After the pain

Again, I own only Alex, Jeb, Ray and plot.

A/N
The song's Metal Glare will sing belong to a great powermetal band called Nightwish. BASTARDS for falling apart like that...
The first sonng is She Is My Sin and the second is Beauty and The Beast.

I corrected some of my silly mistakes in chtr 3 by myself again but I really need help. Someone??? Please.... :(


Chapter 5

MISSED CHANCES


The four of them gathered around the table in the darkest corner of the room. The club was really posh. Clientele was relatively young but it seemed that very different people went to the Lair. There were students, artistic crowd, some wealthier people in their middle thirties. Everybody blended in. And today they were here to listen to The Metal Glare and their new lead singer.

Dawn was dancing with Xander and Willow was chit-chatting with Buffy at their table when the band came out on the dark stage. At first no one noticed that the band was playing. The music changed softly and then it started to turn into fierce metal. Stream of light revealed a bassist. The crowd cheered. Keyboard gave his presence known through the music and the next second it's player could be seen too. Drummer was the next but no sign of the singer appeared. They played an interlude and then a voice sang:

Take heed, dear heart
Once apart, she can touch nor me nor you
Dressed as one
A wolf will betray a lamb

For Buffy time stopped. She didn't know where she was or what was happening. It was his voice. It couldn't be but it was. The light revealed him as he began the second verse.

Lead astray the gazers
The razors on your seducing skin
In the meadow of sinful thoughts
Every flower`s perfect

Dressed all in black leather he stood in front of the mike stand mesmerizing the crowd with his piercing blue eyes and a silky voice. Motionless otherwise he passed his message with his whole being.

To paradise with pleasure haunted by fear

Buffy froze as did Willow. Buffy didn't want to look at the stage because she didn't believe it was really him. But she was unable to turn her gaze. Buffy thought that her utter longing for him had drove her insane finally. She just sat there and watched him sing. He had never looked more gorgeous, so vital, so alive. And yet she knew he was dead.

A sin for him
Desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin

It was quite often that he came to her in her dreams. And then she told him over and over that she loved him. Trying to make him believe. Sometimes he did and then they made love. But more often he rejected her words disappearing into the shadows. Or at times he consumed her in brutal hug of possessive kisses like the first time they had sex. But never before had she dream of him while being awake and it scared her.

I am the Fallen
You are what my sins enclose
Lust is not as creative
As its discovery

To paradise with pleasure haunted by fear

A sin for him...

Bless me, undress me
Pick your prey in a wicked way
God I must confess...
...I do envy the sinners

Crowd was frantic by the time song ended. Spike thanked them and they begun another. Ray was astonished how quickly Spike charmed the audience. Ray didn't know that Spike had spent over a century trying to make an impression. First on his Sire and later on the whole Aurelius family. That's what got him so powerful manipulator and killer in the first place. Though he never really succeeded in impressing the closest - Darla and Angel. But generally he was a natural performer, he knew what other people expected from him and he knew how to use it. The band was enjoying themselves as much as listeners did. Maybe more. It was like they knew – they wouldn't be a local small band for long. They only had to convince Spike that he had to go with the flow.

Dawn and Xander had returned the moment they noticed the not so much dead undead. Of course the first to recognize the voice was Dawn. As soon as she sat again, she put her hand over Buffy's waist. Willow turned to her friend: “Buffy, are you alright?” The blond was pale and motionless, her eyes ceased all meaning. Concern for Buffy helped others to overcome their own shock.

It's not him. It's not him! I'm gone mad. But it was so real!

If she wasn't crazy, then it had to be one of those dreams. Hearing somebody repeating her name over and over again made her act. Suddenly Buffy jumped up and ran for the door. She couldn't let them wake her up. If she ran fast enough the dream would continue and she wouldn't have to get out of bed, go to work, return to reality like thousand times before. Then he would be alive.

All three of them darted after her. But before they made it to the door Xander stopped and let the girls go. Buffy would be ok, she was strong and with the Slayer's speed it didn't really matter how many of mere humans went after her. But somebody had to stay and make a contact, right? Whatever was happening here, they had to talk to the again resurrected vampire. However Buffy felt about the situation now, later it would involve talking to Spike or at least getting to know what had happened to him. It would be too bad, if they didn't know where to find Spike tomorrow. Xander calmly returned to the table and took a large gulp of beer.

When the band took their break Xander started to move towards the bleached head in the other side of room. He was cautious. He didn't know if Spike was the same essentially. He had been up against all the demony and magical nasties, the last he knew. Did it affect a vampire? Was Spike still safe? Was he hunting again? Did he still have his soul? Xander couldn't be sure.

“Spike.” The bleached turned.
“Xander” His face went blank from shock. Xander was the least person who he was expecting to see here. Xander himself however was relatively calm. He had had already time to think.
“You wanna drink?”
“Sure” Spikes voice was hoarse. He followed Xander to the table.
“We thought you were dead.” Xander questioned as they seated.
“Well, I'm not.” Some part of Spike's brain understood that it was his place to give some sort of explanation but he could not think of anything to say.
“Long story. What are you doing here?”
Damn! He should never have seen me! She mustn't know!
“We are touring around US. Ended up here. So, how come that you are alive?”
“What do you mean “we”?” Spike ignored the other guy's question. Was she here too?
“Willow, Dawn and Buffy. They saw you, they left. I thought I might have a word with you.”

Xander looked more serious than angry. Though he was. He was very, very angry. How can he do this to Buffy! Doesn't he know what she's been through? To see him like this, without so much as a warning! He didn't want to see her, fine! But he should have at least told her!
“Why didn't you contact us? Why didn't you tell Buffy?”

Spike didn't answer. They saw you, they left. Thousand thoughts crossed his mind, array of emotions playing on his face. Buffy saw me. She left because she saw me. She didn't want to see me.
Jeb appeared from behind Spike, “Hey Spike, we are starting! You coming?” He tapped leather-clad shoulder. Jeb looked into vampire's face. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah” Spike woke from his thoughts. “Can you come behind the stage after?” He asked Xander and receiving a nod he left with the bassist.


***

Wanna see Spike and Buffy meet at last? Will it happen in the next chptr??
Plz review!!