The Gift, Take Two

Title: The Gift, Take Two - Chapter 17: In Vampire Veritas
Email: Dafmeister@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The Buffyverse is owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox and a bunch of other people who aren't me. No infringement of copyright is intended blah blah blah...
Distribution: Ask and Ye shall receive.
Rating: R
Feedback: Have you ever heard of a fanfic author who didn't want all the feedback they could get their grubby little paws on?
Summary: Willow's spell has unexpected results.
Author's notes: Huge thanks to Kaz, beta extraordinaire.

*****

"Doesn't it ever rain in this bloody country?"

"Will you shut up about the sodding weather! For fuck's sake, Ryan, you've been banging on about it ever since we arrived!"

"Don't tell me you're not bored with sun, sun and more bloody sun?"

"Of course I'm bored with it, we're all bored with it, we just don't feel the need to whinge about it every five minutes!"

"Touchy."

"That's it, I'm switching shifts."

"Hang on, I see something... Slayer Two and the kid approaching the house, on foot."

"No sign of Slayer One or the car?"

"Nope. Wonder where she's got to."

"Do you think they're going to get back together?" Dawn asked, breaking a silence that had endured since she and Faith left the Magic Box. She opened the door of the house and went inside.

"Don't know, I guess so." Faith answered, following her. "I mean, it's Buffy and Angel, right? The great tragic romance thing. They'll probably make it way more complicated than it needs to be, but yeah, I think they still love each other, so why not?"

"Yeah, I guess." Dawn didn't sound particularly enthusiastic about the idea.

"You okay with all this, Bitesize?" Faith asked, her own thoughts on the subject pushed aside by the melancholy tone she heard in Dawn's voice.

"Yeah, I'm..." Dawn began, only to break off as she saw the concerned look on Faith's face. "I don't know. I just... I keep remembering all the Angel trauma from last time around. I don't want to see Buffy go through all that again."

"Well, maybe it won't be like that this time. The whole vamp thing's old news, and it's not like he'll be going evil again, so maybe they'll just be happy together?" Why don't I feel good about that?

"Maybe."

"Okay, Bitesize, come on, spill it."

"Spill what?"

"Whatever it is that's bugging you."

"It's nothing, it's stupid... Angel's in L.A., Buffy's here. You know what they say about long distance relationships, and that's for normal people, how'll they-"

"Oh ,Dawnie! B's not going to run out on you, no way!" Faith hugged her. "You thought she was going to run off to L.A. to live with him?"

"Maybe, I don't know..." Dawn said, her eyes tearing up. "I'm scared of losing her, Faith."

"Not going to happen, Bitesize. This is Buffy we're talking about, remember? No was she's going to take off like that."

"She did it before."

"That was different, it was..."

"It was about Angel."

"Okay, yeah, but..." Faith paused. "Look, Dawn, people change, okay? B's
not going to just walk away from Sunnydale, and she's not going to leave you on your own, right?"

"Okay."

"Good. Look, I've got to go patrol, you okay fixing some pizza for yourself?"

"Yeah, but what about you?"

"I'll hit the DMP later. Don't stay up too long, okay?"

*****

Buffy barely remembered to turn off the engine before she sprang out of the Jeep. She'd spent more than twenty minutes trying to find the Hyperion, her nerves fraying more with every passing moment. It had seemed that she could hear a clock ticking away in her head, counting off the seconds as they slipped by, lost forever. Now, as she pushed open the hotel door, she was suddenly apprehensive.

Cordelia was sitting at the reception counter, filing her nails, while behind her, Wesley was engrossed in one of his books. Cordelia looked up briefly as Buffy entered. "You took your time."

Buffy barely seemed to notice that she'd spoken, she was so busy looking around the lobby. "I got stuck in traffic, then I couldn't find this place."

"Hello again, Buffy." Wesley said, putting his book down. "You're looking well."

"Yeah, you too. Where is he?"

"He's upstairs with Willow, helping Fred pack. I'll go and tell him you're here."

"Thanks." Buffy watched him disappear up the stairs, then sat down on the circular couch. After a moment, she asked "Who's Fred, and why's he packing?"

Cordelia put her file down. "Fred's a girl. She's the one Angel rescued in Pylea."

"That's the place they made you queen of, right?"

"Yeah." Cordelia's voice took on a wistful note for a moment. "I'm taking her and Willow over to my place tonight, give you and Angel some space."

"Thanks."

Cordelia sat quietly for a moment, watching Buffy nervously toying with a strand of her hair, then she came out from behind the counter and walked over. "Look Buffy, I know you and Angel have the whole tragic romance thing going, but there's something you need to know."

"What's that?"

"If you hurt him, all the Slayer powers in the world won't be enough to save you."

For a moment, Buffy just stared at her, startled by the vehemence in her voice, and then Angel came hurrying down the stairs. Behind him were Wesley, Willow and a dark-haired young woman. Buffy sprang up from the couch, slipped past Cordelia and ran to him. They met at the base of the stairs, flinging their arms around each other in a desperate hug. Moments later they parted, each taking a step back.

"Hi."

"Hi."

There was a long moment of silence, Buffy and Angel gazing at each other and the others standing around uncomfortably, before Cordelia spoke. "Okay, I think that's our cue. Will, Fred, grab your stuff, we're out of here."

Wesley agreed. "Yes, I think I'll say my goodbyes as well. Buffy, Willow, good to see you again."

He was already gone when Buffy tore her eyes away from Angel. She was just in time to catch Willow as the witch tried to slip away. Buffy almost threw herself at her friend, not noticing how Willow stiffened up as she hugged her. "Thank you, Will, thank you so much!"

Willow hugged her back, awkwardly, disengaging herself as soon as she could. "I'd better get going. Have fun, okay?"

A few moments later, Buffy and Angel were alone. They stood silent for a moment, watching each other, then Angel spoke.

"Would you like some tea?"

*****

Faith's pulse echoed in her ears as she raced through the cemetery, her eyes fixed on the vampire ahead of her. She was barely aware of her surroundings, had lost all track of where she was. The world had ceased to exist. There was only the vampire, the Slayer, and the slowly shrinking gap between them.

The vampire, sensing that her pursuer was only a few yards behind, turned suddenly and darted around the corner of a mausoleum. Faith didn't even try to follow. She jumped, kicked off a handy tombstone, and flipped herself onto the mausoleum's gently sloping roof. Rolling to her feet, she ran across to the other side and leaped, sailing fifteen feet through the air before crashing down on the vampire's shoulders. They tumbled to the ground, rolling over and over together.

Somewhere in the whirl of bodies, Faith lost her bearings, and her grip on her stake, allowing the vampire was able to take the initiative. Faith found herself on her back, pinned down, with the vampire's fangs bearing down on her. She didn't have time to pull out another stake. Lurching upwards, she drove her forehead into the fanged mouth. There was a flash of pain as a fang sliced open her skin, then the vampire was jerking away, blood streaming from split lips. A kick to the head bought Faith the seconds she needed to draw a stake and drive it through the vampire's back.

Faith picked herself up and wiped the blood from her forehead. The cut stung, but it wasn't bleeding enough to be serious. Pressing the sleeve of her black denim jacket against the cut, she looked around, trying to figure out where she was. That was when she heard the clapping. Peering through the darkness, she realised that she was less than a hundred yard from Spike's crypt. Spike was sitting on the roof, applauding. Faith headed over.

"Nice move, Slayer, you should sell tickets."

"Very funny. What are you doing up there, anyway?"

"What, can't a bloke enjoy the view from his own home?" Spike said defensively, dropping off the roof with a whiskey bottle in his hand.

"Are you drunk?"

"Not yet." Spike took a swig. "But I'm working on it."

"What's the occasion?"

Spike let out a bitter laugh. "Buffy's with Angel, probably doing her damnedest to shag the soul out of him, see how good Red's mojo really is. Therefore, in the grand tradition of love's losers everywhere, I am getting royally wankered." He tipped another couple of shots worth down his throat, then waved the bottle at her. "You want some?"

"No, thanks, I don't use the hard stuff." Too many memories.

"Suit yourself. I just figured you might need some, what with you being in love with her as well."

"What did you say?"

*****

Well, this feels familiar. Angel took a sip of his tea and put the mug down on the table, wincing slightly as the sound echoed in through the Hyperion's kitchen. Across from him, Buffy sat fidgeting in her chair.

"So..."

"So..."

"Yeah."

"Quite a day, huh?" Buffy said, forcing some brightness into her voice.

"Certainly was." Angel agreed. "Willow's getting pretty impressive these days."

"Tell me about it. Sometimes I think that one day it'll be me backing her up."

They both laughed at that for a moment, then the awkward silence descended once again.

"Nice kitchen."

"Huh?"

"You have a nice kitchen. Roomy."

"Thanks. It's a bit over the top for me, though; I just need a microwave to heat the blood. Fred's pretty much the only one who comes in here."

"She cooks?"

"It's more of a science project, searching for the perfect taco recipe."
Buffy couldn't help but smile at that idea. "So what's her story? How come she's living with you?"

"She'd been living in a cave in Pylea. We brought her back, and she decided to stay and help us."

"No family here?"

"Her parents are in Texas. She didn't have anywhere to go, and it's not like I'm short on space here."

"True. Lots of pacing room in this place."

"Yeah."

"Angel, what's happening?" Buffy asked abruptly, unable to stand the small talk any more. "I've been thinking about this moment, God, I've been dreaming about it for years, and now it's here and..."

"Nothing's happening."

"Yeah! I mean, I wasn't expecting us to just start tearing our clothes off in the lobby, but... we didn't even kiss."

"Did you want to?"

"Yes!" Buffy replied, then checked herself. "Maybe. I don't... It was never about wanting to kiss you in the old days, I needed to, and now..."

"Now we don't need to."

"I don't understand it!" Buffy's eyes were tearing up. "I still love you, I know I do, but it's different now, and I don't know why."

"You think maybe we moved on?"

"You feel it too?"

"Yes." Angel reached across the table and took her hand. "I'll always love you, Buffy, but I don't think we're in love any more."

"Wow," Buffy whispered, working the idea over in her mind. "We moved on. When did that happen?"

"I don't know." Angel said, a rueful smile on his lips, then he noticed Buffy's expression changing. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm..." Buffy began, then her face seemed to crumple and the tears began pouring out.

"Buffy, what's wrong?"

"When Willow called, I thought I was getting you back, I thought someone was coming into my life instead of leaving it, and now you're not, thing's are just the same as they were."

"What are you talking about? Who's leaving?"

"Faith."

*****

"I am not in love with Buffy."

"Course not. My mistake."

"I am not in love with Buffy!" Faith repeated, glaring at Spike. "For one thing, she's a girl."

"Well spotted. I didn't think you'd be so uptight about this. I mean, look at Red: sweet, innocent little teacher's pet, all textbooks and fuzzy jumpers, and as soon as Dog-Boy does a runner, she heads straight for the alternative lifestyle section." Spike waved a finger at her. "Now you, on the other hand, from what I've heard I'd have expected you to be a lot more flexible, and yet here you are, trying to deny everything."

"Okay, first of all," Faith kicked him "Oz was a good guy, so quit being so hard on him! You like having a killer inside you, but I'm guessing it screwed him up in the end, and I can relate, so knock it off! Second, I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH BUFFY!"

"Balls."

"Spike, I'm warning you-"

"Oh, give it a rest, Slayer, I can see it all over your face. You've got the look."

"What look?"

"The 'I lost my heart to Buffy Summers' look."

"You are so full of it."

"Don't argue. I've seen it on Peaches, I saw it on Xander a few times back in the old days, I got sick of the sight of it on Captain America and I've felt it creep across my own sculpted features on more than a few occasions. I can spot it at a thousand yards, and you've got it plastered all over your face."

"Shut up! And give me that!" Faith snatched the bottle and gulped down a mouthful.

"Hey, take it easy, that's single malt and it's older than you are!"

*****

"Faith's leaving Sunnydale?" Angel asked, surprised.

"She says she has to, that it's better for me if she goes." Buffy wiped some of the tears from her eyes, only for them to be immediately replaced. "There's this vamp in town, he used to work for the Mayor. Once we kill him, she says she's going. I don't think I can take losing her again, Angel."

"I don't understand, I thought you were getting along great."

"We were, we still are a lot of the time."

"What's changed?"

"Nothing. That's the problem. It's like none of us can let go of all the old stuff, and now Faith's scared that me having her around is driving Will and Xander away. She says I need them more than her, so she's going to leave. She's right, I need them so much now, but I need her too, Angel. And I can't talk to the others about it because she made me promise not to tell them. The thought of losing her hurts so much, and it's like the only way I can deal with the pain is by getting angry with her, and then..."

"Then what?"

"Oh God, Angel, I beat her today! Before Will called, we were sparring, and then she said she'd told Giles she was going. I guess that made it seem more real, somehow, and then there was the pain, and the anger, and I started hitting her! I kicked her halfway across the room, and she wasn't even fighting back!" Buffy stared across at him, shame and panic pouring from her in waves. "What am I turning into, Angel?"

Looking into her reddened, puffy eyes, Angel saw the fear and the pain, and, underneath it all, a young heart breaking. Understanding hit him like a freight train. He got up, moved around the end of the table, and slipped onto a chair beside her. "Does she know how you feel?"

"I don't even know how I feel." Buffy sobbed. "I mean, how can I be this upset at losing her and then beat the crap out of her?"

Oh my God, you have no idea, do you? Taking Buffy's hand again, Angel put his other arm around her shoulders. "Can I make a suggestion?"

"Please."

"Take some time to yourself to work through this." Weighing his words carefully, the vampire continued. "Just sit down, on your own, and listen to your heart. And don't be afraid of what it tells you."

"Nice you can still lay on the melodrama," Buffy said with a weak smile.

Angel smiled back. "I'm serious. Figure out what you want, and talk to Faith. Let her know how much you're hurting."

"Okay." Buffy wiped her eyes again. "You got somewhere I can crash tonight?"

"I think we can find somewhere habitable."

*****

"Look, I care about her, okay, that's all." Faith insisted, jabbing her finger toward Spike as he sat beside her against the outer wall of his crypt, her words slurring slightly. "I want her to be happy. Doesn't mean I'm in love with her."

"If you say so," Spike replied, the knowing smirk back on his face.

For a moment Faith contemplated yelling at him again, but in the end she just swallowed another mouthful of scotch and thrust the bottle back at him. "It's not like it'd matter, anyway. Hell, you'd stand more of a chance with her than me."

"Oh that's bloody charming, that is. Kick a bloke when he's down."

"Well it's true. At least you've got the right gear in your pants. You really think B'd be caught dead getting nasty with another girl?"

"Why not? At least you're not a murdering demon."

"No, just a murdering human." Faith's voice was bitter.

"You don't seem that murderous these days."

"It's still there, though. No-one ever forgets."

"I guess that means we're both beneath her, then."

Faith snorted. "Hah! I wish. Did I just say that?"

"I tried to tell you," Spike replied, smirking more than ever.

"God damn it! I don't need this, not now." Faith snatched the bottle back and took another swig.

"Love's bitches, both of us."

"Well, here's to Cupid, the little bastard." A thought struck her. "Is he real?"

"Don't know. Might be."

"You know what, we should hunt him down and kick his ass."

"Now you're talking." Spike took a drink and returned the bottle. "I'll hold him down, you shove that sodding bow right up the little bleeder."

"I'm down with that." Faith drained the last of the scotch. "Ugh. Empty bottle. Not good."

"Don't worry," Spike said, scrambling to his feet and walking unsteadily to the door. "I have more."