My Immortal

Chapter Fourteen

Spike took another bag of pigs blood out of the mini fridge and stared at it. What the bleedin' hell was up with him? He should be hunting and feasting on humans. He was no longer in Sunnydale and therefore, free of the bloody Slayer. Just thinking of her and seeing the bag of blood was enough to turn his stomach and put him off his meal. He put the pouch back in the fridge and slammed the door, making it rattle and hum louder than before.

Spike walked out into the night air and breathed in deeply. The city lay before him, lots of little people, all oblivious to the dangers that lurked in the shadows, all out there, their blood calling to him. He opened his eyes and rolled his shoulders , he could do this. He was a Master in his own right, no Slayer was going to bloody tame him. He leaped over the railing and landed softly on the tarmac of the car park, he looked around, deciding which way was best and walked off into the night.

The bus pulled up, jerking as the driver applied the brakes, waking Buffy with a start. She looked out of the window as she wiped the sleepiness from her face. A bag hit her head as a burly woman rushed to get off the bus, not that Buffy blamed her. It had been stuffy and smelt like cat urine. All in all, not a pleasant trip. Not that she cared now. She was in L.A .Buffy would find her vampire and then she would or could forget everything and just be her, she would finally be Buffy, and not the Slayer.She rose from her seat and grabbed the hold all, she stepped off the bus and stretched. The cramped seats had made her feel stiff and her muscles screamed to be stretched . Buffy scanned the bus station and felt the tingle run down her spine. It appeared her muscles would be getting the stretch they craved after all. She saw the tall man that hung back from the crowd. She narrowed her eyes and snorted. His clothing was dated and his skin was pale, he stuck out of the crowd , who lived in L.A and didn't tan? Not to mention the clothes, L.A was all about fashion, and who in their right mind didn't keep up with the latest trends? Dead people that's who. Buffy hunted her hold all for a stake and cursed herself for not packing one in the rush to get out of the house. She'd have to improvise. Buffy walked towards the vampire and purposefully ran into him. Hoping that he was at least as dumb as he looked and couldn't tell that she was the Slayer. It must have worked. He spun with the impact and then apologized, giving her what he hoped was a grin that would charm her into stopping. Buffy played along and hovered close to him.

"You look lost, can I help you? My names Dean, what's yours?"

"B.. Buffy, I'm not lost, just got nowhere to go"

He smirked, she knew that he would offer to take her some place she could stay. Vampires were too predictable sometimes.

" I know of a shelter not too far from here, I'll walk you"

Buffy nodded, she watched as he lead her out of the bus station and across the road. At least he didn't have a car. He stopped at the entrance to a large alley and motioned for her to go down there with him. Buffy knew that this was it, the moment where he'd attack. She still hadn't seen anything she could use as a stake . Dean held out his hand and smiled to reassure her. Yeah right, like that works!

Buffy cursed at herself inwardly. Hadn't she said that she wouldn't slay any more and just be Buffy. She put her hand in Deans and let him lead into the darkened alley. It didn't take long before he shoved her backwards into the wall. His hands held her shoulders against the brick.

"What are you doing? Get off me!"

Playing the defenseless girl was really taking some acting. She laughed as she thought that an oscar should be hers for this act.

"Struggle and it'll hurt more"

"What are you doing to me! Please don't"

Dean morphed and Buffy sneered, he was one ugly vamp, and had the worst set of fangs she'd seen in a while. Her stomach rebelled at the gross vamp about to move in for the kill. Buffy still hadn't got a weapon, she did what she had to. She raised her hands causing his arms to fall away from her shoulders, as they fell, Buffy threw a punch and Dean staggered backwards, the look on his face was one of shock.

"How, how can you do that, your a little girl"

"That's where your wrong, I'm not just a little girl, I'm the Slayer"

Dean froze, he had heard other vamps speak of the Slayer, but he'd thought it was a story they all told, a myth of sorts. He never thought that he would come face to face with her. And there she was, the Slayer, and about to kick his ass. The kick that sent him backwards into the chained fence, was unexpected. He growled loudly and got to his feet. Buffy punched him and reached up to the fence, snapping the barbed wire and wrapping it around his neck. Buffy pulled hard as Dean tore at her arms and scratched at her torso. With one last twist, his head separated from his body , his dust carried off by the breeze.

Buffy looked around and stood slowly. She saw a wooden pallet and stamped down on a board, splintering a piece off,it was a crude stake but it would do, she tucked into her jeans pocket. She walked back out of the alley and hissed as the cool breeze hit the scratches that marred her skin. Buffy closed her eyes and for a split second, regretted coming here.

The beach was bringing back memories of Spain and of her. Spike flicked his fag and turned to walk away. He watched as happy couples and loners walked past him and yet the urge to take one as a meal had left him. Now he just stood watching the ocean, deep in thought.Dru had been right to leave him, he wasn't the same vampire he had been before . She could tell that he was no longer her boy, the vicious killer, the Slayer of Slayers. He mentally kicked himself for being weak and for not being able to kill Buffy and prove himself to Dru. Instead he had stood by and watched as Angel reduced his sire to dust. He hadn't even killed the wanker for it. He had sided with Buffy and helped her defeat the Master. He shook his head and pushed off of the sand and stood. A familiar feeling hummed through his whole body. He could sense she was close. He scanned the beach and couldn't see her. He put it down to his memories invading his senses and returned to the hotel.

Buffy stood before the doors of the abandoned building and kicked at them, glad that they gave way with ease. She stepped in and swung the door shut. Someone had stayed there recently as there was a pile of blankets in a pile on an old sofa and there were two car seats that had been pushed together to form another make shift bed. Buffy sighed. She knew that the money her Mother had saved wouldn't go far. Certainly not far enough for her to afford a hotel room. Buffy picked up the blankets and wrapped one around her. She curled up on the car seats and rested there.

Spike walked back through the business district, hoping to encounter fewer people that way. The abandoned buildings would house a few vagrants but it would still be less pedestrian. Something nagged at him, worried him, something he could sense , or someone.

"Bollocks"

He stood looking at the three warehouses ahead of him and reached out honed his senses. He felt pulled to the larger building. The large wooden doors looked as though a car had driven through them .That was his Slayer's work, of that he was sure.What the hell was she doing there, sleeping rough in L.A? He growled and headed straight into the warehouse. He looked over at the seating. He rushed towards her and knelt. He couldn't smell blood, all he could smell was the dust of a vampire that had obviously thought she was an easy meal. He stood and watched as she uncurled from the blanket and opened her eyes. Her eyes welled up and her body relaxed at the sight of him. He glared down at her, his jaw tensed and his eyes were thunderous.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here? Do you know where you are you bloody stupid bint?"

Buffy opened her mouth to answer him and was cut off by the angered and pacing vampire.

"Your laying on the bed of a soddin vamp love, you set up home in a nest"

Spike scanned the area and couldn't feel any vamps around.

"Your just soddin lucky they're out, probably hunting. Now get your arse off of that shitty seat and come with me now"

"No"

"Excuse me?"

His eyes widened and his brows raised at her indignance

"I said no, you heard me. If the vamps come back i'll just kill them, I'm not helpless Spike"

"Right you are then love, see you around"

He turned his back on her and made his way to the exit, hoping that she wouldn't be stupid and stay there. As he reached the door, he knew that the stubbornness would stop her from being intelligent enough to know that she couldn't stay. He sighed as he placed one foot out the door. He looked back to see her eyes shining away in the half lit room.

"Last time I'm going to offer , you coming, got a nice, okay half way decent hotel pet, warm enough, good cafe opposite and a shower, if your interested"

Shrugging he walked out into the night and lit up a fag. He blew out a large pull and continued his walk back to his room. He hadn't taken ten steps when he heard the door creak open and small steps catch up with him. He looked down to see her head hung, but walking with him. He grinned satisfied that at least for tonight , she'd be safe.

Giles paced his condo,Joyce sat in the chair dumbfounded.

Everything that Buffy had said was true, or so this Mr Giles was saying. Hank had left because he thought his daughter was delusional and a trouble maker, she had ignored Buffy and had thrown herself into work because she had felt the same way. Buffy had needed her, had told the truth, and she had turned her back on her. Guilty tears fell from her eyes . Giles offered Joyce his hanky and stood before her.

"Buffy has dealt with a very serious threat, not just her life, but to the world as a whole. She needed support and found her family sadly lacking . She had to turn to two vampires for that support and they protected her life with their own Mrs Summers. One of those vampires has a soul. The other did it as , well, I'm not sure why, but he has left Sunnydale. I am positive that Buffy has gone in search of that vampire. If we could find him then I'm sure we would find your daughter"

Joyce was shocked and scared. Her baby was out there somewhere, fighting against creatures that normal people thought were just figments of overactive imaginations and films, books and nightmares. She held back the tears and wiped at her face, removing the salty moisture from her cheeks. She straightened in the chair and looked up at the man that had been trusted with Buffy's well being .

"Where do you think he would have gone?"

"I have no idea, William the Bloody, Spike, doesn't have a pattern to his hunting grounds, he has always been an enigma, a free spirit of sorts. He has never been a vampire that created minions, he has never been one for being part of a nest. He has shown kindness and an ability to care. We can only hope that whatever his attachment was to Buffy , that it still stands and that should she find him, he protects her"

Giles didn't want to think of the alternative. He shuddered at the thought of Spike taking advantage of Buffys weakened state, emotionally speaking, and using it against her, to kill her. Not that they had any way of knowing as Buffy had briefly died at the hands of the Master and another Slayer had been called. Technically the Slayer line rested with the newly called , not with Buffy. That in itself perplexed Giles. Why did Buffy keep her Slayer powers?

The new Slayer would be arriving in Sunnydale within the next twenty four hours, she was traveling from London , having been trained at the Watchers Council since she had been eleven. Her parents had died and she had no living relatives. So, she had been taken under the wing of the Watchers Council and raised by the team that resided there. She was to be his new charge according to Wesley. Wesley would be staying in Sunnydale to assess and to report back on the new Slayer and on Mr Giles' ability to train and teach his Slayers everything that they needed to function proficiently.

Spike let Buffy into the room and followed her in. He shut the door and stopped behind her, throwing the keys onto the crappy dresser . He stepped around her and looked into her eyes, then followed the path of her gaze, towards the double bed. He frowned and then half smiled at her.

"S'okay, you take the bed love, I'll kip on the floor"

Sad eyes looked up at him and she nodded. Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. She had found him, or rather, he had found her. Now she wasn't sure what she would do or what he would do. She was sure the last thing he wanted was a sixteen year old Slayer hanging out with him.

"Why don' you go get showered and I'll nip out an' get you something to eat pet"

Buffy nodded and cast her gaze towards the bathroom. She stood and fumbled through her bag. She put a pair of shorts and strappy vest on the bed and then pointed towards the bathroom. Spike smiled and stood before the front door.

"Is there anything you don' eat ?"

"No, I'm not fussy"

"Okay, back soon then pet, you go ahead. Spike'll be back soon"

She left the bathroom door unlocked and turned the spray on. The hot powerful jet was soothing her , emotionally and physically,the aches within her tired muscles was disappearing fast.The cool draft alerted her to Spikes return. She groaned as she shut off the water and stepped out of the shower.

"Grubs 'ere pet, don't be in there long, it'll get cold"

He threw his keys onto the dresser and tossed the bag of food onto the bed. He stood outside the bathroom door and listened as she dressed herself before coming out of the bathroom. He slumped into the chair as she opened the bathroom door and smiled at him. She sat on the bed and pointed to the bag, he nodded and she opened it. She pulled out the salad and then the burger and fries. She bit into the burger and closed her eyes. She hadn't realized how hungry she was and licked her lips before taking another bit. The sounds she made as she ate had him captivated. Each moan seem to dance through his system before settling in his groin. Spike shifted his position in his seat and then gave up. He stood and retrieved a pouch of blood from the fridge.

"D'you mind"

He held it up and Buffy shook her head.She licked her fingers as she put the last of the burger into her mouth .

"No, it's okay"

Spike sat next to her and drank his blood as she ate the fries. She smiled nervously as he slid into the face of his demon. He was amazed at how she accepted that part of him after everything. He finished the pouch of blood and shook his head and reverted to his human state. He sat with his back against the headboard and switched the television back on with it's remote. Buffy settled next to him and picked at the salad. She was full and put the salad in the fridge for the morning. She crawled up the bed and Spike couldn't help but watch, she was predatory and he was reminded of a puma , graceful and sleek in movement. He closed his eyes as she settled back next to him. He glanced down at her as she rested, Buffy yawned and tried to shake the tiredness away. He watched as her eyelids grew heavy and drooped every now and then. She had him wanting to take her in his arms and hold her as they slept. He wondered if she felt the same as she turned towards him and buried her head deeper into the pillows. He went to move off the bed and found that Buffy had clutched his t shirt and moaned as he tried to get off the bed. He sighed and settled in next to her.

Giles stood at the door of his apartment and checked the time again on his watch, cursing Wesley for his poor time keeping skills. He went into the kitchen and made yet another cup of tea. At this rate he would probably drown in the beverage before Wesley turned up. He couldn't remember being this nervous about meeting a Slayer before. He recalled meeting Buffy for the first time. He had scared the daylights out of her by slamming the Vampyr book in front of her. Yes she was the Slayer already and had defeated an olde vampire and his minions, but she was still very young and irrational. He had honed her skills and calmed the impulsive streak within her. Or so he thought. This girl had years of being bought up in the safety of the Council, surrounded by stuffy English Watchers.

The knock alerted him to their arrival. Giles snatched his glasses from his nose and hurried to the door. Upon opening it, he saw Wesley and the young girl. He stepped aside and granted them access to his home. The girl looked around curiously. She raised a brow and flopped onto the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. Wesley looked over apologetically and smiled. Giles raised his brow and introduced himself.

"I know who you are G, Wes explained and gave me your file, So, where's the great B? "

The girl was brash and definitely not English. She had been given a file on him and knew about Buffy, it seemed unfair of the Council to not do the same for him, knowing his charges background would help tremendously in her training. He sighed and stepped into the kitchen dragging Wesley with him. He watched the girl as he talked.

"Where in heavens name did you get this girl, she's rude, has a lack of respect and quite frankly, I can already tell that she won't comply with my orders."

"That is exactly why the Council have given you the job in 'taming' the girl. Previous Watchers have either been wounded by her, or have asked that she be removed from their care. They all quote indifference as their reasons. Knowing that Buffy was a , shall we say spirited, young lady ,they automatically thought you were the next logical choice"

"And when Buffy returns, how am I to manage two spirited young girls, as you like to call them?"

"The Council has every faith in you Mr Giles"

Giles watched as the girl picked up an empty cross bow.

"Wicked cool!"

Faith aimed it through the breakfast bar at the Watchers and for a second, Giles' heart raced before he reassured himself that the bow was empty. He sighed and rubbed at his eyes, feeling the tension build behind them already.

"I shall remain in Sunnydale for a month , to report back on how she settles. I think you'll find that with you and with the guide of the current Slayer, should she return, Faith should settle down soon."

Giles highly doubted it. Faith bounced up onto a stool that sat the other side of the breakfast bar and snapped her bubble gum at him. She smiled and saw the look of mistrust on his face. Oh yeah, she was going to have fun with this one, she was sure. He didn't seem as stiff as the others which meant he could be manipulated easier.The fact that his other Slayer had gone awol just backed up that theory. Wherever Buffy was, she hoped she stayed for a long time.

Buffy turned over in her sleep and groaned as she found herself restricted. She shuffled her legs and felt the obstruction. She opened her eyes and saw the naked torso of the vampire laying next to her. Buffy nudged Spike none too gently, he growled at her and pulled her against him again. The slaps to his cheek woke him and his blue eyes fixed onto her green.

"What?"

"Don't what me! You in bed, naked with me, not of the good!"

"Didn't hear any complaints when you snugged up to me last night, all sighs and smiles"

He smiled with his tongue tucked upon his teeth

"In fact , it was you that clung to me that bloody made me stay 'ere"

Spike lifted the covers and showed her that she still clung to his t shirt and had in fact torn it from his body.Buffy bit her lower lip .

"Opps"

"My best soddin shirt too"

Buffy offered it back to him and smiled nervously.

"No bloody good to me now is it Slayer? You may as well keep it, think of it as your security blanket "

The torment was obvious and she threw it at his back as he made his way to the fridge. He bit into the pouch of blood and drank it without shifting into his game face. Buffy noted that at least he had kept his jeans on. Inwardly she smiled at the fact that he had slept in the bed with her. She had a feeling of comfort and safety with him there and had slept better than she had for a while .

Spike had to admit that watching her fall asleep last night had filled him with a sense of calm. Feeling her grip on his t shirt , essentially trapping him in the bed had left him with a sense of being needed, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Even with Dru, even when the insane vampire was at her worst, she had never clung to him in the way Buffy had. She had shown him that she was vulnerable, that she needed him. He'd woken and felt her legs tangle with his and her arms had wrapped around him, he had felt an intimacy with her that he had never felt with anyone. Buffy had bared her soul and heart to him again and this time he wouldn't use it against her or break the trust that she had in him.