Quantum Xander II: In Wake of the Curse

Part 52

The search was a bust. They had tracked Buffy’s scent to a house a few blocks away but it was empty by the time they had gotten there. Xander was becoming increasingly worried, and even Spike was beginning to get concerned. He was still pumped up from fighting with Faith - the realization that he was no longer chipped was making him want to celebrate. And he could think of no better way to do that than to throw Xander down and shag him into the middle of next week. Of course he couldn’t do that until they found the missing blondes.

“Let’s try back at the house again. If she was here and left, it’s a good possibility that she went back there. If for no other reason, she’d want to check on her sis, right?”

“We don’t have any other ideas, so let’s try that one. But Spike? No fighting, okay? We’ll need every fighter we have if we’re going to beat The First.”

“I know, love. She just really pissed me off insulting you like that.”

“Don’t take it too seriously. She’s probably right. It was my first time and she basically just threw me down and climbed on board.”

“Oh.”

“What? Like you were some big stud your first time?”

Spike laughed.

“Hardly. I was sandwiched between two vampires, and one of them was draining the life out of me. Hardly my best performance.”

“Geez, and I thought my first time was traumatic.”

“Come on, pet, let’s go back and see if the peroxide twins have made an appearance.”

Xander smiled and slung his arm over Spike’s shoulder.

“You know, if you keep insulting Spike’s hair, I’m going to remind you of it once you’re all shiny and blond again.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, love.”

The walk back to slayer central was made in silence. Xander had a niggling feeling that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. He just didn’t know what. By the time they reached Buffy’s house, Spike was starting to feel it too. They were met at the door by Robin Wood - who took one look at Spike at sneered.

“Oh, it’s just you.”

Xander rolled his eyes at the idiot.

“You know, for someone who was raised by a watcher, you don’t have much of a survival instinct do you? I mean, first you go and try to kill my blond mate, and then you go and insult my brunet one. Did you not see him kick your girl’s ass earlier? And if that doesn’t scare you and make you think twice, just think of what I could do to you. The only reason you are still in one human-shaped piece is because Spike figured he owed you for the trigger being disabled. That debt has been paid. Next slip up, you’re gone.”

Xander let his eyes go black to make sure the former principal got the message.

“Now, where is everyone?”

“They went after the weapons. If you had stuck around, you’d know that. They should be back anytime now.”

Xander rolled his eyes and looked at Spike.

“Survival instincts of a lemming. Did I not just warn him?”

“That you did, love. But give him a break; it’s not easy being left behind, knowing that your lover would rather put her trust in a bunch of children to watch her back.”

Robin scowled and walked away. Xander smiled at Spike and leaned in and kissed him.

“You’re evil, and I love you.”

“Glad to hear it, pet. What say we go take a look-see at what the girls are up to?”

“Good idea.”

Walking through the tunnels toward the location of Faith and the S.I.T.s, Xander started to get that uneasy feeling again. He looked over at Spike and saw that he too was frowning and looking around the tunnel.

“Something’s not right.”

“Bringers. I can smell them.”

“Let’s go.”

They took off running and as they got closer, they heard the sounds of battle. Spike shifted to game face and sprinted ahead; Xander followed him and hoped that they got there in time. The last Bringer fell by Spike’s hands just as Xander exited the tunnel into the small dug out room.

“Yo, Faith. Check this out.”

Kennedy was shining a light on a doorway in the corner. Faith went to investigate, followed by the rest of the girls. Xander and Spike took up the rear guard and made their way down as well. They watched as Faith broke the padlock off an old wooden box. Inside there was a detonator counting down.

“Everybody get down!”

The explosion rocked the cavern and Xander barely had enough time to throw up a shield. It wasn’t a very strong one but it did protect them from the worst of the damage.

“Is everyone okay?”

Various girls responded that they were, but so far no response from Faith. Seeing as she had been the closest to the explosion, Xander went toward the last place he had seen her and began to dig through the debris. He found her face down in a puddle of water.

“Well, this looks familiar.”

Xander quickly pulled her up and checked her vitals. Her pulse was steady and after coughing up some water, she was breathing all right, but she was unconscious.

“Alright. Everyone, clear out.”

The girls all did as Xander said, and Spike watched as Xander carried Faith toward the staircase. He shook his head, rolled his eyes and then reached out to stop him.

“I’ll take her, love. I’m stronger than you are.”

“You promise not to eat her? Um, I mean… ”

“I know what you mean, git. And yeah, I promise. Where’s the sport in killing an unconscious slayer?”

“Okay then.”

Spike took Faith from Xander’s arms and motioned for his mate to precede him up the stairs. They found Buffy waiting for them at the exit to the tunnel with the potentials all crowded around her.

“Buffy! Thank God!”

Xander grabbed her and crushed her to his chest.

“Are you okay? What happened? Where were you? Have you seen Spike? And oh yeah, what the hell is that in your hand?

“Fine. I was relieved of duty so I left. I spent the night in a house a few blocks away, and Spike was still there when I left this morning. He stayed with me. I - I asked him to. I’m sorry, Xander. I just didn’t want to be alone - I needed a friend. As for this…”

Buffy held up a nifty looking axe thing with a stake on the bottom.

“I got it from Caleb. I knew he was hiding something, and I was right.”

“I knew you would be; I’m sorry I wasn’t there to defend you.”

“I’m a big girl, Xander. I don’t need you to stick up for me, but thanks. You sure you’re okay about last night?”

“Yeah. I understand. I sort of figured that Spike was with you, that you’d need a friend. But uh, we tracked you to the house, and it was empty when we got there.”

“Oh. Maybe he went home?”

Just then one of the girls screamed as a Turok Han came charging toward them. Xander released Buffy, Spike handed Faith off to a couple of the potentials who were also less then battle ready and the rest of the girls formed a barricade in front of the two injured girls who were crouching protectively over Faith.

“There’s another one!”

One of the girls shouted, and sure enough there were now two of the Uber vamps making their way toward the group. Spike grinned wickedly; he was looking for a good fight, had been since Xander stopped him from pounding Faith earlier in the day.

“Xander, stay back. Let the slayer and me handle these two poofs.”

“Yeah, sure, you do that. But uh, there are now three of them to handle.”

“Right.”

Spike turned to Buffy and grinned.

“What do you say, luv, feel like working off a little tension?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Just remember, no staking the friendly vamp, right?”

“No problem there.”

Spike and Buffy made short work of the Uber vamps; that new axe of hers was the perfect weapon for defeating them. Spike had pouted after it was all done since he didn’t actually get to kill any of them, but he had had fun beating them up. When it was finished, Buffy looked behind her at the group of young girls, all standing ready to defend Faith and the two other slightly wounded girls, and felt pride in them. They had come a long way in a short time.

“Get the wounded. We’re leaving.”

Spike took Faith back from the potentials and walked to Xander. Kennedy looked around nervously and then turned to Buffy.

“Are there more?”

“There’re always more. Let’s move.”

In silence, they made their way back to Buffy’s house and through the front door. Robin was on his feet and heading for Spike as soon as he saw him with Faith in his arms. Buffy placed a hand on his chest and gave him a hard shove back into his chair.

“Spike, Xander. Take Faith up to my room and get her comfortable. Giles, I think Amanda might have a sprained elbow. Can you look at it? Rona, find Andrew; tell him I want to know everything he and Spike saw at that church.”

“I thought Spike would have told you?”

“He did. But I want to hear it from Andrew too; he might have seen something Spike missed.”

Rona shrugged her shoulders and went to find Andrew. Buffy headed for the stairs to check on Faith.

One of the girls who had not been in the raiding party spoke up. “Um, Buffy? What’s with that axe thing?”

“I took it from Caleb. It might be important.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Buffy nodded and went up the stairs. She found Spike and Xander in the hallway outside her bedroom door.

“How is she? Any change?”

“No, she’s still out of it.”

“Send Giles up when he finishes with Amanda.”

“Sure, uh, Buff? There was a bit of a… fight earlier.”

Buffy sighed.

“Who was fighting, and why?”

“Faith and Spike.”

Buffy laughed.

“She seems to have a thing for pissing off Spikes, doesn’t she. Apparently the other one went a couple rounds with her last night. What happened this time?”

Spike interrupted.

“She insulted Xander. Up until that point, I was just playing with her.”

“I see. And I assume since neither of you are dead, your chip went off and Xander stopped her?”

“Yer half right.”

Buffy looked at Xander for an explanation.

“Spike doesn’t have a chip, Buff. He came back without it. But yes, I did stop it, and it won’t happen again.”

“Fuck. I don’t need this shit right now. Look, Spike,”

Buffy turned to the dark-haired vampire.

“I’m going to trust you to keep your fangs in check. I need all the help I can get right now. Can I trust you?”

“Yes.”

“Good enough.”

Xander blinked in shock and Spike grinned.

“I can see why he fell for you, ducks. You’re alright for a slayer.”

“Gee, thanks, Spike. You’re alright too, for a bloodsucking demon.”

Buffy went into the room and Spike and Xander went back downstairs. Spike was feeling a little caged in what with all the humans in the house, so they went out on the front porch. Spike dropped onto the step and pulled out his cigarettes. He lit one and blew the smoke out through his nose.

“You want to go home? See if he’s there?”

“Yeah. Do you mind?”

“Not in the least. Let’s get out of here.”

Just as they were heading for the car, a familiar blond-haired figure came strolling up the street.