Shot in the Dark

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Chapter 9: Exposure
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Spike pulls a white fluffy towel off the shelf and unfolds it. The room is still warm from the steamy shower, but Buffy welcomes him wrapping her in the towel, gently massaging her dry. Taking great care not to rub her wound, he snugs her up in the towel before reaching for one himself. Buffy smiles, a slow, contented smile as she watches him rub his hair half-dry and then briskly dry his body with the soft towel. He looks up as he feels her gaze, wrapping the towel around his waist.

“Alright, luv. Let me bandage up your side before anything else...happens.” Spike winks at her and opens the door to the bathroom. He steps out into the hallway, still watching Buffy as she wraps a towel around her wet head.

“Buffy, is that you? I got worried when you didn’t - Ack! Not Buffy! Not Buffy!” Willow stumbles as she reaches the top of the stairs, and covers her eyes as she squeals.

Momentarily taken aback by Willow’s appearance, Spike recovers quickly, “ ‘ello, Red.”

Eyes still covered, Willow whispers, “Uh, Sp-Spike?? What are you - I thought you - Buffy know you’re here in her house? And naked?” Her voice pitches higher on the last word as her cheeks turn even redder.

“Not naked, got a towel on. And yes.” Spike crosses his arms in front of his chest and can’t help but chuckle at the witch’s reaction.

“What’s going on out here? Spike, who are you - Willow!” Buffy steps out into the hallway behind Spike, eyes wide.

“Buffy!” Willow uncovers her eyes, mouth hanging open. “Again with the towel! Isn’t anyone here wearing clothes besides me?!” She slaps her hand over her eyes again.

“Uh, Willow. What are you doing - why - oh, this is not good.” Spike stands between the two girls, waiting to see what will happen next. Buffy turns to him and points at her room, “In the bedroom. Now!”

“Buffy, luv, don’t you think you should talk to Willow before we -” He jerks his head at her room, eyebrows lifted, a grin on his face.

“Argh! Spike! GO before I stake your undead ass!”

Spike lifts his hands in surrender, “Going, going. No need to threaten a dusty end, pet.”

Meanwhile, Willow can be heard muttering under her breath. “Can’t be. Buffy. Spike. Slayer. Vampire. With the hating, they can’t be...oh god. Buffy?”

Shoving Spike towards her room and shutting the door behind him, Buffy comes over to Willow. Gently, she pulls her hands away from her eyes.

“Wait! Is Spike still here - with the chest and the...”

“He’s gone for now, Will. Let’s go downstairs.” Willow looks at Buffy, her green eyes wide and nods.

Buffy and Willow end up in the living room on the couch. Buffy adjusts her towel, trying to cover herself as much as possible to settle Willow’s nerves.

Eyes wild, Willow gestures up the stairs and at Buffy, “Buffy! What the - what is he doing here? What happened? Please give me a plausible reason that has nothing to do with sweaty nakedness. Please?”
Buffy dips her head, avoiding Willow’s eye contact. “Okay, give me an implausible reason. I’ll believe it - promise! Like his clothes caught on fire and you were forced to strip him and give him a towel, for modesty’s sake. And then your clothes were all sooty, so you got the towel...” Her voice trails off.

Buffy’s mind is swirling. She wants him, is still imagining his hands on her body, but Willow’s presence is making her more and more confused. It’s true, she is supposed to hate him. She has many reasons. Not the least of which is that he’s tried to kill the very girl, her best friend, sitting across from her. Buffy shakes her head, willing her thoughts to fit back together in a sensible manner, with no luck.

“Will...I..can’t explain it. I’ll try.”

Willow nods furiously, waiting for the explanation.

“Spike and I had sex.” Buffy shrugs at Willow, deciding not to soften the blow. “A bunch of times.”

“Ay! Buffy! That is not an explanation. That is a statement. And a statement that is making me woozy. I need to sit down.”

“You are sitting down.”

“Not the point, young lady! What are you thinking? It’s SPIKE! Vampire! Evil vampire! Grrr!” Willow waves her hands around emphatically.

“Will, I know. It’s weird and bizarre and I really can’t offer any good reasons, except it feels right and amazing. I’ve been so unhappy since...well, since Angel left. He is making me feel like myself again. All fight-y and peppy. Go me?” Buffy tries a little inspirational punch in the air, but Willow is too distracted to notice.

“Oh, it’s my fault, isn’t it? Aftershocks from my do-thy-will spell? Will I ever make up for that damn spell? My will should never be done!”

“Willow!” Buffy takes Willow by the shoulders and shakes her lightly. “Pay attention to me.” Buffy has a moment of absolute clarity, which is almost as scary as the confusion. Willow wiggles a little, but finally relaxes enough to meet Buffy’s eyes. “Okay? Okay. Whatever is going on between me and Spike - I don’t think it is your fault and I don’t think it has anything to do with the spell. I’m not saying there couldn’t be some weird mojo going on, but I’m still me. I am fully aware of what I am doing. And so is he. We’re not getting married or planning to raise little blond half-vamps, okay?” Willow nods, swallowing hard and opening her mouth. “Ah-ah! Not done yet. Whatever this is, it has made me feel truly alive, Will. I...I...can I just enjoy that? Please?” Buffy’s eyes are pleading. Willow opens her mouth, but closes it again. Buffy nods. “Go ahead. I’m done for now.”

“Oh, Buffy.” She sighs. “I understand. When Oz left, I was...well, you saw me. Devastated.” Her eyes dart down to the floor. “I do understand wanting that warm and fuzzy feeling again, but Buffy. Are you sure? Spike? He can give you that feeling?”

“And how, Will.” The warmth in Buffy’s core is starting to return as they talk about Spike. Slightly dulled by Willow’s surprise appearance, her craving for him is growing by the second. “I’m not sure of anything, Will. Only that I really want him. Like, all the time. In fact, right now, I want him. I can’t stop thinking about him upstairs in my bedroom alone. Am I awful?” Buffy blushes, her cheeks gone pink.

“No, Buffy, you’re normal.” Willow lets a smile slip out. “I mean, I don’t have eons of experience to rely on, but I think his top half was on the yummy side. Guessing the rest matches up?”

“Willow!!” Buffy is genuinely shocked. Sometimes it is hard to remember that Willow is not the girl she met four years ago, meek and mild. Still quirky, but she has seen something of the world now. She cocks her head at her friend. “And yes, ma’am. It certainly does. But still, shock!” Buffy points at her face, where the shock still lingers.

“Oh, Buffy. We don’t always make the...wisest of choices, but they are our choices to make. I just want you safe. Don’t get hurt?”

“Like he could hurt me, Will. Slayer, ‘member?”

“That’s not the kind of hurt I’m talking about, Buff.” Her forehead is creased as she gives Buffy a serious look. “Oh, and don’t tell Xander, for goodness sake. If you do, give me a warning so I can reach minimum safe distance, ‘kay?” Her green eyes twinkle in amusement.

Buffy lunges forward, hugging Willow around the neck. “This. THIS is why I adore you, Willow. Don‘t worry, I‘ll be fine.”

“Whoa, towel, Buffy!” Buffy sits back, pulling the towel back up. “I should...uh...go. I just got worried when you didn’t come home last night, so here I am. You’re a big girl, Buffy. I can’t say I really understand the whys of this thing with Spike, but at least his chip doesn’t go away when he gets a happy, eh?”

Buffy nods. “It’s true. ‘Cause if so, the chip would be going going gone. I’m really sorry I made you worry. Try not to, okay? I have to...see what happens here. I just have to. I can’t explain it.”

Willow studies Buffy. “Are you...sure it’s not a spell?”

“I’m not sure, no. Do you think you could check into it, to be on the sid side? Something that makes you extra lusty? Only just towards him. I mean, he’s the one that sets it off. And I do mean off.”

“Okay, no more details. I’m trying to be support-o-gal, but let‘s not test it, okay?” Willow holds her hand up in the universal signal of stop now. “This is risky business you’re in, so watch yourself. I’ll get in research mode and let you know what I find out.” Willow stands up and heads for the front door. “Only next time, I’m calling first.” She waves and heads out.

Buffy sits on the couch, mind spinning. The tingling she has been feeling has spread to her extremities. She pictures Spike upstairs in her room, naked, and has to swallow hard, getting dizzy. She mutters to herself, “Must get to him.”

“No worries, luv. I’m right here.” Startled, she glances up to find herself looking right into Spike’s stormy eyes. She looks at the hand he is offering and stands up with him. In one smooth motion, he pulls her up and drops her towel at the same time. She is suddenly pressed against his cool chest, skin to skin. He leans down to take her lips in his, just as the front door opens again.

“Oh dear god! Five seconds, people! I‘ve been gone for five seconds!” Willow shrieks, covering her eyes again. “Forgot my bag! Buffy, can you give it to me, if you’re not too naked, I mean, busy?!!” tingting from foot to foot, Willow waits by the door.

With a deep chuckle, Spike snatches up her backpack from the couch and gently puts it in her outstretched hand. “There you go, luv. Anything else?”

Her voice reaches its highest pitch. “No, no. Th-thanks, Spike. Bye Buffy!” Without uncovering her eyes, she fumbles for the doorknob and slips back out, mumbling the whole time.

When Willow is out the door, Spike reaches for the knob and turns the lock. He looks back at Buffy, who has collapsed, laughing, on the couch. “Now where were we?”

Buffy looks at him, eyes still twinkling but quickly turning smoky, “Come here and I’ll show you.” She wiggles her index finger at him. With a quick grin, Spike returns to Buffy’s arms, dropping his unneeded towel on the way.