FIC: Better Late Than Never (5/?)
Title: Better Late Than Never
Author: Cindy
Rating: PG13
Timeframe: Season 5, post-Intervention
Characters/Pairing: Spike/Buffy
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, but Joss said I could play with them
Written for: dettiot for the Welcome Back to the Hellmouth Ficathon, who requested S/B, humor, season 4 or 5, and Spike introduces Buffy to something from his past (bonus points for Brit pop culture) either through conversation or travel.
Summary: Spike and Buffy travel back to 1976 London to retrieve a magical artifact that may stop Glory.
A/N: Many, many thanks to beta extraordinaire mommanerd, whose help on this chapter was invaluable.
In case you need to refresh your memory:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
"What do you think they want with us?" Ripper - she had to think of him that way or risk laughing (or crying) hysterically - and Ethan had gone, but she knew they'd be back, and the next time their weapons wouldn't be just vague threats and innuendo. She and Spike needed a plan. And currently she was completely plan-free. This whole thing with Giles (Ripper!) was really weirding her out.
Spike paced the invisible walls of their cell. "Don't know. What do you know about the Watcher from back then?"
She looked up at him from her seat on the floor. "He and Ethan were in some sort of club. They did a lot of dark magic. Summoned demons, even. Some people in their group died." A lump rose in her throat, remembering how difficult it had been for Giles to tell her about it. "This - now, I mean - must be before all that happened."
Spike patted his pockets, obviously looking for a cigarette. "Dammit! Thought sure I brought a pack with me. And where did I lose my sodding lighter...?"
"You probably left them in your other coat."
Spike resumed his pacing. "They'll be back 'fore we know it. What's your call, Slayer?"
"My call?" She kicked out at the invisible barrier, and it sparked with magic. "You mean, we have options?
He shrugged. "Could just go back. Red's spell might still work, even from in here."
She could not believe he'd just said that. "You seriously want to go back? Without the crystal? You want to give up on something that could save Dawn's life?"
Spike knelt down on one knee in front of her, lightly touching the back of her hand with his. "Didn't say I wanted to. Said it was an option."
"It is NOT an option."
Spike smiled, that rare, sweet smile that made her insides go all jiggly lately. Stupid insides. "That's my Slayer."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "You think you know me so well." Spike just smirked. "Well then, Kreskin, why don't you tell me what my call is."
"Strategic planning, not exactly my strong suit..." he said, rocking back on his heels.
"You think?"
Spike leaned in close again, speaking soft and low and with all the sarcasm he could muster. "But since it's your beloved watcher, I reckon you'll want to try reasoning with him first. Appeal to his sense of honor, that underlying tweedy streak." He grinned. "Am I close?"
Buffy couldn't help but smile back. "Smart ass."
He stood in one fluid motion, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. That was a very bad habit of his that she totally shouldn‘t find sexy. And didn't. Not at all. "Think that'll work?" he asked.
She sighed, holding her hand out and letting him pull her to her feet. "No. Well, Ethan won't listen to reason, I know that. Giles...I just don't know. I mean, if he hadn't told me himself, I never would've believed all the things he did back then. Now. Whatever. Anyway, I just hope I can get through to him."
Spike leaned against the brick wall next to her. "And if not?" he asked softly.
She shook her head. "They know what we are; they're not going to let their guard down around us. And they've got all that heavy duty magic, and we...don't."
Spike shrugged. "You'll come up with something."
"I'm glad you're so confident."
"Slayer. You forget I've been on the other side of this equation a time or two."
"And yet, you're still here. Not living and not breathing."
He gave her a wry grin. "Barely. Because just when the Big Bad thinks the Slayer is done for is when you're most dangerous, love."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, William."
"And don't I know it."
***
"I'll have to go and get them." Willow opened the cupboard door and took out a half-full jar of powder. "This should be enough to get me there."
"But how will you g...get back?" Tara looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'll just have to make more when I'm there."
"But you don't know if you'll even be able to find the ingredients!"
Willow whirled around and slammed the jar down on the counter so hard she nearly broke it. "Tara, I can't just leave them there!"
"You can't talk her out of something when she's got her resolve face on," Xander said.
Tara shook her head sadly. "That's not her resolve face. That's her desperation face."
"I think you're all forgetting something,” Anya said. "You can't take anything with you, and you can't bring anything back. The whole point of this was to get the Asirra crystal."
Willow glared at her. "Right now, it's more important to get Buffy!"
Xander stepped between them, putting his hand on Anya's shoulder and speaking to Willow as gently as he could. "I agree with you. But Buffy won't think so."
"They're right," Giles said, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "As much as it pains me to say that. We'll have to look for another way to bring them back, one that will also secure the Asirra crystal.”
“But Giles...”
“Willow. Right now you are the greatest weapon we have against Glory. We have to protect Dawn, and we cannot afford to lose you too.”
Willow nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I guess you’re right.”
“And in the meantime, perhaps the two of them will figure something out. Buffy is smart and capable and Spike is nothing if not...resourceful. It is entirely possible that they will get out of this predicament on their own."
Willow took a deep breath. "You really think so?"
He smiled reassuringly at her. "Of course."
"I'll start researching other spells," Tara said, putting her arm around Willow's shoulders.
"Me too," Willow said in a small voice.
"I'll, um...go out for pizza?" Xander offered.
Tara smiled at him. "Hey, you can't research on an empty stomach, right?"
Anya followed Giles out of the room and perched on the arm of the sofa. She waited patiently until he gave her his attention. "What is it, Anya?"
"Do you really believe they can get back on their own?" she asked, whispering so the others in the kitchen wouldn‘t hear.
"What do you think?" He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well," she mused, "it seems to me that...you must think things are pretty grim if you’ve resorted to complimenting Spike."
Giles gave a short, humorless laugh. "Desperate times..." he said with a sigh.
***
Giles, or at least the young, leather jackety, dangerous, Ripper version of Giles, sauntered into the room as if holding a slayer and vampire captive in the basement was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was. She felt a little sick to her stomach.
"So," he said, stepping closer and lighting a cigarette. "What's your story, pet? Reckon it’s a good one.”
“We told you. We’re here to buy something from Toby. That’s it.”
“That’s it, eh?” His eyes glinted with amusement.
“Why else would we be here?”
“Now, see, that’s the question. I’ve sussed out the basics. You're a slayer. He’s a vampire. And just that fact is interestin‘ all on its own. Ethan stumbled across you with one of his locator spells. He was looking for magical beings to play with and there you were.”
“Play with?” The sick feeling in her stomach increased. “What does he want with us?”
He shrugged. “What does he ever want? Chaos. Mayhem. Not like he has a grand plan or anything. Bit of a short attention span.”
“Then why do you hang out with him?”
He shrugged. “It’s fun?”
“Look,” Buffy started to say, “we have money, and if you let us go...”
He held up his hand to stop her. “Not so fast, ducks. I’ll be needin’ some information, first.”
“Like what?” Spike asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Like who the bloody hell are you, for starters! Well, I know who you are,” he amended, pointing his cigarette at Spike. “You’re William the Bloody, better known as Spike. Looked you up. You‘ve got quite the reputation."
Spike puffed up a little next to her, and she was tempted to punch him in the nose, but she refrained.
“And you’re a slayer," he said to Buffy, getting as close to the magical barrier as he could. "But you’re not THE Slayer." He took a drag on his cigarette, smiling in satisfaction at the looks on their faces. "Ethan doesn't know that. Yet."
"Why haven't you told him?" Buffy asked, trying her best to look unaffected as her heart beat a million miles a minute.
"Because he likes knowing something his good mate doesn't. Might given you an edge someday, eh Ripper?" Spike patted his pockets again and frowned when he still came up empty.
Ripper shrugged. "Might. Current slayer, she lives in New York City." He smiled. "And she looks nothing like you, love." He took another drag on his cigarette, and blew the smoke out of the side of his mouth. It swirled up against the magical barrier, but didn't cross it. "So, how could we end up with two slayers at the same time?” he mused. “I'm thinkin'...time travel. Especially since the two of you were covered in so much magic you practically glowed in the bloody dark.”
Buffy couldn’t believe it, though on second thought she didn’t know why she was so surprised. This was Giles, after all. This was the first time she’d ever found herself wishing he wasn’t so smart.
At Buffy’s expression, he grinned. “Got it in one, how about that? So who sent you here pet? And why?"
She shot a look in Spike‘s direction, and with an almost imperceptible nod of his head, she knew he'd follow her lead, whatever she decided to do. "My watcher sent me," she said. "He's an old friend of Toby's, and I'm here to buy something from him, just like I said. It could help us fight a hell god."
Ripper shook another cigarette out of his pack. "And who's your watcher? Might know the poor sod."
Buffy took a deep breath. "You are."
Chapter 6
Author: Cindy
Rating: PG13
Timeframe: Season 5, post-Intervention
Characters/Pairing: Spike/Buffy
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, but Joss said I could play with them
Written for: dettiot for the Welcome Back to the Hellmouth Ficathon, who requested S/B, humor, season 4 or 5, and Spike introduces Buffy to something from his past (bonus points for Brit pop culture) either through conversation or travel.
Summary: Spike and Buffy travel back to 1976 London to retrieve a magical artifact that may stop Glory.
A/N: Many, many thanks to beta extraordinaire mommanerd, whose help on this chapter was invaluable.
In case you need to refresh your memory:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
"What do you think they want with us?" Ripper - she had to think of him that way or risk laughing (or crying) hysterically - and Ethan had gone, but she knew they'd be back, and the next time their weapons wouldn't be just vague threats and innuendo. She and Spike needed a plan. And currently she was completely plan-free. This whole thing with Giles (Ripper!) was really weirding her out.
Spike paced the invisible walls of their cell. "Don't know. What do you know about the Watcher from back then?"
She looked up at him from her seat on the floor. "He and Ethan were in some sort of club. They did a lot of dark magic. Summoned demons, even. Some people in their group died." A lump rose in her throat, remembering how difficult it had been for Giles to tell her about it. "This - now, I mean - must be before all that happened."
Spike patted his pockets, obviously looking for a cigarette. "Dammit! Thought sure I brought a pack with me. And where did I lose my sodding lighter...?"
"You probably left them in your other coat."
Spike resumed his pacing. "They'll be back 'fore we know it. What's your call, Slayer?"
"My call?" She kicked out at the invisible barrier, and it sparked with magic. "You mean, we have options?
He shrugged. "Could just go back. Red's spell might still work, even from in here."
She could not believe he'd just said that. "You seriously want to go back? Without the crystal? You want to give up on something that could save Dawn's life?"
Spike knelt down on one knee in front of her, lightly touching the back of her hand with his. "Didn't say I wanted to. Said it was an option."
"It is NOT an option."
Spike smiled, that rare, sweet smile that made her insides go all jiggly lately. Stupid insides. "That's my Slayer."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "You think you know me so well." Spike just smirked. "Well then, Kreskin, why don't you tell me what my call is."
"Strategic planning, not exactly my strong suit..." he said, rocking back on his heels.
"You think?"
Spike leaned in close again, speaking soft and low and with all the sarcasm he could muster. "But since it's your beloved watcher, I reckon you'll want to try reasoning with him first. Appeal to his sense of honor, that underlying tweedy streak." He grinned. "Am I close?"
Buffy couldn't help but smile back. "Smart ass."
He stood in one fluid motion, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. That was a very bad habit of his that she totally shouldn‘t find sexy. And didn't. Not at all. "Think that'll work?" he asked.
She sighed, holding her hand out and letting him pull her to her feet. "No. Well, Ethan won't listen to reason, I know that. Giles...I just don't know. I mean, if he hadn't told me himself, I never would've believed all the things he did back then. Now. Whatever. Anyway, I just hope I can get through to him."
Spike leaned against the brick wall next to her. "And if not?" he asked softly.
She shook her head. "They know what we are; they're not going to let their guard down around us. And they've got all that heavy duty magic, and we...don't."
Spike shrugged. "You'll come up with something."
"I'm glad you're so confident."
"Slayer. You forget I've been on the other side of this equation a time or two."
"And yet, you're still here. Not living and not breathing."
He gave her a wry grin. "Barely. Because just when the Big Bad thinks the Slayer is done for is when you're most dangerous, love."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, William."
"And don't I know it."
***
"I'll have to go and get them." Willow opened the cupboard door and took out a half-full jar of powder. "This should be enough to get me there."
"But how will you g...get back?" Tara looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'll just have to make more when I'm there."
"But you don't know if you'll even be able to find the ingredients!"
Willow whirled around and slammed the jar down on the counter so hard she nearly broke it. "Tara, I can't just leave them there!"
"You can't talk her out of something when she's got her resolve face on," Xander said.
Tara shook her head sadly. "That's not her resolve face. That's her desperation face."
"I think you're all forgetting something,” Anya said. "You can't take anything with you, and you can't bring anything back. The whole point of this was to get the Asirra crystal."
Willow glared at her. "Right now, it's more important to get Buffy!"
Xander stepped between them, putting his hand on Anya's shoulder and speaking to Willow as gently as he could. "I agree with you. But Buffy won't think so."
"They're right," Giles said, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "As much as it pains me to say that. We'll have to look for another way to bring them back, one that will also secure the Asirra crystal.”
“But Giles...”
“Willow. Right now you are the greatest weapon we have against Glory. We have to protect Dawn, and we cannot afford to lose you too.”
Willow nodded, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I guess you’re right.”
“And in the meantime, perhaps the two of them will figure something out. Buffy is smart and capable and Spike is nothing if not...resourceful. It is entirely possible that they will get out of this predicament on their own."
Willow took a deep breath. "You really think so?"
He smiled reassuringly at her. "Of course."
"I'll start researching other spells," Tara said, putting her arm around Willow's shoulders.
"Me too," Willow said in a small voice.
"I'll, um...go out for pizza?" Xander offered.
Tara smiled at him. "Hey, you can't research on an empty stomach, right?"
Anya followed Giles out of the room and perched on the arm of the sofa. She waited patiently until he gave her his attention. "What is it, Anya?"
"Do you really believe they can get back on their own?" she asked, whispering so the others in the kitchen wouldn‘t hear.
"What do you think?" He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well," she mused, "it seems to me that...you must think things are pretty grim if you’ve resorted to complimenting Spike."
Giles gave a short, humorless laugh. "Desperate times..." he said with a sigh.
***
Giles, or at least the young, leather jackety, dangerous, Ripper version of Giles, sauntered into the room as if holding a slayer and vampire captive in the basement was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was. She felt a little sick to her stomach.
"So," he said, stepping closer and lighting a cigarette. "What's your story, pet? Reckon it’s a good one.”
“We told you. We’re here to buy something from Toby. That’s it.”
“That’s it, eh?” His eyes glinted with amusement.
“Why else would we be here?”
“Now, see, that’s the question. I’ve sussed out the basics. You're a slayer. He’s a vampire. And just that fact is interestin‘ all on its own. Ethan stumbled across you with one of his locator spells. He was looking for magical beings to play with and there you were.”
“Play with?” The sick feeling in her stomach increased. “What does he want with us?”
He shrugged. “What does he ever want? Chaos. Mayhem. Not like he has a grand plan or anything. Bit of a short attention span.”
“Then why do you hang out with him?”
He shrugged. “It’s fun?”
“Look,” Buffy started to say, “we have money, and if you let us go...”
He held up his hand to stop her. “Not so fast, ducks. I’ll be needin’ some information, first.”
“Like what?” Spike asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Like who the bloody hell are you, for starters! Well, I know who you are,” he amended, pointing his cigarette at Spike. “You’re William the Bloody, better known as Spike. Looked you up. You‘ve got quite the reputation."
Spike puffed up a little next to her, and she was tempted to punch him in the nose, but she refrained.
“And you’re a slayer," he said to Buffy, getting as close to the magical barrier as he could. "But you’re not THE Slayer." He took a drag on his cigarette, smiling in satisfaction at the looks on their faces. "Ethan doesn't know that. Yet."
"Why haven't you told him?" Buffy asked, trying her best to look unaffected as her heart beat a million miles a minute.
"Because he likes knowing something his good mate doesn't. Might given you an edge someday, eh Ripper?" Spike patted his pockets again and frowned when he still came up empty.
Ripper shrugged. "Might. Current slayer, she lives in New York City." He smiled. "And she looks nothing like you, love." He took another drag on his cigarette, and blew the smoke out of the side of his mouth. It swirled up against the magical barrier, but didn't cross it. "So, how could we end up with two slayers at the same time?” he mused. “I'm thinkin'...time travel. Especially since the two of you were covered in so much magic you practically glowed in the bloody dark.”
Buffy couldn’t believe it, though on second thought she didn’t know why she was so surprised. This was Giles, after all. This was the first time she’d ever found herself wishing he wasn’t so smart.
At Buffy’s expression, he grinned. “Got it in one, how about that? So who sent you here pet? And why?"
She shot a look in Spike‘s direction, and with an almost imperceptible nod of his head, she knew he'd follow her lead, whatever she decided to do. "My watcher sent me," she said. "He's an old friend of Toby's, and I'm here to buy something from him, just like I said. It could help us fight a hell god."
Ripper shook another cigarette out of his pack. "And who's your watcher? Might know the poor sod."
Buffy took a deep breath. "You are."
Chapter 6