Seeing something different

REVIEWS make me want to type until my fingers are little bloody stumps.

Rating: NC-17. Please do not read if you are not old enough, it contains GRAPHIC sex scenes. You have been warned. If this offends you please GO ELSEWHERE!!!

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Things are a little wonky in this story, Riley didn’t return, and Dawn’s birthday is coming up…

Seeing something different Part 2

“Ohh…ohhh…I also have to invite Spike…I just hope he’s back in time…I don’t think he’d forget my birthday…” Dawn babbled.

“Dawn…” Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. “He’s been gone for over two months, he’s not coming back. When are you going to get that? I mean jeez, he’s a vampire…he’s gone…”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Dawn said petulantly. “He promised me he would be back.” She murmured with tears in her eyes.

“Dawn…I know you want it to be true, but no matter how much we may want something…no matter how much we believe… it doesn’t happen.” Buffy said softly pulling her sister in for a hug.

“But Buffy…” Dawn pulled back to look into her eyes.

“No buts…now I have to go patrol, Willow and Tara are gonna hang out with you tonight…watch movies…”

“Kay…” Dawn sniffled. “We can finish planning my party tomorrow…” Dawn said as she threw herself down on the couch.

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Buffy walked through the gates of his cemetery. It was her fourth stop of the night, adding it to her regular patrol routine since he left. Sometimes she would stop by the crypt to see Clem, they had become pretty good friends.

She walked towards the crypt with intentions of inviting Clem to Dawn’s birthday bash, when suddenly she felt the tingle, the electric thrill that chased up and down her spine, making the hair at the back of her neck rise, the butterflies in her stomach and the clenching of her womb. Her Spike signal. ‘Impossible. He can’t be in there.’ She had to force herself not to run.

She stood outside the door with her gloved palm laying flat against the surface. She took a deep breath, then another trying to slow the pounding in her chest. When she felt she had herself somewhat under control she knocked.

She waited, and nothing. She didn’t hear the T.V. on, she didn’t hear Clem rattling around inside. Knocking again she pushed the door open slightly. “Hello? Clem? Anybody home?” She called out, not wanting to startle anyone.

The silence was deafening. She made her way to the entrance to down below. Not hearing anything she slowly descended the stairs, her Spike sense was getting stronger, and her heart was pounding furiously again. The inky blackness was enveloping her, she dug her hand into her pocket to pull out his zippo, the one he left at her house. She flicked it open with one hand like he taught her.

“Don’t.” It was a low growl that reverberated through her bones.

“Spike? Is that you?” She asked. Getting no response she tried again. “I can’t see anything…I need some light.” She knelt on the floor by the edge of the bed.

Spike could barely open his eyes. “Go away.” It came out raspy and uneven.

“Dawn’s been asking about you…how long have you been back?” She asked.

“Bloody hell will you just go away?” He growled softly, trying to turn away from her. He grimaced in pain and stayed the way he was.

“Spike…please talk to me…” She tried to keep the tears at bay, though they fell silently. “I want to help you.” She was almost pleading.

“Don’t want help you sodden bint. I just want to be left alone to die…”

“I am not leaving.” She said forcefully. It was after she spoke that she felt another vampire enter.

“William…” Drucilla glided towards the bed, arms outstretched. “I came. I came for you…”

“Buffy…go…please…” She could hear the anguish in his voice. She flicked on the lighter and gasped in shock. Spike looked ‘broken.’ His eyes were swollen almost shut, and badly bruised.

Dru knelt beside the bed, right beside a shocked Buffy. It was almost as though Dru didn’t notice the trembling blonde slayer. Buffy couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. ‘OHGODOHGODOHGOD’

Dru stroked Spike’s hair gently. “My beautiful William…” She lifted the blanket further to reveal his chest, there was almost no place on his chest that wasn’t burned, raw or bleeding. His skin was tight around his bone structure, he looked a little better than a living skeleton.

Buffy stood there in shock, just staring at him, mouth agape. She felt the lighter burning her fingers and flicked it shut, once again enveloping the room in darkness.

“I didn’t want you to see me like this Slayer. Leave. Now.” Grabbing the blankets and pulling them back up he let out a roar of pain and passed out.

“I’ll help you William…I swear it.” Dru whispered softly. She climbed onto the bed, being careful not to disturb him further.

Buffy backed up slowly, she felt the bottom of the ladder brush against her legs and quickly turning she hurried up the steps. She didn’t stop running until she reached home.

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“That’s it…open those gorgeous blue eyes…” She whispered softly leaning towards him.

“Dru?” Spike questioned opening one eye as far as he could.

“Yes William. It’s mummy. Came to help you mummy did.” Dru cooed trailing a finger down his swollen battered face.

“What? How did you…why did you…” She could clearly see the confusion on his face.

“I could feel it William, I could feel your soul calling to me…I could feel it again, like I did then…do you remember William?”

“And I wonder... what possible catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears?” She asked stepping closer.

”Nothing. I wish to be alone.” William murmured, drying his tears.

”Oh, I see you. A man surrounded by fools who cannot see his strength, his vision, his glory.” She raised her fingertips to her temples. “That and burning baby fish swimming all around your head.” She murmured stepping closer.

”That's quite close enough. I've heard tales of London pickpockets. You'll not be getting my purse, I tell you.” William said backing up a few steps.

”Don't need a purse.” She smiled pointing to his heart and head in succession. “Your wealth lies here... and here. In the spirit and... Imagination. You walk in worlds the others can't begin to imagine.” She stared at him dreamily.

”Oh, yes! I mean, no. I mean... mother's expecting me.”

Drusilla opened the collar of his shirt. “I see what you want. Something glowing and glistening. Something...effulgent.”

”Effulgent.” William repeated hypnotized by her beauty.

”Do you want it?” She asked taking hold of his hand and bringing it to her chest.
“Oh, yes!” He murmured, captivated by her milky cool flesh. “God, yes.”

“Don’t you see William, what I saw…it’s what I took from you…your soul…and now…now you’ve got it back…” She raised her fingernail to her neck, making a deep gash she leaned towards him. “Drink now, heal.”

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‘He doesn’t love me anymore! He went back to Dru.’ Tears ran hotly down her cheeks as she started the shower. ‘What the hell happened to him?’ She quickly undressed, throwing her clothes on the floor and stepped under the scalding spray.

The pounding water against her defeated down turned head hid the sound of her sobs. She stayed there, head bowed hands against the wall and cried until the water turned cold and made goose bumps break out all over her body. She stayed for a few more minutes, punishing herself with the cold.

She turned the shower off and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and glanced into the mirror. ‘Great.’ Her eyes were red and swollen. Wrapping her robe around herself she made her way to her bed where sleep quickly claimed her.

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Spike could feel himself healing as he drank from her. He could feel the bones mending themselves back together, the gashes starting to close. She let him drink until his hunger was satiated.

“I love you. I want you to know that. I didn’t know any better, I turned you into a monster…but I’ve seen things…and I know now…you were a shining knight William…it was your soul I saw shining, but it wasn’t for me…it was for her…the thing I took from you, you sought for her…to be hers…to be the kind of man…”

“Shh Dru…”

“I can’t…I need you to do something for me William…”

“What is it?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

“I know you don’t…love me like you did before…but I need you to…” She gently placed the wooden stake in his hand. He gasped in pain as he curled the burned flesh of his hand around the hard wood. “I can’t do it myself, and I’m afraid to burn in the sun…but I am done…I am complete…please…” She leaned down and kissed his temple gently.

“Dru…”

“Please Spike…I know…you need to do this…you need to shut the chapter on this part of your life so you can go on…with her…”

He let the tears fall. She took his hand and led the stake up to her heart. Pressing the tip into her flesh she smiled at him. “Thank you. I do love you.”

“I love you too Dru.” He whispered softly as she leaned forward to place a chaste kiss against his battered lips the stake entered her heart.

Spike watched the peace that settled on her features as she turned to dust and crumbled against him. He lay there sobbing, for all that he had lost, all that he had done, and what was yet to come.

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“You ok Buff? You don’t look so good.” Xander said softly resting his hand on her shoulder. Startled she looked up into the kind eyes of her friend. ‘No more lies. That’s what started it all.’

Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. “I saw Spike…a few days ago…” she didn’t bother trying to hide her tears. “He…was hurt really bad…He told me to leave and he…I don’t think he loves me anymore…” She couldn’t stop it, she was sobbing again.

“Not love you are you kidding he wen– ouf.” He let out a breath as Anya elbowed him in the side. Hard. “Ahn!”

“Xander…quickly…I need help in the basement…” She said grabbing him by the ear.

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“What the hell do you think…” He stopped talking when he noticed the venomous look she was giving him.

“Do you really think if he made it back…if he got his soul…that it’s your right to tell her?” Anya asked furiously. “He is probably dying…you go and take Buffy home. I’m gonna go to his crypt and see if I can do anything for him. Once you get her settled I want you to meet me there…”

Xander looked at her shocked. “I didn’t think of it that way…”

“I told you about the trials Xander…I told you what he would have to face…and the guilt…and the suffering…”

“I know Ahn…let me get her home…I’ll go get some blood and supplies and meet you at his crypt.”

“Thank you.” She kissed him quickly and left.

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“Thanks…I really…I don’t want to keep secrets anymore Xand. Thanks for being there…” She said quietly as she got more comfortable under the blanket on the couch.

“I always want to be there for you Buff. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t before…”

“I understand…you were just looking out for me…”

“Yeah…but I could have been more supportive…you should never have felt like you couldn’t come to me…”

“I love you.” She murmured reaching out her arms to him.

Xander hugged her tightly. “I’ll be back to check on you in a while okay? I have a few things to do…”

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End part TWO