Twining Vines (COMPLETE)

“What are you doing, Slayer?” Spike grumbled.

Still sitting on the floor, she looked up at him from between a few dishevelled locks that escaped her ponytail. Huffing, in a frustrated attempt to get her hair out of the way, she grumbled:

“None, of your business.”

And she was up and making her way into the living room with large threatening steps. The vampire sighed and followed her.

Ignoring him, she walked around the couch, squatting as she searched for the little creature. Her eyes scanned the room looking for their target:

“Here little It. I’m not gonna hurt you.” She called out in a sweet tone before adding between clenched teeth. “I just want to rip your greasy head off and get my Tupperware back.” Her voice returned to the original soft attitude as she continued: “Here little It. I’m not mad, you can come out now. Come out, come out wherever you are.”

When she failed to get any answer she shouted:

“Get your scrawny little butt over here; you over-slimed excuse for a demon!” She shouted.

“Oh, yeah, that should do the trick.” Spike mocked as he leaned against the doorframe.

She didn’t say anything opting to throw him a murderous glance instead before returning her attention to her task.

“It… come on, I’m not gonna hurt you.” She looked around the room one more time.

She was about to give up when she saw a flash of the small demon running from the front door to the stairs.

In an instant, she zoomed past Spike and took the steps two-by-two. When she reached the top she turned left after It which she had just seen entering her room.

She was about to turn the knob when she felt a strong hand on her forearm. She looked up to find Spike standing next to her.

“You’re not going in there.” He said coldly.

“What?! Of course I am.” She said moving to open the door.

“Samara’s in there. She needs to rest.” As the vampire spoke he moved to stand between her and the door. “You’re not going in there.”

“Like hell I won’t.” Buffy grumbled pushing him out of the way but he stood his ground.

The Slayer tried once more but it was useless. He wouldn’t budge yet she insisted, comically ending up pulling at his hand, her arms stretched out her body pulling in the opposite direction as she tried to use her weight to her advantage. Spike looked at her from under a frown. Suddenly her hold on him slipped and she found herself sprawled on the floor. Her legs were spread out in front of her, her arms falling limply between them; her head bowed causing her face to be partially covered by a few loose strings of her blonde hair.

After a few seconds he heard a weak sound. It sounded like a…

“Buffy?” He called but she didn’t answer so he squatted down in front of her.

Stubbornly, her gaze remained glued to the floor and her shoulders started to shake a bit just as another muffled cry was heard.

“Buffy, are you… Buffy, what are you doing?” He asked with unease when she looked up and he was able to see the tears threading down her flushed cheeks. “Buffy, luv…” He was at a loss. With an unsure hand he reached out to push her hair aside but she slapped it away.

“Don’t touch me.” She demanded in a babyish tone while she tried to get up.

Unfortunately, her limbs didn’t seem to be inclined to help her in her task and she ended up half-crawling, half-stumbling her way down the hall, until she plopped down in defeat half way to the stairs.

“Buffy?”

“I-I can’t mooooove.” She bawled bringing her hands to cover her face. She instantly pulled them away when she felt the thick slobber dripping from her fingers onto her face. She stared at her hand between tear-filled eyes as Spike came to squat next to her again.

“What do you mean you can’t walk?”

She ignored him for a few seconds, gazing intensely at her hand when suddenly she gasped:

“Oh my God! I got It’s slime on my hands and now I’m paralyzed! I can’t walk!” She cried out in terror: “Spike, I can’t walk!”

Without a word the vampire scooped her in his arms and carried her into the bathroom kicking the door open and setting her on the toilet while he turned on the faucets.

“I’m going to be paralyzed for the rest of my life.” She wailed when he came back to pick her up and carried her to the sink.

“You’re not going to be paralyzed. It’s probably just a temporary effect.” He assured her as he washed the slime off her hands, careful not to touch it. “There. It’s all gone.” He announced reaching for a nearby towel.

Buffy stared up at him. One of his arms was wrapped around her for support while the other brushed the towel along her hands. She was pretty sure she could stand on her own. Her coordination was a bit off, like she had had a few too many beers but she could still move. For some reason she didn’t say anything.

“Better?” He enquired letting the towel drop to the sink as he tried to pull away from her for a second. “Can you stand?”

“No.” Her lie was immediate, her fingers gripping the lapels of his duster.

He tried to ignore the chill that usually ran down his spine whenever she was this close to him and spoke:

“We better get you to Dawn’s room. You need some sleep, you must be knackered.”

He carried her into the adjacent room, placing her softly on the bed. For a few seconds her arms remained wrapped around the back of his neck, preventing him from moving. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and glassy from the recent crying.

“I better go check on Samara. If the little bugger’s in there he might get some of his slime on her. In the meantime, see if you can call Giles and ask him about It.” He announced, standing up straight and starting to walk towards the door.

“Right. Check on your *girlfriend*.” She practically spit the last word out.

He stopped in his tracks for a few seconds before walking away again.

Buffy was about to say something again but before she could he was already out the door. A deep frown settled over her eyebrows, her stomach twisting terribly at the thought of him being concerned with the redhead a few doors down the hall. Reluctantly, she picked up the receiver and dialled the familiar number of the Magic Box.

“Hello? It’s me.” She said in a weak voice.

“Buffy?” Willow asked from the other side of the line.

“Yeah.” She replied unenthusiastically.

“What’s up?”

“Spike loves Sam.” Was her short reply as her lower lip jutted out and started trembling a bit.

“Huh?”

“I got alien goo on my hands and all he thinks about is that woman with the stupid red hair.” She pouted. “They’re in my room now. *My* room, Wills. They’re probably having disgusting monkey sex in *my* room.” She began to shout.

“Alien goo? Spike and Sam are having sex? Buffy, you’re not making any sense.”

“I’m paralyzed and all Spike thinks about is boinking heeeeer.” She wailed.

“Buffy, call down.” Willow begged.

“I *am* calm.” Buffy insisted child-like.

“Then why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.” She said quickly as she pawed her tears away with the back of her hand.

“Buffy, what happened?” Willow asked again.

“I was feeding It and he got my Tupperware.” She pausor aor a second before she realised. “He still has my Tupperware! Buuuuaaaaa.”

“It has you’re Tupperware.”

“Yes.” Buffy admitted between sobs.

“And…?”

“And I like that Tupperware a lot. It’s… It’s handy and… good.”

“Good?”

“Yes.”

“Buffy, do you want me to go over there?”

“Yes.” She replied weakly.

“Ok, I’ll be-

“No.” Buffy suddenly changed her mind.

“What?”

“I don’t want you to come over here. You have to stay there and research.” The word seemed to spark the memory of something Spike had just said before he left to check on her. Bitch! She shut her eyes tightly for a second, trying to find focus, when Willow’s voice coming from the receiver snapped her out of her murderous thoughts. “You need to research It.”

“Research it?” Willow repeated.

“Yes.”

“What’s it?”

“It it.”

“Huh?”

“It.”

“Buffy, I don’t-“

“IT!” Buffy shouted frustrated. “The slimy scrawny version of ET. That it!”

“Oh.”

“I touched him and now I can’t move.” Just as she finished speaking a new wave of self-pity took over her and she started to cry again.

“Ok. Just wait a second.” Willow paused nervously setting the receiver down before turning and shouting back: “Anya, can you hand me the book on the Khind’Ara demon?”

“Why me?” Anya’s annoyed voice was heard in the distance.

“Because you were the last one to handle it. You know where it is.”

There was a moment of silence and after a few seconds the ex-demon’s voice was heard again, this time, closer to the receiver.

“Here.” She grumbled.

“Thank you.” Willow replied. “Buffy, are you still there?”

“Yes.” Buffy said weakly.

“I’m checking it now.”

Just was Buffy was about to reply there was a knock on the door and before she could say anything Spike walked in.

“You know, the reason people knock is not only to announce their presence but also to know if they’re actually ald ind inside. I didn’t say you could come in.” Buffy protested.

“That Giles on the phone?” Spike asked, ignoring her comment.

“It’s Willow.”

“Give it here.” The vampire commanded reaching for the receiver.

“No!” She pouted, bringing the device closer to her chest.

Without a word Spike yanked it out of her hand, leaving Buffy to sulk, sitting on the bed, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Red?”

“Spike?”

“What’s up?”

“I can’t seem to find anything on- Oh, here it is. It’s a footnote. Oh, that’s smart!” Willow noted ironically before she quoted: “Beware of the thick, creamy substance that covers the entire Khind’Ara demon’s exterior. Said substance is toxic to humans and has its effects on the central nervous system, namely on the cerebellum accumulating itself there. As a result is causes muscle movements to be uncoordinated and erratic and loss of balance. It also has effects over the limbic system, causing anyone subjected to it to have exaggerated states of emotion, namely anger, happiness, sadness- Oh, so that’s why Buffy’s all sentimental-girl.” Willow exclaimed.

“Guess so. Anything else?”

“No. Just that you become infected by the slime if you touch it or eat it. Yuck. I’m guessing Buffy’s case was the former.”

“Yeah.”

“Also, apparently you don’t have a problem with it since it states that it only affects humans, so you’re safe. As for how long the effect last it’s kinda hard to predict. It depends on how long the slime was in contact with her skin and how much she had on her. It could take a few minutes or a few hours.”

“Thanks, Red. Any news on the other front?”

“Nothing yet. Tara is still working on breaking the magic barrier to see if we can track down whoever is using the major mojo.”

“Ok. If you get anything, let us know.”

“Will do. Bye.”

“Bye.” Spike replied hanging up.

There was a moment of silence between the two as Spike placed the receiver back in its place.

“You ok?” He asked.

“Fine.” She replied, refusing to look at him, focusing her gaze on the wall opposite her.

When he turned around to leave, she quickly called out:

“Took you long enough.”

“It wasn’t in her room. I think he’s gone.” He replied.

She huffed.

“Samara’s ok. She’s asleep.” He continued.

“Really? I thought maybe she would be plotting to kill us all.” She growled to his retreating form.

He froze in place and turned around to face her. She lay on the mattress; chin defiantly raised high, her arms still locked in front of her chest.

“We’ve been through this. You know just as well as I do that she’s not the one causing this. I know her. She’d never do this.”

“You know her? She was you’re little buddy back in the day before she vanished without a trace. Then suddenly she reappears over a century later and you think you know her?” She started to raise her voice, sitting up straight.

“I know her.” He repeated in a low, almost threatening tone.

“You may be lust-blinded by her and the rest of the guys may think she’s soooo great but I know the truth.” She said, her index finger waving frantically around until it settled pointing to her chest.

“Lust-blinded?”

“Yeah!” She replied; swinging her legs over the side of the mattress and with wobbly steps shortened the distance between them.

“Hey, I thought you couldn’t-“

“Don’t change the sut.” t.” She demanded standing right under his nose, her chin raised high.

“Change the subject? I don’t even know what the bloody hell you’re talking about, Slayer.”

“Oh, yes you do! She’s probably got a spell to get all of you guys to fall for her and for some reason I’m the only one immune to it. That’s it! She probably made a-a… a like-me-a-lot spell or something.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, she’s so pretty. Oh, she knew exactly what to get me. She knows me so well. Oh, she figured out what’s happening with the switching thing. She’s soooo smart.” Buffy spoke in a childish voice as she walked in circles in front of him.

“Slayer, are you ok?”

“She has such *pretty* hair colour. I’m going to dye my hair like her. Ha! Like that’s actually her real hair colour.”

“Well… actually it is.”

She stopped in her tracks, throwing him a murderous glare.

“She’s getting Dawn to dye her hair. She’s evil.” She concluded setting her mouth in a straight line.

“What are you-“ He stopped when he saw her lower lip trembling and soon Buffy was wailing again:

“Everyone likes her.”

“Well, she’s kind of a royal pain in the ass but she has her days, you know?”

“Everyone’s supposed to like *me*.” She mumbled as a flow of tears started to thread down her cheeks and her facial muscles contracted for a painful pout.

Spike was a bit confused. She usually was really unstable, alternating from hot to cold in a flash, but this was just ridiculous. Stupid demon slime.

“Buffy?”

“And she’s lust-blinding you. Buaaaa…”

“What?! No! She’s like a sister to me! We used to-”

“Exactly.” She cut him off, hiccupping a few times before continuing between sobs. “Knowing *your* twisted mind, incest must be exhilarating fantasy number 5.” She grumbled with a pout.

“Slayer, the demon gunk is getting to you.” He put his hands on her shoulders and directed her towards the bed. “You better lie back down and wait for it to-“

She swatted his hands away.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” She growled.

“Get into bed.” He ordered.

“No.” She insisted crossing her arms over her chest again and standing her ground when he came closer to her.

Without a warning he bent down and scooped her over his right shoulder, carrying her struggling form to the bed and plopping her down on the mattress.

“Stay.”

“I’m not a dog. Don’t you ‘stay’ me!” A frown settled over her forehead as she protested from her spot lying on the bed.

“Just stay there until it’s out of your system.” He said turning around to leave.

“Right. So you can just go back and *check* on her.” She growled sarcastically.

“Will you quit it with the jealousy fit already?” He sighed facing her.

“I’m not jealous!” She said outraged.

“Right, of course you’re not. The slightly greenish complexion you get whenever Sam’s name’s mentioned is perfectly normal.” He said cockily pointing at her.

Her right hand instinctively came to rest on her cheek.

“I do not turn green.” She denied vehemently, to which he simply raised his scarred eyebrow. “And I don’t care what you do. You can go in there and boink her brains out if you want. I don’t care.” She stated with the tone of a stubborn child.

“Fine. Have it your way, Slayer.”

“Where are you going?” She quickly asked, instantly kneeling on the mattress, her heart-skipping a beat at the sight of him turning his back on her and heading for the door.

He stopped with his hand on the knob.

“I thought you didn’t care.” He supplied with a smirk as he prepared to turn the knob.

In a flash, without a single rational thought going through her mind she was off the bed and had her body was trapped between him and the door.

“I guess you do care.” He murmured with a smug smile over his lips.

“I hate you.” She growled just as she lunged at him, her arms wrapping themselves tightly around the back of his neck as her mouth came up to smash against his.

Spike didn’t even have time to process what had just happened and already her small fingers had found the lapels of his duster, gripping them as she backed him up against the foot of the bed. With a loud whooshing sound he tumbled onto the mattress, Buffy following him closely behind, straddling his hips.

“You’re not going anywhere near that skank.” She breathed harshly between hard, bruising kisses.

The vampire, trapped under the relentless Slayer, tried to mask his surprise at her actions as he weakly retorted:

“I thought you-Ah!” He paused as she bit his lower lip. “Thought you hated me, pet.” He finally managed to utter, with a lot less haughtiness than he had intended a lot more hopelessness.

Her answer to his feeble attempt at a tease was to rip his shirt open, causing three or four buttons to fly off. Her mouth abandoned his to bite and nibble its way down to his neck.

“You’re mine.” She growled before biting harder into his flesh.

“Fuck.” Spike gasped shutting his eyes tightly.

He opened them again to find a very pissed Slayer looking down on him.

“She’s not touching you. Ever. NO one can touch you but me.” She said possessively while the nails of her right hand trailed down his chest.

“Pet, stop… It’s the demon’s slime… It’s making you horny. Luv, please…” he begged as her fingers dropped under the waistband of his jeans. A stifled growl rumbled in his throat as she encircled him. “Stop that.” He asked weakly. God, the feel of her straddling him, her scent surrounding him. It was killing him.

She ignored his pleas as her mouth returned to the nape of his neck. This time her touch was more delicate. Her lips parted to taste him, her tongue came out to laved at the tender skin it found there.

“Have you any idea what it’s like? How it feels? Seeing you with her? Huh?” She asked between open-mouth kisses; her hand now moving slowly up and down his hard length. “I couldn’t sleep thinking of what you and… God, what you could be doing to her!” She finally admitted, bring her lips to suckle on his earlobe.

Spike’s eyes rolled back in their sockets and his arms wrapped themselves around her; his hands roaming over her back as he arched into her touch, his hips bucking into the small, burning hand that strained in his jeans. You can’t do this. It’s not real. It’s the demon slime. His mind kept shouting at him.

“And then when I saw you and her behind Doublemeat having-“ She choked a bit, the pain stirring up the anger inside of her causing her to bite into his earlobe, her free hand to fist into his dishevelled locks.

“I never touched her, Buffy…” He gasped. “I don’t know who you saw, but I never…”

“I know that now. I-It was another one of those stupid PUE.” She forced out a laugh. “Kinda surreal seeing us having sex.” She paused. “But it hurt so much, thinking-“

“Shhh…” He soothed her.

“And then-“

He didn’t let her finish, rolling them over to hover over her, his hands now framing her face as he looked down on her.

“Shhh… You know there could never be another girl for me.” He assured her, coming down to kiss her.

She closed her eyes, feeling a wave of relief wash over ber before she breathed weakly:

“I love you.”

Spike froze. A flash of awe and wonder passed through his eyes for a second, just for a second and then it was gone being quickly replaced by a cool, distant look as his teeth clenched together accentuating his sharp cheekbones.

Before she knew it he was off the bed and away from her. Even though she was disoriented by the sudden change in him she was able to focus enough to prop herself up on her shoulders and ask:

“Spike, did you hear what I said?”

“Yeah, I did.” He said dryly.

“Spike?”

“You better stay here until It’s slime is out of your system.” And with that he was out the door.