Loose ends.

A/N: I have ‘borrowed’ some snippets of dialogue from the Season 6 BtVS episode ‘As you were’.

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Spike sensed Buffy behind him at the back door and looked up from his task of cleaning and sharpening his axe. “Ready to go now then, Slayer?”

“Yup, Willow has gone off to Tara’s, and Anya left with Hallie so it’s just you, me, Xander and Giles to go with Sam on this egg hunt. When we meet up with Riley at your crypt we’ll split up, I’ll go with Xander and Sam, you can go with Giles and Riley and we’ll see what we can find.”

“The Niblet?”

Buffy gaped in realisation as she remembered she hadn’t arranged anything for her sister. “Oh!” She thought for a moment, “I’ll ask Giles to stay with her.”

“He stayed to look at my books darlin’, not to be sitter for your sister.”

“Xander?”

“The four-poster…”

“Oh dear…” Buffy frowned, then shrugged. “She’ll have to come with us. I’m not leaving her home alone any more it’s not safe. She’ll go on your team, okay?”

“Right Slayer, as you say.” Pausing to put his duster and Doc Martens back on, Spike then followed Buffy through the kitchen into the hall where everyone was getting ready to set out. He looked around and saw that apart from him nobody was obviously armed, although he knew that Buffy would have the usual compliment of stakes about her person. He suggested, “Weapons all round Slayer?”

Xander sneered at him. “You need weapons for demon eggs?”

Spike regarded the young man with disbelief. “Harris, we’re looking for the nest of a dangerous demon. I don’t know why the demon I killed was here without the rest of her pack, but if she came to the Hellmouth to spawn, she wouldn’t have come without her mate. Nobody has said anything about killing him, so he’s either out there looking for her, or he’s guarding the bloody nest. Do you want to meet him unarmed?”

Buffy turned to Sam. “Do you know about the Suvolte’s mate Sam? Riley didn’t say anything about it.”

Sam shrugged, “Sorry Buffy, nobody mentioned a mate to me. He wasn’t part of the mission plan as far as I know.”

Buffy took charge of making sure everyone was suitably armed, and then they set off towards Restfield Cemetery and Spike’s crypt. Giles and Dawn led the little parade, Sam and Xander who were animatedly discussing life in the military demon hunting unit followed, and Spike and Buffy brought up the rear walking in their familiar manner with Buffy’s left arm around Spike’s waist and his right arm draped around her shoulders. They had only got a couple of hundred yards along the road when progress was abruptly halted. Raising her voice slightly Buffy asked, “What’s the hold-up?”

Dawn pointed across the road. “Look Buffy, number 1601 is for sale or rent. Wouldn’t it be perfect for Giles?”

Everyone checked out the pretty little house opposite that was obviously standing empty. “It does look very appealing.” Giles commented. “It could be very convenient for me to be close. What do you think Buffy?”

Buffy nodded, “Actually I think it would be a very good idea Giles, why not come back and have a proper look at it tomorrow? We’ve got evil demon eggs to find tonight.”

Giles smiled, “Quite right Buffy. Come on Dawn.”

The procession continued along the road. Spike could hear Dawn enthusiastically planning Giles’ new domestic arrangements and Xander and Sam still talking about Riley and Sam’s life in the jungle. So that his voice would not be overhead he slowed his steps to allow him and Buffy to fall just a little further behind, “Slayer… um… when you went to the bank, did you arrange to pay the Poof back?”

“Oh!” Buffy exclaimed. “No Spike, I never thought of it. Why?”

Feeling slightly awkward Spike muttered. “Don’t like being obligated to the pompous old git, it’ll give him the idea he has the right to interfere. It’s bad enough being your kept man without feeling I owe him too.”

Buffy looked up at him and asked, “What do you mean?”

Unable to meet her eyes he replied, “’S’not right you spending your allowance on me Slayer. I’m hoping Rupert’s gonna sell some things for me so I can pay you back. I should buy my own blood and clothes and stuff.”

Buffy was puzzled. “But I’ve got the allowance now, I’m not broke any more so you don’t need to do that.”

Spike was feeling more and more uncomfortable. “That’s not the point Slayer. That’s your money, yours and the Bit’s. I should see to my own needs, not rely on you to keep me. It’s just not right.”

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t buy you the stuff you need when I’ve got the money and you haven’t.” Buffy was making a real effort to understand what had upset him so much. “I like giving you presents.”

If vampires could blush Spike’s face would have been bright red. “One shirt can be a present Slayer, a whole drawer full of clothes is too much. It makes me feel like a kept man.”

“Kept man,” Buffy repeated thoughtfully, “That’s what you said before. What’s a kept man?”

“Bloody hell…” He muttered impatiently. “You just don’t get it do you? It’s a man who has nothing of his own, everything he has is provided for him by someone else in exchange for um… services rendered.”

“Services… Oh!” Buffy suddenly realised what he was talking about. “Is that what’s got you so upset? But that’s just silly.” She giggled quietly, unintentionally making Spike feel even worse.

“Don’t need you laughing at me Slayer.” He took his arm from around her shoulders and pulled away from her, moving across to walk on the opposite side of the pavement.

Smiling, Buffy went after him, pulling his shoulder to turn him to face her. “I think I understand now, I suppose this is one of those generation things isn’t it?” She asked. “It’s your inner William getting all upset that your girl is supporting you. Don’t be all offendyvamp Spike. It’s the twenty first century now. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the girl or the man who has the money, when you’re in a relationship everything is shared… you know… Community Property.”

Spike was only slightly mollified and pouted, “It’s still not right… it’s a Slayer allowance. It’s for you.”

Burrowing back under his right arm and reclaiming her hold around his waist as they began walking again Buffy thought for a moment, then smiled. “Think of it like this Spike. How many shirts and pairs of jeans have you had to throw away because they’ve been trashed while you’ve been fighting demons? All I’ve done is replace them. It’s like work related expenses. You’ve been doing Slayer work, so you should get Slayer perks.” She looked up at him as she tried to judge his mood through the Bond. “Will it make you feel better if from now on I only replace stuff that gets torn up or covered with demon goo?”

Reluctantly yielding to her logic Spike shrugged sulkily, “S’pose that’d be all right.” He added, “I’ll still pay for my own blood, booze and smokes though…” Then he abruptly realised that she had just referred to herself as his girl and he squeezed her shoulder as a broad grin split his features.

Nodding and smiling to herself in satisfaction at the wave of contentment that she felt from him through the Bond, Buffy returned his squeeze around his waist. She reminded him, “Come on then, we’ve got evil eggs to find…” They increased their speed to catch up with the others who had by now got a good distance ahead of them.

As they crossed Restfield Cemetery towards Spike’s crypt he became aware of the presence of other vampires close by. He opened his mouth to mention this to Buffy only to feel her raise her head and hear her whisper, “How many do you feel?”

He concentrated, “Six? Perhaps seven?”

Buffy nodded, “Me too.” She quietly asked, “Dru? Nathan?”

He shook his head, “No.”

She raised her voice slightly, “Stop, everyone.” She ushered Giles, Dawn, Sam and Xander over to the shadow of a low squat mausoleum. “Get your stakes and crossbows ready, but stay here…” When Xander began to protest she added, “and stay quiet!” She handed her sword to Xander, slipped a stake from her sleeve and nodded to Spike. Leaning his axe against the wall of the mausoleum he ran with her towards where he could now feel at least eight vampires.

“I can feel another rising.” He whispered, close to her ear.

“Good,” Buffy whispered back as they paused to crouch and peer around the corner of a large tomb. “That means they’ll be distracted.” They watched as a couple of vampires standing by a fresh grave bent to assist a tall slim figure rise from the earth and help him brush himself off. The larger of the waiting vampires held out his wrist for the newly risen vampire to sink his fangs into while a small group of soil encrusted figures looked on. Buffy gestured to Spike to circle to the right, and then quietly set off to the left of the group.

Gripping a stake in each hand, Spike slipped silently around to the right. When he saw one of the waiting group look up in his direction he Vamped out and charged forward with a roar. All eight faces turned towards him in surprise, allowing Buffy to approach from the opposite side and dust two of them before they knew she was there.

Fists, feet, stakes and fangs went into action as a furious fight developed punctuated only by screams and shouts and the occasional ‘poof’ of a vampire disintegrating. Finally there were just two vampires remaining, those that had been standing beside the grave. Spike faced off against the smaller of them while Buffy engaged the huge figure they assumed to be the Sire of all the others.

Now he was down to a single opponent Spike relaxed and reverted to his human face. He grinned maniacally and began to play. His duster swirled around him as he spun and leapt, kicking and punching, dodging and weaving. He lost himself in the fight, oblivious to his surroundings as the other vampire weakened as he accumulated more and more injuries.

Spike was brought abruptly to his senses when he heard a crash followed by the sound of Buffy whimpering. He looked over and saw her crumpled against a large headstone with blood trickling down her forehead. The hulking figure of the vampire she had been fighting was bent over her. While he was preoccupied Spike’s opponent took the opportunity to land a heavy blow to the side of his head which knocked him off balance for a second. As he shook his head to clear it his left hand flew out, and a satisfying ‘poof’ let him know the fight was over.

Spike snarled as he dashed over to where Buffy lay, causing the big vampire to look up and realise he had lost all his minions. Seeing that he was now faced with two figures intent upon his destruction, he fled. Spike crouched down and gently brushed Buffy’s hair from her eyes. “You okay darlin’?”

“I’ll be fine,” she gasped, then coughed. “Damned vamp dust.” She took a deep breath and shoving Spike away she ordered, “Get him!”

Dropping a light kiss on the top of her head he nodded, “Right you are Slayer.” He stood up and vamped out to improve his vampire senses. He then began running as fast as he could in the direction of the only other vampire he could sense in the area. Without a visual reference to guide him he ran at top speed in a straight line towards the ‘tingle’ he could feel, hurdling headstones and tombs alike as he could feel himself getting closer and closer.

At last he saw the massive figure dodge behind a low mausoleum and without breaking his stride he leapt onto its roof, took two paces and with an angry roar launched himself to land square in the centre of the vampire’s back. He rolled to recover and as he leapt up again he turned to see the vampire clambering to its feet. At the same time he became aware that he had lost his last stake during the chase. Undaunted he jumped onto the vampire’s back, wrapped his arms around its head, and with another loud roar twisted with all his might.

The head easily separated from the body and Spike found himself collapsing to the ground in a cloud of dust. As he lay in the rough grass he heard laughter and looked up to see Buffy jumping lightly down from the mausoleum roof. She teased him, “Over-react much?” She trotted over to him and gestured to where the head had dissolved into its own little puddle of dust. “What was that for?”

Spike flipped to his feet. “He hurt you Buffy.” Reaching for her he said, “Let me see…” He traced the cut on her forehead with gentle fingers and licked it to clean and close it. “There, all better.” Realising he could still smell fresh Slayer blood he frowned as his hands coasted over her figure searching for injuries. “You’re still bleeding, where else are you hurt?”

Buffy shrugged and wouldn’t met his eyes, “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

“’S’not nothing woman. Have you any idea how far the scent of Slayer blood travels? If I can smell it so can every bloody demon within half a mile. They’ll be swarming like flies around a honey pot. Show me!” Reluctantly, Buffy tipped her head to one side and brushed her hair back revealing two bright spots of blood that had just begun to trickle down her neck. Spike growled in fury. “He dared to try to feed from you? I should have…”

Buffy laughed and interrupted him. “Yes… I know… you should have ripped his head off. In case you’ve forgotten, you did! Don’t fuss so, just clean me up would you? We’ve still got demon eggs to find.”

Spike tenderly lapped at the two little holes and sealed them, then he wrapped his arms tightly around her and mumbled into her hair. “’S’all my fault you got hurt Slayer, I was having so much fun I got carried away. Nearly lost you again.”

Buffy slipped her arms around his waist and squeezed. Shaking her head against his chest she whispered, “No Spike, actually it was my fault. I was distracted watching you, you’re so gorgeous when you fight.”

Chuckling Spike lifted her face to his and tenderly kissed her. “Right. Lesson learned. We’ve both got to work on our concentration. Time to get those training sessions going Slayer. We’ll start tomorrow afternoon after we’ve got Dawn from school.” He bent his head to kiss her again, and as always the world melted away.

“Can we assume from the smoochies that all the bad guys have gone poof?” Spike and Buffy looked up to see Dawn standing with the others at the corner of the mausoleum, one hand holding a poised crossbow while the other rested on her hip, one foot tapping impatiently.

Buffy grinned as she kissed Spike on the tip of his nose and turned from him, leaving her left arm around his waist. “Yes, all gone poof. Let’s get on to the crypt.” She took her sword back from Xander as Giles passed Spike his axe, and they continued on their way.

Giles walked beside them and asked, “How many vampires were there Buffy?”

Buffy frowned, “Eight Giles, it looked as if that big one Spike dusted had turned half a dozen and he was waiting for them. He is the first Sire we’ve found actually welcoming the people he’s turned. I’m not liking this. We though it was Drusilla turning everyone, but now it seems she might have had company.”

As they reached the door to Spike’s crypt he realised he was getting nervous glances from both Sam and Xander. Then Dawn turned to look up at him and gestured. “Um… Spike? Bumpies…”

“Huh?” Spike ran his tongue around his mouth and found his fangs were still in place. Quickly he shifted back into his human face. He mumbled, “Sorry, didn’t realise…” He was thoroughly embarrassed, he hadn’t lost track like that since… he couldn’t remember when. He couldn’t believe he’d let himself get that distracted.

“Oh heavens!” Buffy giggled, “I hadn’t even noticed!” As everyone trooped into the crypt Spike stood and thought about that little comment. Buffy had let him tend her cut and asked him to clean up the vampire’s bite, and then she had kissed him. All that time she hadn’t noticed he was still in game face after the fight. A slow smile crept across his face as he became aware that something very special had just happened. With a light heart he followed Buffy through the door, and came to a sudden halt as he took in the scene in front of him.

The first thing he saw was the television, which was lying on its side with its screen filled with crackling snow, the floor in front of it covered with burst packets of snacks. In its dim light he could make out the tall figure of Riley Finn pinning Clem against the wall with a taser held to his chest.

As the newcomers gathered in a circle around him Riley seemed so intent upon the loose skinned demon he was oblivious to their presence as he ignored Giles’ quiet voice asking him what was going on. Spike whispered into his stunned Slayer’s ear, “Looks as if it’s time for the overgrown boyscout to meet the real Slayer darlin’.”

Nodding, Buffy walked deliberately towards the two tall figures. “Riley,” She said loudly. “What are you doing?”

Riley turned to look at her and blinked. “I’ve found another demon Buffy, don’t worry, when I’ve found out what I need to know I’ll kill it myself.”

One astonished eyebrow went up as Buffy stood with her fists on her hips contemplating her ex-boyfriend. “Riley, you will not kill this demon, he’s our friend.” She examined Clem’s face, “Are you okay Clem?”

The gentle demon turned his wide nervous eyes to Buffy and mumbled, “Slayer… Um… I don’t know what I’m supposed to have done…”

Riley frowned at Buffy. “You’re protecting another demon? I thought you were supposed to Slay demons Buffy?”

Buffy sighed, “I slay dangerous demons Riley, Clem isn’t dangerous. I know you enjoy terrorising helpless demons, but I wouldn’t have thought you’d want to show yourself up as such a bully in public. Let him go.”

“What on earth are you talking about Buffy?” Riley clearly didn’t understand what she meant, and it was obvious that nobody else did either.

Buffy shook her head in disapproval. “Have you forgotten about when you staked Spike with a plastic stake Riley? I haven’t. Would you like to explain to me why you ever had such a horrific thing in the first place? The only possible purpose for it would be to threaten and torture vampires. That’s just… sick.”

Everybody turned to regard Riley with disbelief and disgust. Sam and Dawn were looking particularly upset. Spike heard Sam murmuring quietly, “Oh Ri… what did you do?”

Riley sneered at Spike. “I suppose the sneaky little coward came straight to you whining about me didn’t he? He’s a vampire Buffy, I couldn’t just leave town with him trying to get his hands on you, I had to warn him off.”

Buffy was becoming increasingly angry. “As a matter of fact Riley I only learned about what you did to Spike a few days ago when he gave me that stake to use against him in a training session. If he had told me at the time I would have spent far less time being upset at you running out on me. Instead I would have begun wondering a lot earlier what I ever saw in you! As for warning Spike off, that was not your responsibility. I don’t need you to protect me… I never did. You just never could accept that could you? Now… Let. Clem. Go!”

Riley shook his head. “No Buffy. Glad to be back in Sunnydale. The locals all speak English, and I know who to beat for information. It's all brought me here.” He glared over Buffy’s shoulder at Spike. “Of course I know that Spike is the Doctor, but since this demon is here it must be an accomplice of some sort. I’m sure it’ll tell me where the Suvolte eggs are soon.”

Spike was astounded. “Me? The Doctor? You kidding?”

“Don’t be ridiculous Riley, Spike isn’t the Doctor.” Buffy declared confidently.

For a moment Spike was delighted that Buffy had taken his word for it, and then he realised she didn’t need to. If he had felt guilty at the assertion she probably would have been able to feel it. While not quite as satisfying, it was very reassuring that a false accusation would never stick. It also reminded him very effectively that he would never be able to get away with trying to lie to her.

Riley wasn’t about to give up his certainty though. “I know you’d like to believe that Buffy, but I know what I know. Your boyfriend…” he virtually spat the word, “…has those eggs around here somewhere, and I'm taking this place apart until I find that nest.”

“We’re already looking for the eggs Riley, that’s one reason why we’re here. Before we do anything however,” Buffy went into Generalissimo Slayer mode. “You. Will. Let. Clem. Go…. Now!”

Riley looked back at Clem, a rather unpleasant smile on his face. “Oh I don’t think so Buffy… Why don’t you all start searching this place and I’ll just stay…”

Buffy lost her patience with him. She walked right up to him, buried the fingers of one hand in the fabric of his Kevlar vest, and lifted him two feet off the floor. She walked across the crypt to the opposite wall and stood there with him dangling from her upraised hand. Shocked speechless, he gaped down at her as she turned and asked. “Are you sure you’re all right Clem?”

Instead of answering, Clem went down on all fours and began crawling around the floor crooning. “Buffy… Buffy sweetie, where are you?” He began making little kissy noises as he checked behind the sarcophagi. “Here Buffy Buffy…”

All eyes turned in disbelief from Buffy and the stunned soldier she was holding over her head, to the babbling demon.

In total bewilderment Buffy said, “Um… Clem… I’m over here…”

“Oh there you are you naughty girl… you shouldn’t worry daddy so…” The demon stood up suddenly, his friendly face sporting a wide grin. In his huge hands rested a little bundle of ginger and white fluff.

Buffy closed her eyes and shook her head slowly in disbelief, then she giggled. “You named the kitten after me? Oh Clem, that’s so sweet.”

Shuffling his feet slightly in embarrassment Clem muttered, “Well, she’s a feisty little thing, and one day she’s going to be a mighty hunter…”

Sam cleared her throat and moved towards where Buffy was holding Riley. “Um… Buffy, would you let my husband down now please?”

Buffy cocked her head to one side as she considered. “Well, I don’t know Sam. He’s already attacked my boyfriend and threatened to kill another of my friends. Do you think he can be trusted not to hurt anyone else?”

Riley found his voice at last, “But I know Spike’s the Doctor Buffy. He has the Suvolte eggs somewhere, we just have to find them.”

Buffy turned and looked Spike straight in the eyes. “Spike, are you this Doctor demon egg dealer?”

Deliberately, Spike answered, “No Slayer, I’m not.”

“Do you know where the Suvolte eggs are?”

“No, I don’t.”

Buffy nodded to herself and looked up into her ex-boyfriend’s face. “Riley? What you know is wrong. Spike’s not involved.”

Riley protested, “Buffy, you can’t possibly take Spike’s word over mine, he’s a vampire for goodness sake.”

Giles moved forward slightly. “Are you sure Buffy?”

Buffy smiled at him, “Yes Giles, I’m certain. Spike isn’t lying. This leaves us with two possibilities. Either Riley is lying or whoever gave Riley the information that Spike was involved was lying.”

Sam stepped forward again, “Buffy…”

Buffy sighed, “All right Sam.” She looked up at her former boyfriend, “Riley, I’m going to put you down now. You will not attack anyone else, or I will begin to get upset. If I get upset you’ll find out just how much I was holding back every time we sparred.”

“You were holding back?” Riley’s voice was full of doubt.

As she gently lowered him to the ground Buffy answered slightly impatiently, “Of course I was Riley. If I hadn’t been I’d have killed you.”

Once his feet touched the floor and Buffy released him Riley retreated against a wall with Sam. Together they examined his Kevlar vest that now had five neat little round holes punched through it. They whispered together for a few seconds then turned contemplative eyes on Buffy, who was ignoring them as she issued instructions.

“Spike, take Xander and Giles downstairs and show them the stuff you want to bring to the house. I’ll be down in a minute I just want to speak to Clem first. Then we’ll start searching for the demon eggs.”

Leaving Buffy behind with the military couple and Dawn who was petting Clem’s kitten, Spike led Xander and Giles down the ladder into the cosy lower chamber of the crypt. He went around switching on lamps and while Xander went straight to the bed to examine its construction Giles looked about in wonder. “You really did make it comfortable didn’t you? Lovely rugs. Ah… books.” He crossed to one of the bookshelves and got down on his knees to examine the volumes it held.

As he reached the furthest corner of the cavern and switched on the last lamp, Spike noticed something that shouldn’t be there. “Aah sod it. Look Rupert, what do you think these are?”

Giles looked up to follow Spike’s pointing finger, “Oh I say… they look like eggs of some sort.” With a book held protectively to his chest he stood and moved to stand beside the vampire. “Not Suvolte eggs though, so that’s a relief. I wonder if they are the eggs that chap wanted you to babysit. Perhaps he never got the message you’d backed out of the deal and brought them here anyway? Are you sure you can’t remember what species they were supposed to be?”

“I don’t think he ever told me Rupert.” Spike sighed. “Oh bugger, she’s not going to be happy.” He went to the foot of the ladder and yelled, “Slayer, got a bit of a problem down here darlin’.”

Buffy appeared at the top of the ladder and asked, “What’s the what?”

Spike shrugged. “Something you need to see Slayer. Looks as if that bloke never got my message from LA about pullin’ outta that deal.”

Buffy quickly descended the ladder and followed Spike across the cavern to where Giles and Xander were waiting. Behind her came the two black clad soldiers, Dawn and Clem.

Before anyone else could speak, Riley’s loud aggressive voice rang through the space. “We're gonna need more weapons. Spike screwed up. You didn't keep 'em frozen, did you… Doctor?”

Spike turned to him angrily. “You can stop calling me that any time. How many times…”

Cutting him off, Buffy’s quiet voice was all business. “Riley, why would we need weapons?”

Riley lifted his gun and pointed it at the eggs. “You’d better all get outta here.”

“Why Riley? Buffy asked, beginning to sound very irritated. “Since they aren’t Suvolte eggs what’s the danger? Do you know what sort of eggs they are?”

Riley turned to her, amazed. “Not Suvolte eggs? Of course they are! If they hatch…”

Sam laid a hand on his arm. “Actually Ri, they aren’t. I don’t know what they are, but they’re definitely not Suvolte demon eggs. Before we left Buffy’s house she made sure we all knew exactly what we would be looking for.”

Riley gazed about in disbelief at all the faces turned to him. “What is the matter with you people? I’m telling you Spike is keeping these dangerous demon eggs…”

Buffy interrupted him angrily. “Just drop it Riley, we all know that’s not true. If you don’t know what they really are…”

Clem raised his hand slightly from his position behind the soldiers. “Um… Slayer? I know what they are.”

Buffy smiled at him. “Oh thank goodness. What are they then Clem?”

The demon smiled shyly back at her. “They aren’t eggs at all, they’re um… what do you call them… it’s like the bit between caterpillars and butterflies…”

“Chrysalises?” Dawn prompted.

“Yes, that’s it.” Clem nodded gratefully at the teenager. “They’re Tesciel demon chrysalises. Harmless little things, they scurry around like crabs or big spiders. Lots of demons keep them around because they keep their lairs clean by eating bugs. You know, like ants and cockroaches. They can even climb up over the ceilings to catch all the spiders and flying things.”

Checking, Buffy asked quietly, “So they’re not dangerous to humans then?”

Clem shook his head. “Oh no, not at all. Of course they can get a bit playful, they’re like kittens really that way. They like climbing all over you and trying to tickle you with their little claws but they’d never hurt you on purpose.”

Riley was by now so angry he was red in the face. He spluttered. “Are you really going to believe a pair of demons over me Buffy? I’m telling you…”

He broke off when one of the chrysalises split open and something like a slimy crab shot out of it. After a brief pause it skittered over the floor and between their feet. Several other chrysalises began to show signs of opening, and Riley raised his gun and fired a shot into the pile. Immediately he found the weapon wrenched from his hand.

Furiously, Buffy declared, “These things?” She gripped the gun firmly and bent the barrel into a U shape, “Never useful.”

Riley gaped at her speechlessly, then grabbing Sam by the arm he shoved her roughly towards the ladder. “We’ve got to get out of here Sam, these people have gone insane.”

Sam laughed as she resisted him. “Don’t be silly Riley, even if we didn’t already know these weren’t Suvolte demon eggs, just looking at what’s coming out of them would make it obvious. Suvolte demons are great big bipeds with hands and feet and skin. These little things are quadrupeds with shells, a segmented body and crab-like legs.”

Suddenly everyone except Riley was laughing and pointing, turning round and round craning their necks to watch as the chamber was filled with small scurrying creatures. Some climbed the walls onto the ceiling while others threaded their way through the legs of the watching group. Dawn jumped and squeaked when one dropped from the ceiling onto her head and then when it slid to sit on her shoulder and tickled her cheek with one gentle claw she giggled, “Oh they’re so cute!” She raised a hand to scratch it on the back and it quivered for a few moments, apparently in pleasure. After a while it climbed nimbly down her back and leg before disappearing with the others into the tunnels at the back of the cavern. Shortly there were only two or three of the little demons left darting about in the dark corners where there had evidently been infestations of tasty bugs.

The excitement over, Sam and a sulking Riley retreated to the upper chamber of the crypt to wait, while everyone else joined in the discussion of what should be left for Clem and what should be moved to the Summers house. After Xander had finished examining the bed he promised Buffy he would borrow a truck from work and shift it the following day, then he went up and joined them.

When Spike explained to Clem that they needed to take the big four-poster to the Summers house he looked very disappointed, so Buffy promised to get him a more modest bed to replace it. Dawn claimed a couple of the pretty lamps and Buffy picked her favourite rugs to help make the basement at Revello Drive a more welcoming place. Spike chose the sturdier of the bookcases to take so he had somewhere to keep his old favourites.

All the while Giles was sitting on the floor engrossed with Spike’s book collection, occasionally making little whimpers of pleasure or exclamations of surprise. At one point he cried out in delight, “Spike! Do you realise what this is?” When he went over to see what the fuss was about Giles thrust a small leaflet at him.

Spike wasn’t very interested. “It’s just something I use as a bookmark Rupert, what’s got you so worked up?”

“Dear Lord… you have no idea what it’s worth have you? It’s more valuable than the book it was in… and that’s an antique first edition! This is a programme for the first ever London performance of Pirates of Penzance on April 3rd 1880! It’s been signed by Sir Arthur Sullivan himself! Who is this ‘Anne’ it’s inscribed to? He’s put ‘Lovely to see you again’.”

Spike shrugged. “That’s my mother. I had lots of those programmes at one time. We went to all their first nights because we knew Mr Sullivan from mother’s music society. The ladies used to love to sing his parlour ballads and he sometimes came and played for them. I think that’s the last one I’ve got left though, they’re easy to lose. I expect I looked after that one as it’s a reminder of the last time mother was able to get out for the evening.”

Giles gaped at him. After a moment he nervously asked, “Would you mind if I went through all your books Spike? I know you probably just consider them to be old friends but some of these could be worth a fortune, even more than those ‘trinkets’ of yours. If you could bear to part with even a few of them you could be set up financially for years to come!”

Raising an eyebrow in surprise Spike shrugged. “Feel free Rupert, there are some I wouldn’t want to lose for anything, but if you find something that’s worth selling just let me know.”

Before long Xander came down the ladder to say that that Riley and Sam were preparing to be picked up, an interruption that prompted Clem to say goodbye. As he had been unable to finish watching the TV programme he had been enjoying when Riley burst in on him there seemed no point in him staying. Dawn had dozed off on the bed and Giles was still absorbed in examining Spike’s books so Buffy and Spike accompanied the demon up the ladder to make sure Riley didn’t harass him on the way out. After he had gone Spike remained upstairs to smoke a cigarette and keep an eye on Buffy as she chatted with the military couple as they waited outside for their transport. The night was so still their conversation drifted very clearly to Spike’s ears.

“So… you and Spike?” Asked Sam hesitantly. “I’m a bit surprised about that after what Riley’s told me about him.”

“There are things about Spike that Riley doesn’t know.” Buffy explained. “He…”

“I know all I need to know.” Riley put in. “Spike is an evil demon who is only held back from killing by the chip the Initiative put in his head. He’s only sticking around to get in your pants Buffy. If anything happened to you he’d be off like a shot. You must know that he’ll always be trying to get that chip out, and the moment it fails he won’t hesitate to kill you.”

Buffy made an impatient little ‘humph’ noise. “No Riley, you’re wrong. When I died last year Spike stayed and helped the gang for months and actually looked after Dawn.” Spike could feel her irritation with the soldier. “As for him trying to kill me, since Willow brought me back from Heaven the chip doesn’t work on me anyway. The first thing he did when he found out was come and tell me so!”

Riley’s voice became very shrill. “The chip has stopped working? You have to stake him Buffy! If you don’t I will!”

Buffy’s voice rose in frustration. “You’re not listening Riley! But then I shouldn’t be surprised, you never did. I said the chip doesn’t work on me. It still works on everyone else. It’s not the chip that’s at fault, it’s me that’s different.”

Too angry to continue the conversation, Buffy turned and re-entered the crypt. She went straight to where Spike was leaning against a sarcophagus, and resting a hand on his chest she reached up and kissed him. “You okay darling?”

Spike brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then cupped her cheek in his hand. “Yeah love. I’ll just keep an eye on ‘em. You get yourself downstairs and see what else you want to take back to the house.”

As her head disappeared down the ladder Buffy’s irritated voice was clearly audible to Spike. “I don’t know… Riley’s impossible! He’s just threatened to stake Spike again!”

Xander couldn’t resist adding his opinion. “Of course I’ve always said he should have been staked years ago, but somehow you’ve always found a reason not to…” His disgust was clear in the tone of his voice. “I’m sorry Buffy, but it’s true. I know you think he loves you, but it’s just an illusion. He’s a remorseless killer and you know it. I still don’t understand how you can bear for him to touch you.”

“I thought we covered this last night Xander. Spike has changed as much as Anya has, and as for loving me… If you could only feel what I can sense through the Bond... Well… All I can say is that when the Council say that a soulless demon is incapable of love… they’re very wrong! You know he’s trying to do good now.” Her tone was sad and resigned. “Besides Xander, you’ve caused more human deaths than Spike has since he’s been chipped. You haven’t shown any remorse for all the deaths you caused either. Don’t think for one minute I’ve forgotten about that.”

Indignantly Xander asked, “What on earth are you talking about Buffy? I haven’t killed anyone!”

“Have you forgotten the dancing demon Xander? You summoned a demon who caused all those people to dance to death. I nearly died, and I would have if Spike hadn’t saved me... again.” She continued wearily, “We were researching for days and people were dying and you knew what was behind it all the time. You didn’t say a word until Dawn was on the point of being taken to a Hell dimension as that demon’s bride. Seventeen people died Xander!”

Xander’s voice became very defensive. “But that was an accident Buffy, I didn’t mean anything bad to happen.”

“I know you didn’t mean any harm Xander, but don’t you see? That’s just an excuse. How would you have felt if Spike hadn’t been there and I had danced to death and Dawn had been taken to Hell? Would you have shrugged your shoulders and said ‘I didn’t mean it’ and then expected everyone to ignore it?”

“Of course not Buffy!” Xander’s defensiveness was turning to anger. “Anyway, I don’t see how you can compare me with Bleachboy. He’s a soulless monster who has killed thousands, and he’s only been helping us to get to you and you know it Buffy. Oh and for money of course, we mustn’t forget the money.”

“Oh Xander, when was the last time Spike asked for money for helping? We haven’t paid him since before Glory. And he couldn’t have been trying to impress me all last summer… dead, remember? As for trying to take credit for helping with the Slayage, when was the last time he bragged about that? All those weapons he had at Angel’s came from demons he killed that he didn’t tell us about.”

“He’s still dangerous though Buffy.” Xander ploughed ahead regardless of Buffy’s growing displeasure with him. “We all know why he went to LA you know, he hurt you didn’t he? He was afraid you’d stake him and he ran away.”

Buffy gave a short ironic laugh, “You couldn’t be more wrong Xander.” She took a deep breath and continued, “Giles… Xander… There’s something I should have told you all at the time. You remember that night when time went all wonky and I thought I’d killed Katrina? I felt I needed to be punished, that I’d come back so wrong I’d turned into a killer. Well, just before I got to the Police Station Spike caught up with me and tried to stop me from turning myself in. I was so crazy with guilt and fear I wouldn’t listen to him and when he got in my way I just hit him and hit him and hit him until he was a broken bloody mess on the ground. I said such terrible things to him, hateful untrue things.” She made a strangled little sobbing sound. “Do you know what? He let me. He didn’t try to hit me back once, he couldn’t bear to hurt me even to defend himself, and I was in such a mess he could have killed me easily. Then I just walked away and left him lying there with sunrise just a couple of hours off. That was why he left. He was just trying to help me as always, and I broke him.”

Spike heard Giles mumble, “So that’s what he meant…” Then there was an uncomfortable silence in the lower chamber of the crypt, broken only by Buffy’s sniffles. Spike rubbed his eyes, for some reason his vision had gone all blurred. He couldn’t believe she’d actually told Xander and Giles of all people about that terrible night. He was so proud of her.

After a few moments Xander’s confused voice fell loud into the silence. “I still don’t really understand why you felt we had to go and fetch him back from Angel’s. Surely a gone Spike was only for everyone’s good. We didn’t need him.”

Buffy whispered hoarsely, “I needed him. I didn’t realise how much until he wasn’t there any more. At first when he wasn’t around for a few days I was angry with him. I thought he was hiding from me deliberately so he didn’t have to help with the Slayage. Since I came back you’ve all been so busy, none of you have been coming on patrol with me, only Spike. He was there every night for me, even when I told him to leave me alone. After a while I realised just how much help he had been, there were three times as many vamps and demons to deal with. Then a few days later I realised it wasn’t just that. I missed the company, the jokes, all the snarky comments. He had even managed to make me laugh sometimes. I finally had to admit to myself that I just missed him. I was frantic when I couldn’t find him… and then when he didn’t show up to my birthday party…”

“You invited him to your party?” Xander asked in disbelief.

“No… I didn’t. I was too ashamed to ask him myself but I wanted him there and I knew both Dawnie and Willow had invited him.” Buffy paused and sniffled again, then continued, “I thought at first he’d dusted in that alley when the sun came up. I felt so guilty.”

“I don’t understand about the patrolling Buffy.” Giles said. “I thought it was very quiet, that was why you weren’t needing any help.”

“It was quiet.” Buffy admitted. “But only because Spike was doing so much more than any of us realised. I didn’t really want anybody around anyway. You all kept on at me to be the old BouncyBuffy. You wanted me to be happy and grateful for being brought back and for everything to be just as it had been before, and I couldn’t handle that. Only Spike accepted me as I am, listened to me without judging me. Only he let me be quiet when I needed it and then let me be violent enough to get rid of all my anger and pain when I needed that. If it wasn’t for him…” She was silent for a moment then sighed deeply. “If it wasn’t for him I don’t think I’d still be here.” She paused briefly. “Then there was the sex thing. Half the time I said I was patrolling I was really with him, and I didn’t want any of you around to find out about that. I felt so disgusted with myself for wanting him, I thought you’d all hate...” Her sad voice was drowned out by the noise of an approaching helicopter.

Spike realised Dawn must have woken up while Buffy was unburdening herself because she immediately appeared at the top of the ladder. She was closely followed by Buffy and Xander. Giles, who was limping and complaining about pins and needles in his foot from sitting on the hard floor for so long, brought up the rear.

Spike stood back to watch as Riley and Sam said their goodbyes outside the crypt. He was intrigued to see Riley and Buffy exchanging even more angry words with an increasingly distressed Sam looking on, before the military couple attached themselves to a dangling cable to be winched up into the air.

As the helicopter flew away everyone moved back into the crypt to hear Buffy complaining bitterly about Riley’s parting comments. “Damn him and his mission parameters, how dare he? Authorisation to take the Doctor out indeed. We know Spike isn’t the Doctor. What he was doing yet again was offering to kill my boyfriend!”

She continued muttering to herself briefly until Dawn asked, “So who is the Doctor then?”

Giles answered her. “We don’t know Dawnie.”

“So they’ve gone off without finding the person they were looking for?” Dawn looked around for answers. “So where were the evil demon eggs then? I fell asleep and missed that.”

Everyone exchanged puzzled looks. “Oh!” Buffy realised. “We never even went looking for them!”

Dawn frowned and asked, “So let me just get this straight. Riley came and asked for help to track a dangerous demon that usually lives in the jungle but somehow made its way here. He already must have had a tracking thingy on it because when he discovered we had already killed it he went and found the body without asking where we’d left it. Then he reappeared with the perfect wife he hadn’t bothered to tell us about, and said he needed to find the demon’s eggs and an evil demon egg dealer. Then after he went off on his own for a while he accused Spike of being the dealer and keeping the dangerous eggs, even though we knew it wasn’t him. Then we found some harmless egg thingies in Spike’s crypt. They weren’t the ones we were looking for but even so Riley went nuts trying to scare us into destroying them. When we told him he was wrong he got angry. Then after repeatedly suggesting he should kill Spike he just left, without even looking for the evil eggs or the demon egg dealer. And why would he leave in a helicopter when he arrived in a great big truck? Where’s he left that then?” She looked around at all the confused faces and asked, “Does anyone else think there’s something seriously hinky about this whole thing? Have I missed something?”

Giles took his glasses off and polished them. “Well it does seem rather strange that they’ve gone without locating and taking care of the Suvolte demon’s eggs if they were the object of the mission.”

Spike remembered something he noticed as odd when Riley first appeared. “Slayer, Soldier boy said he’d looked for you at the Doublemeat before coming to the house, how would he have known you’ve been working there?”

Buffy hopped up to sit on a sarcophagus and said slowly, “I think you’re right Dawn, there’s definitely something off here.”

Spike began to have a very uneasy feeling. “Slayer, what would have happened if we hadn’t had our little trip to LA and the Mating Bond? You’d have been at the Doublemeat as Cardboard expected, then you’d have gone with him to kill the demon. You’d have been delighted to see him again and you’d have just got used to the idea of him being here and would have been wondering if you could get back together, when he’d have produced his perfect wife and you’d have got upset and jealous. When he said you had to find the eggs you’d have gone looking without thinking to research what they looked like, assuming he already knew. Then when he said they were in my crypt and you found those bug eater things that I would have been babysitting you would have believed they were the bloody Suvolte eggs wouldn’t you?” He regarded Buffy sadly, “You would still have been unhappy about being with me and you’d have been ready to believe every word he said about me wouldn’t you? You’d have believed him when he said I was this soddin’ demon egg dealing Doctor and I was keeping dangerous eggs here and risking everyone’s lives.”

Buffy sat gaping at him. “Oh God,” She breathed. “You’re right Spike. I’d have decided I couldn’t trust you at all.” She paused for a second and looked around at her bewildered friends. “Let’s think, what actually happened here? There was one nasty demon that shouldn’t have been around here at all, Riley already had a tracer on it and it wasn’t even very hard to kill. Then there were some harmless little Teflon demons that Spike had changed his mind about looking after but were here anyway. We would have taken everything Riley said on trust if we hadn’t checked on the website to see what Suvolte eggs were like, and if I wasn’t able to be certain that Spike was telling the truth. Riley somehow knew about my job so he’s been getting information about me from somewhere, although he didn’t know I’d left. He probably knew I’d been seeing Spike too, although he obviously didn’t know he’d moved in and that I would trust him and believe him over Riley.” She shook her head in disbelief and jumped off the sarcophagus to wrap her arms around Spike’s waist. “It was all a set-up wasn’t it? He tried to arrange everything so that when he asked me if he should kill you, he thought I would actually consider it!”

“But why would he do that?” Xander asked in bewilderment. “I don’t get it. He had that truck and all the gadgets and even a helicopter. The whole thing must have cost a fortune to set up. Riley couldn’t have done all that just to get back at Spike… could he?”

“It seems unlikely I admit, although it certainly looks as if he wasn’t being altogether truthful with us.” Giles admitted cautiously. “I think we’re going to have to look into this a bit further. If there really are Suvolte demon eggs in town we’ll have to find them.” He scratched his head thoughtfully. “Buffy, you should ask around tomorrow. See if you can find where Riley was while he was off on his own and where he got his false information about Spike from.”

Buffy nodded. “Yes Giles, I will. I can’t help wondering how he knew stuff about me too. I wonder what else he knows that we would prefer he didn’t? I can’t help being nervous about those Initiative scientists you mentioned earlier. Do you think Riley might still be in touch with them? Perhaps they paid for this ‘mission’ of his hoping to get rid of Spike for some reason.”

Giles shook his head worriedly. “I don’t think we can afford to discount the possibility Buffy. We’ll all have to go over everything we said and did while Riley and Sam were here to make sure we didn’t tell them anything we shouldn’t have.”

Dawn gave a very wide yawn, which made Buffy smile. “Come on everyone, since it looks as if we don’t have to go on an evil egg hunt tonight after all let’s go home, it’s getting very late. We can come back tomorrow to get the stuff to take to the house.”

Spike went back down the ladder to switch off all the lamps as the others prepared to leave, then picking up his axe from where he’d dropped it by the entrance he closed the crypt door behind them.

As they were walking towards the cemetery gate Buffy suddenly remembered something. “Giles, there was something you wanted to talk to us about wasn’t there?”

“Oh, yes Buffy, I just didn’t want to mention it in front of Riley and Sam. I think I’ve worked out how the portals function. I’ll need to have some time with Dawn to teach her the process, then as soon as your necklace arrives it’ll be time for a practice run.”

“Oh, right Giles. We were coming into the Magic Box for a training session when we’d picked Dawn up from school tomorrow anyway, so we’ll go through it all then… okay?”

After agreeing a time to meet they walked slowly, each of them busy with their own thoughts. A weary Giles was in the lead with Xander, who was the only one speaking as he continued to grumble quietly to himself. “I just don’t get it, Riley’s one of the good guys. Why would he lie about everything? Spike must have been up to something dodgy. It’s Spike for heavens sake, he’s always doing stuff like this! Why were those egg things there at all if not for Spike? It’s his crypt after all! And how do we really know they weren’t the ones Riley was looking for? Are we going to take the word of a couple of demons? Why do I have to keep reminding everyone that they’re evil?”

Spike followed with his arm around the shoulders of a subdued Buffy who in turn had her free arm wrapped protectively around her sleepy sister. As they were passing a large mausoleum a quiet voice from the shadowed entrance abruptly brought them all to a standstill.

“There’s my Spike.”

Spike had thought this night couldn’t get any more disturbing. He sighed. “Hello Dru.”

TBC.