Hell Is In the Details
Even at the Turning of the Tide
Hell Is In the
Details – Chapter 16 – Even at the Turning of the Tide
Hello, Peaches.
Angel paled visibly. It seemed that bluffing and brazening
his way through just went out the window as options. Once again the proverbial
bad penny had turned up at his doorstep.
~That’s my vampire
“Always did like to make an entrance,” she murmured, thinking back to a certain
Parent’s Night.
They never listened to her, Harmony pouted. It would serve
them right if Blondie Bear took everyone apart.
Wes stared as if he’d spotted the Golden Fleece.
Lorne and Gunn immediately leapt to Spike’s side for support
just before his legs gave way.
“Gorgeous entrance, my little drama Queen.”
Lorne whispered. “Can you stand any longer or do you need to put your
Spike grimaced. “Barely holding on, mate.
Sittin’ sounds like a wonderful idea.
Buffy shoved her way through the chairs blocking
her path to Spike the moment she saw the injured vampire’s legs start to
buckle. She’d argued against this foolhardy stunt but Spike had insisted on
showing up. Said he wanted to ‘shove his survival in the twat’s face’ and made
the trip to Wolfram & Hart out of sheer stubbornness.
She reached Spike just as he’d been gentled
onto one of the sofas towards the back of the office. “You know you shouldn’t
be out of bed, don’t you?” Buffy ran her fingers over the vampire’s shoulder.
“Are you going to be alright or do you need to go back to Lorne’s place? I
think you made your point just by showing up.”
“
Wes watched them guardedly. What he knew of
Spike had been gleaned from Watchers’ Journals and Angel’s descriptions. He was
unsure if Spike was baiting them all into believing he was weak;
However, noticing the solicitous way the Slayer was acting, and the ease with
which both Lorne and Gunn interacted with the vampire, he relaxed enough to
allow some common decency to surface.
Noting Spike’s weakened state, he pulled
Harmony aside. “Do make yourself useful, dear, and heat up a thermos of the
house special for our guest.”
The vampiress
simply nodded, and left without an argument.
Unable to see through the small knot of people that had
gathered around Spike, Angel became enraged, smashing his fists down on the
hardwood desk with enough force to break it in two, driving splinters deep into
the meat of his hands.
“What the hell is wrong with you people, fawning all over
that sycophant like he matters to any of you? Buffy, really – is this what
turns you on – danger boy? I mean he tried to kill you and all
Angel sneered, baring teeth that were almost fangs. “I could have stayed
Angelus if that’s all it takes to keep you satisfied.”
Spike kept his eyes on the Slayer and smirked, as she
performed a classic Buffy maneuver – she rolled her eyes. ~Elegantly put, luv.
Harmony quietly let herself back into the room, handing the
thermos of warmed otter blood to Spike.
“Thanks, pet,” he said, grateful for the warmth and strength
it provided as he downed most of the viscous fluid in one swallow.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to
his cheek. Turning to Buffy, the nervous vampiress
said, “I didn’t have anything to do with this, I swear. I would
But what he did was wrong.”
In a move that surprised them both, Buffy grabbed Harmony
into a quick hug. “If I thought for one moment that you had something to do
with this,” she said, “I’d stake you myself. But Spike can use all the support
he can get, and I do know that you cared for him.”
Wesley walked over to the destroyed desk, intent on calming
things down before the situation got even more out of hand. He wasn’t happy
with the th his his friend had done, or the attitude he was displaying – Wes
just couldn’t bring himself to summarily abandon Angel after all their years
together.
The irate vampire placed his hands on Wes’ shoulders… and
pushed him to the floor without a word of apology for the rough treatment, acting
more like he wasn’t there at
He turned his full, fiery attention to Spike, getting as
close as Buffy would let him. “Just like a fucking cockroach, aren’t you Spike?
Church organs, fire, Slayers… even dumping you from the Order... nothing gets
rid of you. You’re still crawling around no matter how often you’re stepped
on.”
“And that makes you what, you
Couldn't best me fists and fangs, could you, you bastard?” Spike fumed, wishing
he could stand up and face his… this… enemy on a more level battleground. Being
seated – looking up – was too damned reminiscent of all those months in a bloody
wheelchair, listening to Angelus pontificate as he stole Spike’s life away
piece by piece.
“Had to shoot
me in the back to take me out. Why the fuck
didn't you just drain me or dust me if you hated me so much? I could understand
that. We’re vampires – s’what we do.”
Angel lunged past Buffy, knocking the
almost empty thermos of blood out of Spike’s hands. “Didn't
want to dirty my hands with the likes of you, boy. I was sure you'd be
dust by the end of the week, and out of my hair one way or the other.”
Gunn rushed forward, shoving the elder
vampire away from Spike. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man? First you do
the dirty and sell out your kin, knowin’ he’s got a
soul same as you. Now you’re trying to attack the dude for sittin’
on a damned sofa.
“Tell me, Angel. Tell all of us. What can
we expect from you now? If we piss you off – you gonna
sell us out, too?” Gunn shook his head. “True colors, man.
Fucking vampire. Never should have trusted you.”
Angel remained silent, glowering.
Gunn turned to Spike. “Look, dude. I don’t
know you enough to even think about trusting you, and if you ever flash a fang
at me I’ll dust you so fast you won’t see it comin.’
But you were wronged, big time – and I’m all for giving you
Spike grinned. “Knowin’
where I stand with a bloke s’a good start.”
Buffy could barely contain her anger. The
unprovoked attack on Spike had her delving deep into Mama Bear territory. Grabbing
Angel by the shirt, she flung him back towards his desk.
“You get off that chair again, and I’ll
find Wes’ crossbow,” she threatened. “What happened to the compassion in you? I
thought your soul guided you to be decent and good. Are you sure you still have
the bloody thing?"
Her unconscious usage of Spike’s favorite
word made Angel’s fangs itch. “You know I do, Buff.” Smooth as silk he sounded,
despite his rage, unruffled by everyone’s stares. “Soul's all anchored... it was
part of the reason why I agreed to work here in the first place. Wolfram &
Hart agreed to anchor my soul.” With a wicked grin, he asked, “Did I go out and
kill anyone after we fucked?”
“No, but apparently you attempted to before
sleeping with me – when there wasn’t even a chance that your soul was lost.”
Angel’s frustration began to rear its ugly
head once more. “You know, I really don't get what you're so upset about. This
was vampire business, settled under demons ans and practices.”
Why dt het he see how wrong he was? Maybe
the soul anchoring spell was faulty. Buffy wouldn’t put it past the Evil Empire
to screw it up somehow, on purpose. She tried to explain, slowly – like one
would to a small, really stupid child.
“No, Angel. It wasn't settled at all. Spike
was right - vampire business is settled with fists, fangs or stakes. You ’
was turned you drugged him and dumped him on someone else’s doorstep.”
Buffy felt ill. The more she thought about
just what he’d done, the more nauseous she became. “How dare you call yourself a champion? How can you justify
what you did? Spike was never yours to sell off like chattel.”
Obviously there was no answer that would Buffy stared at him for a moment, still not believing the Wesley “You think Spike shut his eyes tightly. He had known Then Buffy smiled at him. And Lorne rubbed “Oh, come on now, Charles,” Angel “Fine, you bloody tosser?” He struggled to stand, thankful for the Spike trembled as he shook off Lorne's supportive All too soon, his knees buckled; his “I think our little party’s at an end, At the door, Spike asked the man to wait. As they exit the office, Lorne walked up to “And Harmony ran after the green-skinned demon, w"'>Angel sighed as he watched them all go, one Wes cleared his throat quietly. “I’m going Angel watched him go, then Buffy shook her head, sadly. “I wish one .
satisfy her, so Angel just muttered, “He was family – I was his Sire. I had
rights where his disposition was involved and I sold ‘em.
Not having to look into his damned face or hear his bullshit gave me peace and
quiet. Simple. Done.”
words coming out of his mouth. How deeply he believed what he was saying. The set
of Angel’s shoulders told her he’d given up trying to justify his actions –
that they were just that… his,
and he’d make no further explanations.She had an epiphany as she recalled another time Angel had been so resigned to
gasped. He was utterly appalled that Angel – Angel - could be so cold blooded as to send Spike out to be
murdered for no other reason than he hadn’t wanted to sully his own hands.
that’s something, English?” Gunn was incensed. Something so
simple as a fight to the death scenario? Nuh uh –
they were gonna know the truth. “Demon fighting is
only a secondary offering at Dante’s. Their spotlight attraction is fronting
for a demon whorehouse. Forced prostitution.”
the revelations weren’t going to be pleasant, but it was affecting him far more
than he’d ever admit. His recollections were generally hazy, but this was
bringing things much closer to the surface. The urge to run was mounting in his
veins, and he was just this close to begging someone to get him the hell out of
there.
his shoulders in a show of support. He could do this. He would do this. He was not ashamed. He was bloody well ticked off,
and would see it through to the end.
countered. “How bad can it be? Spike’s been gone for a year now, and he looks
just fine – well, except for the whole not walking thing.”
Spike grated out between clenched teeth. “I've been free and clear of that
can't stand for more'n a moment, and can't walk. I'm bruised
and broken in places you'll never see again. This looks like fine to you?”
added strength he’d gained from the blood. Assisted by Lorne, since it was
obvious he was going to get up with or without the help, he shucked off his
duster, pulling his shirt off over his head.
hands. His torso was still deeply bruised, ugly patches of olive and plum
making his pale skin look dirty. Black jeans slung low on slender hips; the
inflamed scar from his navel piercing was striking. “Here’s fine for you,” he
murmured.
reserves gone. Gunn scooped him up from the floor, looking to Buffy and Lorne
for guidance.
buckaroos. Looks like the kid’s reached his limits.
I’ll meet you at the car, Charles. Just a little bit of unfinished business
here.”
Turning back towards Angel, he said. “You know, over the years I’d grown to
hate you with a deep and abiding passion, as you did me. I was always
free, and I publicly acknowledge that fact.”
Angel’s desk, planting his hands on the broken halves. “You're no champion,
bucko. You're a vindictive, petty, jealous bastard who hasn't grown a whit from
the useless Irish sot he was as a mortal. I quit.
make myself perfectly clear on this?” Lorne leaned in close to the elder
vampire – and spat.
silently pleading with her eyes. He nodded, wrapping his arm around her
shoulders and they headed towards the car.
by one – listening to their condemnation. Only Wes and Buffy remained.
home, Angel. I need some time and distance on this whole matter.” With a final
glance at a once trusted friend, Wes said, “I’ll call you when and if I decide
to come back.”
turned to glare at Buffy. “Happy now, Buffy? You came
into town to start a new life with me, and ended up decimating mine.” Viciously,
he started picking the splinters out of his hands. “So, any parting words of
wisdom for me, Buff? Probably your last chance, since I doubt we’ll be
traveling in the same social circles.”
day you’d understand how wrong your actions were, Angel. You were right all
along – it was the man that needed killing after all.” And
closed the door on another chapter in her life.