Quid Pro Quo

Hi again. I’ve been gone for awhile, but I’m back at it. Don’t worry. I will finish the story and have a couple more planned plots. Thanks for sticking with me and reading this story.

Chapter 19 – Once More

Spike had unintentionally stepped into another hornet’s nest in the form of three looming conquistadors. Before he realized his mistake, they had ambushed him, knocked him to his knees with a pike to the head, dazing him. Luckily, two turned to fight the Aztecs, but one stayed with him. With his head heavily spinning, Spike was only half blocked the next blow from a sword, swatting the weapon to the side. Success, but Spike was still too dazed to make it to his feet. He could only vaguely hear Buffy’s voice calling him, but as much as he wanted to, he was in no shape to answer.

With Nina’s safety paramount in his mind, Angel stepped through the portal, pulling her along, looking back to see if Buffy and Spike were coming. They weren’t, but he was still getting his love to safety.

Using an age old method, Spike kicked up his leg right into the conquistador’s crotch, doubling him over, allowing him to squirm out from under the soldier. Through the smoke of the burning tents, he caught a glimpse of Buffy holding a gold pike with the open portal as a backdrop. “Buffy go! GO!”

Focusing immediately in on her love, Buffy’s head snapped to see just the top of Spike’s head down to his eyes. It only took her a second to decide between staying or going. She threw the pike through the portal and ran to Spike. As Buffy expected, after the pike passed through the portal closed, but she didn’t care, not one bit. All she could see was Spike. She swiftly knocked the groaning, crouched Spaniard out with a right to the jaw and then knelt down beside him.

Spike let his head fall back on the ground with a thump. “Buffy, you should have gone. Now you are stuck here.”

“No ‘thank you?’” Reaching out for his hand that was laying by his side, Buffy laced their fingers and held on tight. “I’m stuck here - with you.”

Floored by her sacrifice, he squeezed her hand even tighter. Helped up by Buffy, he looked over where the portal once was. “What about the gold pike?”

She placed her hand over their joined ones as if to keep them together, her thumb brushing across his skin. “I sent it through. I’m guessing that was why the portal closed.”

Spike looked back up into her face, his gaze searching every inch. “Why didn’t you leave me? You should have. Angel and Nina will need you. You had to go.”

When she answered, her eyes were full of tears. “I don’t have to go anywhere but where you are. And Spike, you know Angel. He will make it through this. He always does. Furthermore, blondie, I can’t believe that you even asked me why I stayed. I’m not leaving you behind. I’m never leaving you behind again, even if it means death.” Tears started to stream down her face. Not knowing if he would catch her, she threw herself into his arms. “I lost a year without you. I don’t, won’t miss a second more.”

Spike could barely understand what she had said with her head burrowed into his shoulder, but he heard enough and it made his heart swell. He gathered her up and held her tight. He was too choked up to talk and had matching tears rolling down his face.

Trying to get closer, Buffy wiggled against him, searching for the perfect position. “Spike, you know I wouldn’t leave you? That I want to be with you, don’t you?”

“No, pet, I didn’t know that, not after Rome. I might have that last couple of days in Sunnyhell, but after I came back, I didn’t know at all.” He squeezed her a little tighter. “But I know that now.” Concerned for their safety, Spike wrapped an arm around her shoulders and moved them into the jungle where he sat down and gathered her in his lap. “Ah, kitten, you know how I feel about you.”

“Not anymore…” Buffy’s hand cupped the side of his face. Their kiss was tender and special. This tender touch was what she had been striving for since she had seen him in Cleveland. He was alive, she was with him, she loved him, and she was ninety-nine percent sure that he still loved her. She opened her mouth to tell him just that, make him admit it, when they were interrupted by a portal opening up in front of them. Shocked, Spike didn’t move at first, but then Buffy was yanking him up. She pulled Spike through, and the portal closed behind them.

“What the bloody hell did you do?” Spike’s mouth was running before he stepped completely through the portal.

As they came through the gate, Angel had to laugh at their expressions of sheer shock. Yes, Spike looked befuddled, and Angel was loving every second of it. “I guess who or what ever sends us through the portals insist that we all come.”

“Wonder what would happen if one of us gets killed?” Nina reluctantly voiced everyone’s question.

Buffy shook her head. “Let’s not even go there.”

Angel’s gaze took in everyone’s conditions. “Right. So do we rest or go on?”

In typical Spike style, he was anxious to do something, anything. “Let’s get this over with, and this time, let’s use our shiny new toys.”

Each pair chose a tunnel and a weapon. Angel chose the pike, Spike took the knife and Buffy took the sword, and Nina used a long curved knife that Angel had brought in his pack. Once armed, they headed out.

*****

Angel and Nina didn’t have far to go until trouble found them. In the first chamber they came to, they each picked a side, reading the hieroglyphs, looking for the hand imprint. Then it struck, with an emphasis on “it.” Nina was knocked down, and Angel knocked face first into a wall. When they looked, “it” wasn’t there. Then something cut his belt, and he still saw nothing. The leather was the only thing that kept him from being sliced open. “It or its are invisible.”

“Now be PC. They are visibly challenged.” Nina tried to make light of the situation even knowing full well the possible, probable danger they were in.

“I bet this thing bleeds just like the rest of us. Put your back to the wall. Give it less target.” Angel, holding the sword in front of him in a futile attempt to cover his movements, darted over to next to Nina. He swung his sword to no avail. While he was crossing, he received a cut four inches long on his right thigh.

Standing in front of her now, physically protecting her, Angel tried to give her some advice, but what do you do against an invisible adversary? “No matter what happens to me, keep your back against the wall and your weapon up.”

That was good advice until she was cut on her forearm. Angel was incensed. “This stops now.” He concentrated. “There has to be a way to kill whatever is attacking us. If it is getting close enough to cut us, I can kill it.” Then the proverbial light bulb came on. “That’s it. The air will move at the creature’s approach.”

Angel knew that the approach would be fast, but so was he. He waited, and he didn’t have to wait long. He swung as he felt the air move and as the creature opened up a wound on his shoulder. Regardless of its invisible state, he could feel the sword slice through what felt like meat. Chalk up one for the good guys, and the bonus, they could see a trail of black blood drops. Angel wanted to go on the offensive, but he wouldn’t leave Nina without cover. Who knew there could be another creature.

Nina and Angel watched the blood appearing on the floor. The creature looked to be pacing, no doubt regrouping. But then the blood stopped materializing. When he felt the wind breeze by, he swung his sword with all his might.

Bull’s eye. They heard it fall to the floor and it shimmered into sight. The creature was small, covered in grey hair, and as expected, had long, sharp claws. To make sure it never moved again, Angel cut off it’s head. If he had to admit it, he would have done it just over the creature cutting Nina.

“Nina, are you okay?” He gathered her up into his arms and slowly, soothingly rocked from side to side.

“Good.” Her voice sounded as shaky as she felt, but Nina knew she was safe in her lover’s arms.

Angel’s voice sounded the same. He had been so frightened for her. “I love you,” he whispered softly for her ears only.

“I know.” She rubbed her hand across his back. It was rare that he actually told her how he felt so she savored each and every time. But if he said it or not, she knew that he loved her. “I love you, too.”

Angel pulled back and inspected her injuries, all minor. “I couldn’t stand it if anything worse happened to you.”

“Nothing will. You are with me.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. The contact was nice, but she wanted more. Running her tongue along his upper lip, she finally coaxed his mouth open. The kiss deepened. With adrenalin still rushing through them, clothes started coming off. Neither cared that they were making love with a creature lying on the floor near them. Their world narrowed, including them only.

*****

Buffy and Spike entered a large chamber that sent the shadows of their memories rushing to the forefront. Immediately, the scene in the chamber had changed. They were in Spike’s crypt. No doubt about it. The crypt was bathed in candlelight and a sarcophagus was made up similar to a day bed. Both turned around, easily recognizing their surroundings. Buffy didn’t realize how homey Spike had made the place back then, no doubt for her. She had been so dreadful to him, yet he still thought of pleasing her.

“Home sweet home…” Images swam before Spike’s eyes. “Or was that ‘home sweet hell?’” He remembered how he had tried to make it more comfortable for Buffy. Unfortunately, he could tell by the surroundings that this was when they were having sex and that it was the time before she’d broken up with him. The scene opened up old wounds, wide, gaping wounds. This was the last time they’d had sex, and the end of that time was the worst of the wounds that was perpetually open concerning Buffy.

Buffy glanced over at Spike, worried at the tone of his voice. She hated the fact that many of his memories included her when she was the reigning queen of bitchiness. She had to get him away from those thoughts. “But it doesn’t exist anymore. It went all woosh, the boom, big crater. Big wow!”

Buffy’s efforts were for naught. He had a bad feeling about this scene because he remembered the night so well. “I don’t think that makes any difference to whom or whatever is controlling these mojo excursions.”

Nodding, Buffy had to agree. “But what are we…”

As they watched, Past Spike came into view up through the floor via the ladder from his lower level. He was not in his usual t-shirt but a handsome, dark button down shirt. He was reading from a small book as he walked towards the sarcophagus. With his look, the pastime of reading, and the candlelight added a romantic feel. “You looked so yummy.”

Her compliment wasn’t enough, just the recognition of the coming pain hurt more than the scene with Angelus. Hoping to avoid the coming pain, grasping at straws, Spike experimented. “Stop.”

‘Oh, no. Just what I need.’ Buffy went so far as to stomp her foot in frustration. Wait a second. If we can halt the scene, maybe we can change the scene, too. It was worth a try. “Go.” She let the scene go for a few seconds and stopped it when past Spike sat down. “Spike, come here.” She picked up the volume and read the title. “Shakespeare’s sonnets. I should have realized how sensitive, civilized you were back then, but you hid that side of yourself. Oh, we’ll talk about it later. Try this.” She suddenly took Spike by the arms and seated him on top of the Past Spike. Instead of sitting on his past self, he meshed with him, becoming one. Buffy had a feeling that was what would happen.

His feelings also meshed. He felt the hope of Past Spike that Buffy would come through his door but then the dread of how she would act after their sexcapades.

Before she took the experiment further, she held his hands. “Don’t worry. I think we can make some changes. For me, please just go with it.” How could he refuse her anything? Bloody hell, he admitted to himself that he would do anything for her and that he loved her still. After a moment, Spike couldn’t trust his voice, so full of emotions, so he just nodded his head.

The door opened, slamming against the wall, and Past Buffy came striding in at a quick, no nonsense pace.

Surprised, Spike glanced up and went with the scene. The words tumbled out from Past Spike. “Buffy. Hey now.” Putting the book down, Spike stood and sauntered over to her. Spike hid his joy that she had come to him behind an arrogant mask, knowing that his over amount of affection would turn her off. “If I’d known you were coming, I’d have baked a cake.”

Pulling off her black gloves, Past Buffy moved to stand in front of him. Present Buffy wondered what Spike would have said if he had known how much she had wanted to reached out and touch him back then. “I need information.”

“Well, suppose I could be helpful. If the price is right.” He smirked that sexy smirk that always got under her skin. “I’m not sure I’m selling out at Doublemeat Palace wages, though.” Spike remembered how much he had wanted to gather her into his arms but was frustrated in advance for what her reaction would be.

Her face was set cold and hard. “I need to find a guy. Dealer. Calls himself The Doctor.”

Spike had hoped Past Buffy hadn’t seen him flinch. “Human?” Bloody hell, she had already caught a whiff of his little venture. Bollocks.

“His traffic isn’t.” Her voice was firm.

“Freeze.” Buffy turned to Spike who was looking kind of sick, green complexion. “Spike, I never gave you a chance to explain. Why did you have those eggs?”

Blue gazed into hazel. He had wanted to explain so many times, but had finally given up. Now was the chance. “I wasn’t the Doctor, but I was holding the eggs for him, an out of town bloke – for money. And no, I wasn’t told to keep them cold.”

The explanation left her with questions. “Why did you need the money?”

“For you and Dawn.” Spike met her eye to eye. He had nothing to be sorry for. He had only been trying to help Buffy’s situations. “I only wanted to get you out of that grease trap before it fried you alive.”

“I was so blind.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry. I wish I had asked then. I should have.” She leaned over and surprised him with a kiss and then got things going again. “Go.”

“Clock ticking?” Spike hoped she would stay even though while she was there, she might ferret out his secret.

Unbeknownst to him, Buffy was focused on his sexy, sculptured lips, wanting to press her own on his. “Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing it soon.”

Spike looked her up and down, loving what he saw as usual. A corner of his mouth rose. “Soon but not now?”

Present Buffy commanded, “Stop.” The scene froze. Buffy watched with a smile. “This is so cool.” She took a step into her past self. Before she could do much thinking, she felt compelled to speak. She spoke in a quiet voice, pitch low. Her whole demeanor changed from when she had first come into the crypt. Buffy knew that her next line was important. That was an understatement. It was monumentally, life changing important. “Tell me you love me.”

Past Spike felt surprised by her intensity. Present Spike was wary. He could feel how vulnerable he had felt that night. Plus he wasn’t too sure about laying out his feelings to her again. That had never been successful in the past, but he spoke. “I love you. You know I do.”

Present Buffy savored his words even though Present Spike might not mean them, but she had a hope and inkling that he did. “Tell me you want me.” Contrary to what Past Buffy had done, Present Buffy smiled tenderly and placed her hand on his cheek. She couldn’t stand waiting any longer to reach out and touch him.

The play they were enacting had changed already. Present Buffy had changed the path of the past. This was a warm, caring Buffy now. He was amazed. Leaning into her hand, Spike whispered, “I always want you. In point of fact…”

“Shut up.” Just as she couldn’t wait to touch him, she couldn’t wait to kiss. She moved her hand to the back of his head and grabbed a hand full of his shirt. She pulled him to her, and not caring what he thought or wanted to do, she kissed him.

At first the kiss was one sided. Spike still was stunned that she could and how she had changed the past. She had changed a carnal act, without feelings on her side into warm feelings. Instead, her emotions were clear. She cared for him and her action was a show of true affection.

Finally waking up from his daze, Spike opened his mouth and returned her kiss. Their tongues met and danced. But as soon as he was getting into it, she turned them and pulled him down onto the coffin-couch. Buffy lay down on her back with Spike on top of her. She frantically began unbuttoning his shirt. Spike pulled at the fastenings on Buffy’s bulletproof vest. She stared at his face while she pushed the partially unbuttoned shirt down on his shoulders, and then used it to pull him down for another kiss. She was lost in the sensations, soaring up into the clouds. She could be happy just lying under him, kissing him, but she wanted more. She wanted his love again, but she knew that she had to make the first move, timid, not knowing if he would reject her love or pull away.

However, when she came up for air the words just flowed out. It was sooner than she wanted, but she didn’t regret them. “Spike, I love you.”
~~~~~~~~~

TBC