Conflict of Interest

"We can't help you if you won't tell us who did this to you?" Chief Gunn said in exasperation.
"You don't understand." Anya Wilkins said through swollen lips.
"Yes, I do. You're scared. I know but we can't protect you if we don't know who to protect you from" Chief Gunn reiterated his point.
"Charles. Give her a break. She needs to rest" Xander Harris spoke up from the other side of the hospital bed.
"Fine. I'll be back in the morning. Until then, you're under police protection. Nobody gets in here to see you and I mean nobody. Not even the Mayor!" Gunn left the room.

"Thank you" Anya croaked out to Xander.
"You're welcome. The Chief is right though you know. Get some rest and we'll be back in the morning." Xander told her.
"Mr. Harris? Can you..umm..can you please stay with me?" Anya pleaded.
"Wouldn't you rather have your husband here?" Xander asked.
"NO..I mean..well..Chief Gunn said NOBODY could get in." Anya fidgeted under Xander's intense stare.
"He was just talking big. I'm sure we could make an exception. The Mayor seemed awfully worried about you. He raised quite a ruckus trying to get in here earlier." Xander informed her.
"No...I'd..I'd rather have you stay." Anya said with pleading eyes.
Xander felt his heart strings tug. He looked down at the small battered woman. He sighed and pulled up a reclining chair and sat down.
"Thank you..I just don't want to be alone." Anya said as he eyes closed once again.
Xander watched her drift off to sleep until he himself drifted off as well.

Anya awakened to roughened fingers stroking her hairline. She blinked her eyes open to see Xander contemplating her. Once he realized she was awake, he pulled back abruptly in embarrassment.
"Sorry...uhh..I was...just uhh" he stumbled over his words.
"It's O.K. Mr. Harris. It felt nice." Anya smiled weakly at him.
"Xander. Call me Xander" he told her.
"I like you Xander if that isn't too bold of me to say" Anya said.
"I like you too Mrs. Wilkins" Xander croaked out.
"Anya. Please call me Anya." she smiled again.

Buffy sat in her chambers pouring over court documents and papers when there was a knock at her door.
"Come in" she called.
Harmony Kendall sashayed into her office.
"To what do I owe this pleasure? Is Mr. Giles too busy to annoy me himself today?" Buffy drawled sarcastically.
"I heard he does a lot more than "annoy" you Judge Summers." Harmony said as she took a seat across the desk from Buffy and lit a cigarette, coughing after inhaling.
Buffy narrowed her eyes, "What exactly are you implying, Miss Kendall ? and put out that cigarette."
"I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying, I know about you and Spike. I heard it from the donkey's mouth...er whatever...but..I'm going to tell everyone in Sunnydale about your little sex sessions with Spike if you don't give me what I want." Harmony threatened.
Buffy's jaw clenched and she felt her face get hot. All of her worst scenerios of people finding out couldn't prepare her for it being Harmony. Of all people.
Buffy decided to take the bait out of curiosit"Exa"Exactly what is it you want?"
"Well money of course. Duh. I want umm..10 thousand dollars..er no...100 thousand dol...no..wait..A MILLION. I want a million dollars." Harmony beamed, proud of herself.
"What on God's earth makes you think I have a million dollars? I'm a judge, not Donald Trump you silly girl" Buffy said in exasperation.
"Well..fine...then 10 thousand AND I get Spike!" Harmony replied.
"You get Spike? What do you mean you get...?" Buffy started then her eyes widened. "Oh my God. You mean you want to sleep with Spike?"
"Well, yeah. Duh. Who doesn't?" Harmony flipped her blonde hair.

Buffy gripped the edge of her desk with her hands until her knuckles were white. Harmony stood and walked to the door.
"I'll give you a few days to think it over. I'm paying a visit to Spike next and then to my partner..re..oops..I wasn't supposed to tell you I had a partner. I don't. No partner. Just little old me." Harmony dashed out the door quickly leaving Buffy sitting there in stunned silence.

Buffy took the rest of the day off. She went home and tried to sort out what on earth she was going to do. Finally she decided she had to go talk to Spike. She arrived at his office to find his reception area empty.
"Hello? Spike? Are you here?" she called out then knocked on the door to his office.
Suddenly it swung open to reveal a slightly disheveled Spike, shirt unbuttoned, hair all askew.
"Buffy?" he said.
"We need to talk. I had a little visit from your secretary today." Buffy explained as she came into his office.
\h...h...I know. She's been here..." Spike began.
Buffy looked around and noticed the messed up sofa and Spike's appearance and saw red.
"You! bastbastard! You slept with her didn't you? Did you pay her the 10 grand too you asshole?" Buffy yelled and began pummeling his bare chest.
"Bloody hell you crazy bint! Stop hitting me! I didn't sleep with anyone! I was sleeping with MYSELF. I was taking a nap when she got here." Spike explained.
"You really didn't have sex with her?" Buffy sniffled.
"Noer. er. Ever." Spike smiled softly, amused with Buffy's jealousy.

"Oh, Spike. What are we going to do? How did she find out?" Buffy ranted.
"Calm down, luv. We'll figure something out...we'll.." Spike began but was cut off by Buffy launching herself at Spike and attacking his lips with her own.
She kissed him voraciously and after several minutes, finally came up for air.
"Well now...Someone should try and blackmail us everyday if that's the treatment I get." Spike smirked.
"Shut up, Spike. Just make love to me." Buffy panted. She just needed to feel. She was emotionally exhausted and drained. She needed a release.
"Hold that thought, luv" Spike said as he raced out to the outer door and placed the closed sign up and locked the door before returning back to his office, closing and locking the inner door behind him.
"Come to Daddy" Spike said as he opened his arms to Buffy.

Harmony waited until Angel was brought in.
"Did you do it?" he asked her as he sat down.
"Yes, boss. I talked to them both today. Told them they had a few days to think it over." she informed him.
"Did you ask about my trial and...my planned extra curricular activities with a certain blonde judge?" Angel licked his lips.
"Umm...I sorta forgot." Harmony said sheepishly.
"WHAT? How could you forget? What exactly did you ask for then?" Angel demanded.
"For money and Spike" Harmony said as if it made perfect sense.
"You stupid bimbo. Christ, forget it, I'll do it myself. I'll talk to Spike the next time I see him. You, get out of my sight." Angel cursed as he stood and motioned for the guard to take him back to his cell.
"I can try again...boss..uhh..sorry" Harmony called after him, then shrugged her shoulders and left the visiting room.

Continued in Chapter 6- The Cat's Out of the Bag