Escape

"Stop looking at me like that."

Spike crossed his arms over his chest, clearly amused.

"Like what?" He asked, feigning innocence.

"Like - like that!" She pointed accusingly when a suggestive smirk once again appeared on his lips, his head tilted slightly to one side. "Just-just stop looking at me, stop following me, stop... breathing, for Christ's sake!"

Chuckling, Spike lifted a brow. "Sorry, can't help you there. Don't breath."

Her shoulders slumped and she stamped her foot, thoroughly frustrated. "Ugh! You know what I mean!"

"What if I don't?" His tongue darted out, tasting his lips. "Care to elaborate?"

"Just… drop dead!" She realized what she'd said the second the words left her lips, and she rolled her eyes at her own folly.

"Already dea-"

"I get it," She snapped, whirling around on him fiercely. "Don't.talk.to.me," Her voice was positively venomous, and Spike narrowed his eyes.

"Last time I checked, it's a free country, slayer." But she ignored him, full of accusations as she let her pent up anger come to the surface.

"You planned this, didn't you?" She was swinging her arms about wildly as she continued her tirade, and Spike had to be careful to stay at a safe distance as one of her flailing hands still clutched the ever present stake. "No, no wait, I get it. You're secretly best pals with Quentin, old chums? You really go way back, right?" Spike looked at her as though she'd grown two heads, thoroughly shocked to find she was actually serious. Buffy, however, seemed oblivious to his reaction as she threw out another slew of accusations. "Secretly you're all buddy-buddy and you just decided to ban together to make my life a living hell so you can both have a good laugh at my expense, is that it?" Finally, she finished her outburst, turning to face Spike with arms crossed over her chest as she awaited a response. What came next, however, was the last thing she expected.

Spike burst into laughter.

His shoulders shook, tears springing to his eyes, and Buffy's mouth dropped open slightly as she glared at him, both confused and annoyed by his reaction.

"Oh, that's a good one, slayer." Running a hand through his platinum locks, he finally looked at her, clearly fighting another wave of laughter which Buffy found most obnoxious. Shaking his head slowly, he managed to regain his composure enough to continue. "Me, friends with that geriatric, self righteous ninny and his band of bitches? I can't stand the lot of 'em."

Her arms dropped to her sides and she sucked in a sharp breath, staring at him across the deserted graveyard.

"So, you didn't plan this, then..." Again, Spike shook his head.

"On the contrary, pet. I hate that Travers git just as much as you."

Biting her lower lip thoughtfully, she took a moment to contemplate his words. "Then, why did you agree-"

"Want my ring," He answered, almost too quickly, though he remained calm and collected when Buffy turned to face him. She studied him for a moment, as though trying to figure out his true intent, searching for some secret agenda concealed in those blue depths. His gaze was unwavering, and he maintained a poker face, unwilling to give anything away. After several long moments, Buffy averted her eyes, seeming satisfied with whatever she had seen.

Spike, taking her silence for acceptance, opened his mouth to speak.

"So, when do you reckon we should start our first lesson?"

Rolling her eyes, Buffy threw her head back and heaved a loud sigh, immediately spinning on her heel and moving briskly away from him. Spike instinctively followed, pacing her and quickly falling in stride beside her, never missing a beat.

"Is NEVER a good time for you?" She responded curtly, not slowing down. "I really hope so, cuz that's the only time I got." As she reached the edge of the cemetery, Spike grew tired of following her and broke into a jog, stepping directly in front of her and forcing her to halt abruptly. Stepping around him, she began to march away again at an angry pace. Growling, Spike morphed into game face and grabbed her by the shoulders, spinning her around roughly.

"Where do you think you're going?" He demanded.

"Away," She answered without hesitation, raising her chin defiantly. "Far, far away." She shrugged his hands off her shoulders, and he held up his arms in surrender, as if to say 'Alright, alright.'

"And that'd be where?"

"Any place that's not here." Spike pressed both hands to his chest in mock hurt.

"Aww, c'mon, am I really that bad of company?" Buffy stopped and glared at him, eyebrows raised, and Spike realized his demon visage must still be in place.

"Ok, point taken," He conceded, shaking his head rapidly and allowing his human features to slide back into place. "But still doesn't change the fact that Travers put me in charge of training you." She pointed a finger at him.

"Don't get any ideas. I never said I agreed to any of this."

Spike shrugged. "'Fraid it's not your choice, pet."

"It should be!" She shot back.

"Well, can't all get what we want, now can we?"

Falling silent at that, Buffy nibbled her bottom lip furiously, unable to muster a response. When she refrained from speaking for several long, uncomfortable moments, Spike decided to break the silence.

"Ever stop and ask yourself why the council's so desperate? Why they're willing to let the Big Bad train you?" Continuing to stare at the ground, Buffy shook her head almost imperceptibly, stricken by the implication of his words. "Something's coming, 'n I know you feel it. Might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, slayer, but you've got to have enough brain cells to knock around in that head of yours and put two 'n two together."

At that, she met his gaze, slightly shaken.

"'Sides, the old coot's right," He continued, "What good is watcher boy training you, anyway? Had to actually show you any moves, he'd probably break a sodding hip. So looks like I'm all you've bloody well got."

Realizing that he was right, Buffy gave in, letting out a deep breath before she spoke in a raspy, defeated tone.

"Fine. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow, same time, same place," He paused, "Bring all you've got." With that, he left Buffy standing by herself in the middle of the graveyard, spinning on his heel and quickly disappearing into the rising fog.

~~~~~~

Giles hung up the phone the next day, looking more than a little perturbed.

"I just spoke with Quentin," He explained to Buffy, who stared at him inquisitively as she swallowed another bite of her ham and cheese sandwich.

"He, uh, informed me of your new... training schedule."

"So, you're not surprised?" Raising a brow, she picked absentmindedly at a piece of cheese.

"Well I figured he'd want you to receive more training once he saw-"

"No," Buffy interrupted, "I'm talking about the who, not the what."

Giles paused for a minute, absorbing her meaning. "You mean who's training you? No, he didn't mention that, I'm afraid." Slamming her glass of milk on the table loudly, Buffy sighed in irritation.

"Of course he'd conveniently leave that nice little tidbit out," She muttered, shaking her head bitterly. "So he failed to mention I'd be the unhappy new trainee of a vampire, Spike?"

"Good heavens, Spike?" Giles practically ripped the glasses from his nose, rubbing the lenses furiously. "He's having William the Bloody train you?" At Buffy's perplexed look, he elaborated.

"Spike is also known as William the Bloody. He's infamous in the world of vampires, notorious for killing-"

"Two slayers, yeah, yeah, I know." Wiping her mouth on a napkin, she set the remnants of her sandwich aside and peered at Giles across the cozy little room, who had now replaced his thoroughly cleaned glasses on the bridge of his nose. "So, Quentin doesn't really keep you in the loop then, does he?"

"Quentin can be rather secretive… Now I know why, apparently" His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. "He musn't be thinking too clearly on this." Buffy snorted loudly, uncaring of how obnoxious she sounded.

"Oh, he's thinking crystal clear. That's the scary part." Leaning against the low wall that opened into the tiny kitchen, Giles crossed his arms over his chest, looking as though he were trying to figure out some impossible puzzle.

"But how on earth did-"

"Don't ask," Buffy interjected. "There's some sort of agreement, I guess…" But she was cut off by the sound of the door bell. Smiling sheepishly, she looked at Giles.

"Hope you don't mind, I invited a couple old friends over. Last day of semi-freedom and all."

Sighing quietly, Giles peered at his watch. "Actually, I was going to suggest you take the rest off the afternoon off as well, since your new training schedule begins tomorrow."

She grinned at him. "Thanks, Giles."

Crossing the room, Buffy swung the door open, revealing a slim red headed girl with bright green eyes standing beside a brown haired, dark eyed man of average height. Buffy's face immediately lit up at the sight of her friends.

"Hey, Buff!"

"Wills, Xand!" She greeted happily, enveloping both in a hug. Pulling back, she took a moment to look at them.

"Wow, you guys look… pretty much the same," She observed, "In a good way, of course."

"Well, you too, missy!" Willow returned, green eyes sparkling.

"We missed ya, Buffster." Unable to resist, a tear sprang to her eyes at Xander's words, thinking of how much she'd missed her friends all those lonely years.

"Yeah, it's like you just went, 'Poof'!" Willow chimed in. "So what've you been up to all this time, little Miss Stealthy Pants?"

Buffy smiled tightly. "It's a looong story."

"So let's get to hanging then," Xander said, gesturing toward his car. "Then we can take a little trip down 'Splain Me Lucy' Street."

Willow bounced excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Oh, and there's so much to tell you, too! Like, did you know Cordelia moved to LA?" Buffy chuckled, shaking her head.

"Queen C in LA? Why does that not surprise me."

"Yep, she wants to be an actress."

"Of course."

Buffy felt giddy as she climbed into Xander's car, happy to see her friends and thrilled that, after all these years, they still treated her as though she'd never even left.

Willow's voice broke into her thoughts.

"So, you can hang out tonight, right?"


Buffy shook her head regretfully. "Sorry, guys…"

"Aww, why not?" Xander said with an exaggerated pout, which made Buffy laugh.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try us."

Pausing, Buffy bit her lip, searching for fitting words. She looked between her friends, who eyed her with curiosity as they awaited her explanation.

"Well," She began, "Let's just say I have a date with death."

---

A/N: Sorry, I know this update is a little on the short side, but I promise there will be more to come very soon... I wanted Willow and Xander to make an appearance, since I figured poor Buffy needs at least a couple friends in this story, lol. Anyway, next chapter will be the first "lesson" (Oh my, the possibilities... *smirks*)


Again, thanks so much to Michelle, ddf, spikestheman, Lolita, and avihenda for your reviews! Thanks for sticking with this story!
*hugs all of you*
~Jess :)