Willow and me that he hasn’t fed since the chip stopped working, and I even saw his blood supply in his frig at the crypt.”

Buffy’s turn to roll her eyes. “Was there a memo I missed? My job title is vampire SLAYER.” She laid back down with a frustrated snort. “Besides, he’s dangerous.”

"Dangerous? Real dangerous…” Dawn’s voice was starting to rise.

Ever the mediator, Willow quietly interjected before Dawn’s voice was heard down the street. “Buff, even with the chip, he could have had any of us killed at any time. Spike could have found someone or someway around the chip and then had bodies brought to him for a little postmortem snack. Eeww but true.”

Taking a deep, calming breath, Dawn continued. “Instead he chose to stay, help us, and get his teeth kicked in on a daily basis by you and all of us, for that matter. I can’t believe he stayed as long as he did, but I’m at least honest enough to admit I’m glad did stay. And besides, Giles wouldn’t have him working for the Council if he still thought Spike was dangerous.”

“But I can’t trust him…”

After ‘vampire’ and ‘dangerous,’ Dawn mentally checked ‘trust’ off the list of lame Buffy excuses and continued with the offensive. “Spike was your most reliable babysitter, not for just me, but for mom also. In fact, even after he attacked you in the bathroom, you trusted him enough to leave me with him if he had still been there.” Dawn paused to make sure she didn’t need to duck after that one. The ‘bathroom’ incident was a forbidden subject. “And he was trapped in a barrel with you the other night, covered in your blood and did nothing. No biting, no blood sucking, no nothing. Nothing but protect you. Yeah, real dangerous.” Dawn added with a smirk.

However, Buffy was not ready to go down. “Dawn, Spike doesn’t have a soul…”

Nevertheless, little sis was ready for this excuse, also. With a deceptively sweet smile, Dawn asked, “So? We don't even know if I have one either. Remember? Mystical key, here, and all that.” Dawn decided from the look on Buffy’s face that the last one made some points. Let’s see what we can get the total up to. “And don’t even give me that Spike can’t possibly love you because he doesn’t have a soul crap.”

Switching to a little softer approach, Dawn took Buffy’s hands in hers. “You know I can love. Why can’t he? Love is caring, protecting, sacrificing, passion, devotion... Sound familiar? Sound like a certain blond vamp? Buff, why is it so easy for you to admit he loves me but that he can’t love you? Let’s try a little honesty here.”

Now Buffy couldn’t even look her sister in the eyes. It all hit too close to home. She was use to fortifying her defenses against Spike’s persistence and her own desires, but she was not use to the bricks of her self imposed barrier being knocked down by her own sister. “Dawnie, I can’t love him…”

Having reached the end of her hormonal, adolescent patience, Dawn went to Buffy’s closet and pulled out Spike’s duster from its hiding place in the back. Buffy should have known a little sister would know everything in her closet. "If he is so evil, dangerous, in need of a stake, why do you keep this? Maybe to sleep with it? As great as his coat is, I think that hottie would be much more fun to cuddle." Throwing the duster to BufDawnDawn stomped out leaving her sister to watch her back in stunned silence.

After recovering somewhat, Buffy turned to look at Willow, who looked like she had been watching a tennis match and had been keeping score. Why did Buffy feel like she had been losing that match? "I guess you want a shot, too?"

"Actually, I think these speak for themselves. I know they certainly did for me." Willow handed her print outs of the emails between herself, Dawn and Spike, and then left the room.

During the first reading, Buffy had started to cry so hard that it was difficult making at the words towards the end. After finishing, she got up, washed her face, determined to walk away. But found herself back on her bed, reading them again and again.

Seeing his words in black and white didn’t allow much room for evasion on her part. With so few words, he had comforted Willow unlike anyone else. His affection for Dawn was obviously apparent and undeniable. She laughed at his descriptions of his new, bounty hunting cases and marveled how Spike and Giles manipulated the council to make them pay a commission to a vamp. Every time Anya’s name was mentioned, she felt a sharp pain in the area of her heart, but she knew she had no right to be jealous. After all, she had dumped him.

Buffy fell asleep holding the emails, and that night, her dreams were filled with platinum blond hair, striking blue eyes, a sulty voice with a British accent, and dancing. A slow dance between lovers that went on forever.

****

The next day at the Double Meat Palace, Buffy flipped two burgers on to the floor before Sophie asked, “What’s wrong with you today? Your mind seems to be a thousand miles away.”

“Oh…Yeah, maybe you’re right. How far is Sunnydale from London?”

****

As she was leaving for patrol that night, Buffy asked Willow if she could set her up an email with a show of nonchalance that she didn’t really feel. Willow smiled knowingly and assured her everything would be ready when she got back.

After an unusually quick patrol, Willow started Buffy out on her laptop in the dining room and then ran up the stairs to report to her accomplice for a quick debriefing. Willow gave Dawn a quick salute as she entered Dawn’s room. “Phase 1 is accomplished, Captain. There is now an open line of communication between the two subjects.”

Dawn only gave her a half smile before looking back down at the piece of paper she was holding.

Concerned, Willow came over to sit with her on the bed. “Dawnie, I was expecting a little more yippy hurray!!”

“I’m happy. See – smilie face. But…I wanted to ask you about this last week, but we were kinda busy with Buffy and Spike disappearing and all.” Dawn handed the slip to Willow.

Willow took it with a questioning look and frown forming on her forehead. A serious Dawn always made people worry. After reading, she gave girlgirl an interested look. “Dawnie, where did you find this?”

Dawn tried to explain. “I found it in Spike’s crypt …Ok, I took it out of Spike’s duffel bag.”

Willow could tell this was really wiggin Dawn out. She thought she knew the answer to the next question, but had to ask anyway. “What did he say it was?”

“He sorta doesn’t know I have it. At least not yet…You don’t think it means anything bad, do you? Ya know, ‘perdition’ being hell, right?”

Willow decided the lecture on stealing again could wait until later. This was intriguing. What was Spike doing with a prophecy? “You say you got this from Spike?” Dawn nodded. “But I think this is Giles’ handwriting. Maybe we should ask him.”

Willow studied it for awhile longer but sensed Dawn getting more agitated. Putting it away in a pocket, “Don’t worry. I’ll get in touch with Giles tomorrow and see what’s up? It’s probably just one of Spike’s new cases.”

Dawn didn’t look convinced. So they both sat caught up in their own thoughts for several moments.

“Willow?”

“Yeah, Dawnie?”

“Can we hack into Buffy’s email tomorrow and see what she and Spike talked about?” Prophecy or no prophecy, Dawn was still Dawn. “It’s only fair. We let her read our emails.”

Willow did enjoy hacking, and not to mention, a good romance. “Well, Captain, it would help us in planning our next step in Operation Matchmaker, wouldn’t it?”

******

In the room below the co-conspirators, Buffy sent her first email.

Newbie: Awake, blood breath?

Carpe.Noctum: Charming. And who might you be, mate?

Newbie: Singe off anything important on the way home?

Carpe.Noctum: Slayer? You can type?

Newbie: Funny. Wonder if I can send this stake with your name on it Fed Ex?
Spike pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. The Slayer wanted to talk with him. This could be good since he could edit before sending any replies. Maybe this way, he could keep his foot out of his mouth.

Carpe.Noctum: Are you feeling ok? How’s your head?

Newbie: Good as new and, yes, still as hard. Dawn said you fought a psycho blueberry? I think I’ve got one here. Any pointers?


Carpe.Noctum: First of all, don’t wear any nice clothes…

After she signed off, Spike was not sure what to make of this new turn of events. Reluctant to hope but wishing he knew what to expect nexne wne way or another.

Grabbing his things, Spike rushed downstairs to meet Giles. He was late, but it had been worth it. Upon his return to London, Spike had very mixed feelings but was resolved to avoid past mistakes. True, he had wanted to stay in SD and was very pleased with his progress with Dawn, Willow, and especially with Buffy, but he had no desire to do anything to jeopardize the trust under construction. However, while even in London, he still had his foot in the door of the Revello Drive even if it was through email.

***

Meanwhile, Giles was waiting for Spike in his car outside the vampire’s building, drumming his fingers and wondering why he had ever agreed to Spike’s plan. But he alreanew new the answer – Buffy. One thing he and Spike would always find a middle ground was Buffy’s welfare and the need to help the Slayer and her sister whenever possible.

Giles thought back a few days ago to when he and Anya picked Spike up from the airport. The vamp had been remarkably quiet, giving only minimal details of his trip, leaving Giand and Anya to stare at each other with unspoken questions.

More surprisingly, before dropping him off at his flat, Giles and Anya had quite a time convincing Spike to dine out with them. It just wasn’t like Spike to pass up free food.

Finally, after a good meal and a couple of pints, Spike began to open up. Dawn was doing great, passing summer school, but needed someone to teach her “the ropes.” The Slayer needed someone to watch her back and was “burning the candle on three bloody ends.” Buffy had to work during the day, slay at night, and keep up with Dawn during both. What he didn't say but came through loud and clear was that he was frustrated that he couldn't help and knew they didn't want his assistance.

As the fourth round was brought to their table, Anya decided it was time to crawl out of the pit of pity. "There has to be a way we can help. Even from London."

"Yeah, that frigging job is going to kill her." Spike said into his drink.

Giles pointed out the obvious, "Slaying is a very dangerous job..."

Spike interrupted, "No, no . Not that job. That grease trap. Slaying and raising Dawn should be a full time occupation on its own. She shouldn't have to work somewhere else."

Giles laughed at the irony of it all. "The Council will pay a vamp to do the Slayer's job in their home town, but won't pay the Slayer for managing the Hellmouth."

Anya nodded in agreement, "Go figure."

"What we should be figuring out is how to get the Wankers Council to pay her.” After a pause to calm down, Spike looked up at the Watcher and Vengeance Demon. “Ya know, I was thinking about a possible plan on the flight here...and I would need a little help." The sparkle was back in the vampire’s eyes.

Later after dropping Spike off, Anya summed it up best. "Spike is homesick."

Nodding in agreement, Giles took off his glasses to start cleaning them. “What can we do to help him, do you suppose?”


Giles was startled out of his wool gathering as Spike jumped into his car.

“Right, let’s get this plan going.”

***

”Maybe I didn’t hear you correctly. But even if I had, the answer is NO.” Quinton Travers could not have been more shocked but tried not to show it. He had been working late to finish up a report to be presented tomorrow, and now his assistant was behind him with his mouth hanging open. In front of his desk now stood Rupert Giles, Spike and a barely restrained Feral demon. The demon hands were cuffed with Spike using an occasional jolt from a cattle prod to keep the furious demon in line.

Travers didn’t believe fominuminute their cover story. Not even this pair would deliver a demon to the council because they were ‘in the vicinity.’ This was preposterous. “Now if that is all you came for, please leave. I have a great deal of wor fin finish.” He dismissed them with a quick flick of the wrist.

Giles took a breath to repeat his request, succinctly this time. “Buffy Summers should be paid for Slayer services rendered at the Hellmouth. Back pay since her resurrection should be sufficient…” Giles paused to gain Spike’s nod of agreement. “..and put her on a monthly salary from this time forward.”

Travers leaned back in his chair and started to chuckle. “The Council has never paid a Slayer.”

”ime ime like the present to start, don’t you think? As you know, there has never been a Slayer to live this long or require payment to support herself and family. Times and circumstances change. In point of fact, Buffy would not even have a sister to support if she were not the Slayer. The monks made that decision for Buffy when they sent the Key to the Slayer for protection.”

“The Council has another Slayer.”

Spike smirked, “That caged bird? Lot of help, that one.”

Giles continued, “Yes, I know there is another Slayer, but as you also know, Faith is currently incarcerated. Therefore, she cannot perform any slayer duties. And you can’t call another slayer until Faith dies. To sum it up, all you’ve got is Buffy. As conditions presently deteriorate, she will have to slow down her slaying in order to support her family.” That was putting it on a bit thick. Giles crossed his fingers and hoped the exaggeration would help tip the scales.

Travers tried a new tactic. ”It’s just not possible. The Council must decide such an issue, and I doubt they would agree.”

Having had enough, Spike ‘accidentally’ let go his hold on the demon. Not missing a chance, the Feral Demon promptly knocked over a book case sending all the old volumes flying everywhere before Spike could manage to get him back under control with a few, well placed shocks.

After swallowing several times, Travers started again. "Maybe with some conditions..."

This time, Spike blatantly turned loose of the struggling demon to walk up to the desk and point the cattle prod at Travers. "No conditions. None." He let the noise of a glass case shattering behind him accent his point and then diminish before continuing. “You stupid ponces just don’t get it. The Slayer has already proved her worth and commitment by giving her life *twice* and still came back for more. How many times do you need to die to prove your worth, mate?” Spike motioned over to the demon leaving a path of broken wood and glass in its wake. “The payments start tomorrow or … I can make sure you get special deliveries everyday. The office, your flat, you mistress’ flat, wherever.”

After the gratuitous male staring contest, Travers replied through clenched teeth, leaving his assistant in shock. “Fine. We will notify the Slayer tomorrow. Now get that creature out.”

"Good. Now for our second request…”

Travers cut Giles off with a warning tone to his voice. “Rupert, I think you have pushed this as far as you should.”

Glancing over at Spike and the demon who had now made their way over to another row of shelves, Giles continued. “I think this is the perfect time settle all issues. The other request is that a college fund be set up for Dawn Summers.” He paused to admire the red flush crossing Travers face and held up a hand before Travers could refuse. “Dawn is the Key and should be taken care of. As I mentioned before, she would not even be in the circumstance she is now if it were not for our Slayer. The least the Council can do is help secure her future.”

But Spike had not played all his cards yet. Before Travers could launch any further arguments, the demon got loose again, rushed the desk, and let loose a large amount of mucus that landed square on the documents in front of Travers, solidifying with amazing speed. The second wad landed on the face of the young man unfortunate enough to still be standing behind Travers. As his eyes followed his assistant flailing around the room desperately trying to remove the hardening mucus, Travers reluctantly agreed to the last term as the demon inhaled loudly preparing more ammunition.

Giles quickly pulled out a legal document, got it signed and ushered Spike and the demon out the door before Travers had time to rethink the agreement.

Giles pulled his car to a stop around the corner from the Council of Watchers and turned to look at the pair struggling in the back seat. “Enough is enough. Would you two *please* mind the leather seats?”

Before he could even think about ducking, Spike poked Giles with the prod and pulled the trigger. Giles flinched and jumped away only to realize that there was no accompanying pain. The demon laughed and spoke in his language which Spike translated. “He said you have to put batteries in first.”

Giles glared at both the vampire and the demon who were now laughing hysterically in his back seat. “Very humorous. You might have told let me in on that little detail of the plan.”

Gasping for unneeded air, Spike finally got himself back under control. While rubbing his newly freed wrists, the demon asked Spike a question to which Spike answered. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got your blunt right here, mate. 100 pounds, and your performance was worth every shilling. Let’s go get a pint to celebrate and settle up.”


TBC…