Half a Stranger: Chapter Three: Handle Our Uniqueness
This chapter's title comes from James Houston
Chapter Three:
Buffy leant her head against the window as she and Logan drove back to Veronica’s apartment.
“I’m going to have to call her dad. He’ll be furious.”
“Will he believe in the supernatural side of this problem?"
“No. He’s more of a down to earth sort of person. Quite charming though.
Good with a gun.”
“Probably had to use it on ya too,” Buffy said with a small smile. “But my
point is that it was hard enough getting you to believe it and you probably still
don’t.”
“Not really, no. But I’d do anything for her.”
Buffy glanced at him before returning her gaze out the window.
“It would probably be best if I called and used her voice and then you got on
the line. At least he’d have something he recognized. Then maybe Veronica could
call him herself and do the whole ‘ask me something only I’d know’ routine you guys
performed earlier.”
“We do work well together.”
Logan pulled up in front of the apartment complex. They got out of the car
and a motorcycle started to rev.
“Really not good timing,” Logan said in a tight, worried voice.
Buffy couldn’t see what was wrong, but Logan had obviously heard something
that spooked him.
“Hiding behind your girl again?”
Logan turned to face the four bikers that came out of the shadows by the wall.
“Hector, you’re looking well. Glad to see the immigrant office hasn’t caught
up with you yet. We’re just going.”
“You’ve got a lot to answer for before you go anywhere.”
“Might just be six foot under,” another biker joked.
Buffy moved closer to Logan.
“So, you’re real popular, huh?”
“Notorious is a better word,” Logan answered.
“Am I supposed to be helping you or helping them?”
“Helping?” Logan asked incredulously. Buffy rolled her eyes. Just because she didn't have her Slayer strength in this body didn't mean she couldn't fight. “Get out Veronica’s taser, but be careful.”
Buffy flexed her muscles and appraised her physical status. Veronica wasn’t
in nearly as good shape as Buffy was accustomed to, but she was definitely strong.
There might be some strains tomorrow and no fancy moves should be attempted, but she
could take four bikers if need be. The taser probably wouldn’t hurt though.
“Do they have guns?”
“Switchblades.”
Buffy whirled into action, cursing her slow reflexes and lack of strength.
It would have been over in two minutes if she were in her own body. As it is, she
only knocked down three while Logan took care of the last one.
***
Logan watched in amazement as Veronica’s body moved through well rehearsed patterns of combat he’d never seen outside of a movie. Right then and there he decided that this was really not Veronica. Buffy punched, dodged and kicked like a graceful dancer with a deadly force.
Hector tried to stab him with his knife and Logan’s attention moved back onto
more important matters. He avoided the knife and landed two hard hits to Hector’s
nose. He kneed him in the stomach and grabbed a nearby trash can lid, using it to
knock him unconscious.
“So...” Buffy casually tasered one of the bikers who was foolish enough to
try and get up “...this happen to you often?”
“Let’s get inside. I’ll tell you a charming bedtime story.”
“Sounds good.”
Buffy moved up the stairs while Logan spent a brief moment wishing his car
were any other color. Locked inside his gated house was one thing; here, a
completely different story.
“It doesn’t take that long to get from Sunnydale to Neptune so Spike should
make it, hopefully, before dawn. Or he might not make it at all.” Logan was, and
knew he looked it, confused. “Vampire. Anyway, plenty of time for you to fill me in
on your sitch here. Not quite what I’m used to, but hey, I’m up for a challenge.”
Logan wondered if this girl knew how much of a superiority complex she had.
But she expressed it so…perkily. She was definitely interesting and he was intrigued
about those moves she’d employed out there.
“Do you want the cleaned up or explicit version?” He leaned forward, a smile
playing on his lips.
***
“So, I can’t leave this town?” Veronica surmised.
“Yes, well, I’m afraid whatever has done this wants you in this particular
place.” Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them.
Veronica raised her eyebrows. She’d never met someone quite as…British. She caught Willow hiding a smile and wondered what the witch was thinking of.
“I’m off now, Private Eye,” Spike told Veronica. She rolled her eyes. He’d
started calling her that since she told him she helped her dad solve crimes. It was
endearing to have a nickname she supposed. “You’ll be all right in their hands.
They’re a fundamentally boring lot, but they’re very concerned about the right
thing.”
Veronica found Spike slightly unnerving but she didn’t want him to go. Why
wasn’t Logan rushing to her side like Spike obviously was to Buffy’s?
“Have a good trip,” she said, not knowing what else to say.
Spike turned to Giles.
“You’re gonna have to tell the Nibblet, but Slayer said under no circumstances were
you to tell Joyce. Just tell her Buffy’s off slaying somewhere.”
So, everybody got a nickname and not just her.
The door shut behind Spike and Veronica found herself alone with more
strangers. Hours passed and another guy named Xander arrived. He was one of the
group, but he looked like he’d just gotten off the night shift at an adult movie
store. He was also obviously not close to Spike.
“So why did the evil undead go to Buffy?”
“The evil undead is the best chance of protecting her in her powerless body,”
Willow explained as if to a child. “He can travel easiest and lightest and if we pay
him he’ll do it well.”
“And betray us the first chance he gets. Can we talk about Adam or is the
fact that I’m right still too painful?”
They continued to argue.
“Don’t mind them,” came a soft voice from behind Veronica.
She turned to see Dawn sitting on the stairs. She’d woken up when Xander had
arrived and hadn’t taken the news of her sister’s condition well.
“They’re quite effusive.” Veronica sat down beside her.
“Xander just hates Spike because he’s stronger than him and doesn’t have to
work out.”
“I sense a few more underlying issues,” Veronica put in.
Dawn laughed a little.
“You’re totally right. But, whatever, just don’t listen to them. Spike is
of the cool in every sense. He’s like a hero.”
“A real live hero. Imagine that.”
“He’s saved my life, like, almost as many times as Buffy. I wish I were a
zillion years older.”
“He doesn’t look more than twenty-five, not that I approve of dating minors
because believe me I don’t.”
Veronica got a sick taste in her mouth if she even thought about it.
“Oh, he’s like a one hundred and fifty or something. Vampires and their
eternal youth, yada yada.”
“Gotcha. Should’ve known.”
“We all have to get entrenched in this world somehow. My mom and I didn’t
find out about Buffy until her boyfriend tried to end the world and Spike totally
helped stop it.”
“And I thought my life was tough.”
“What’s your life like? Tell me about being a private eye and all the cases
you’ve solved. Buffy never talks about saving the world to me.”
Veronica’s lips curved slightly. The girl’s naivety was refreshing.
“Well, there was this purity test at school…”
***
“Bloody hell, woman, let me in before I parboil!” Spike pounded on Veronica’s apartment door.
Buffy opened it and Spike seemed to resist the urge to hug her. He did rush
past her so that the smoke rising from his back didn’t become anything more.
Logan stared slightly at the Billy Idol who had suddenly stepped into the
kitchen.
“Name’s Spike.”
“Logan.” They shook hands.
“Spike, I appreciate you coming out here, but there’s nothing you can do.
I’m all stuck and stuff.”
“Gotta be something. Whatever did this wants you here. Might be to hurt
you, yeah?”
“Wouldn’t that just be a good day for you?” she challenged.
“In a lot of ways.” He rose to it.
“Um, I hate to break up this touching reunion, but I’m confused over here.”
Logan pointed to his chest. “What is the next supernatural step or whatever it is
that you do?”
“Kinda like point and slay, usually,” Buffy answered ruefully. “It’s a
little different when I’m not in my body. You didn’t tell my mother, right?”
“Almost like she’s in Sunnyd-enial,” Spike assured her.
“But what about Dawn? Oh, Spike, I forgot about Dawn. What about Glory?
What if…?”
“It’s okay; she doesn’t know it’s her.”
“No, but she could find out. Spike, you have to go back there and protect
her!”
“Why do I have to bloody do everything?”
“You’re the only one strong enough at all to save her. Willow’s mojo can
help, but physically, you’re it.”
“How entirely comforting. Sure, Spike, go kill a hellgod for me.”
“You’re always asking to help and following me around wanting violence, well,
here it is. Carnage and blood, popcorn to be sold later.”
“I’m gonna go, Slayer, no need to be dramatic. I just don’t like leaving you
here.”
“I want to come with you,” Logan cut in. He put his hands on his hips. “I
want to see Veronica.”
It had suddenly hit him. Veronica was far away and she was in trouble. He’d
still been trying to grasp the supernatural bit of this and he hadn’t been
remembering that, despite the fact that Veronica was tougher than any girl he knew,
she had already been through too much to take anymore. This was all impossible. He
was still trying to figure out the catch to all this. Supernatural stuff being
real? It didn’t make sense. But him helping Veronica? That made all the sense in
the world.
“So, we’re really leaving Buffy here all by her lonesome. Quite chivalrous.”
“I can take care of myself, Spike, powers or no powers. My only problem is
convincing people I am Veronica or convincing them I’m not.”
“I’ll help you there before I go,” Logan said. “But come on, man, I just
want to see my girlfriend, like you wanted to see yours.”
“I’m not her-“
“He’s not my-“
“Girlfriend!”
They spoke in unison and quickly glanced at each other and away.
Logan watched it all with a sense of detached amusement.
“Fine. Just take me to mine then.”
“Fine,” Spike said, glaring at him. “But my car, my bloody tunes.” Logan
smirked at the immaturity.
“Fine, I’m just going to call Mr. Mars.”
“Let me first.”
Buffy picked up the phone and listened as Logan rattled off the number.
***
The phone rang hours later and Veronica jerked awake from where she’d fallen asleep on the couch. There were now two other women in the house, Anya and Tara. She’d never met such complete opposites before. It was a little dizzying.
“It’s for you,” Willow said quietly, holding out the phone.
Veronica took it.
“Hello?”
“What do I always say that you hate?”
“Dad! You say ‘who’s your daddy?’ “
Veronica didn’t realize how much she’d wanted to hear a familiar voice.
“Are you all right? No bruises, unnecessary sarcasm?”
“I’m fine.” She laughed. “I’m me, I promise. I freed lobsters and you used
to have sock puppet shows for me.”
“Veronica, seriously tell me you’re in someone else’s body.”
“I swear, Dad. I’m a little on the shocked side myself. Didn’t exactly
teach me that in bio. I must’ve missed the day they talked about body snatching.”
“Didn’t I tell you never to cut school?”
“I’ll listen better, I promise, if I ever get the opportunity.”
“I’m coming home. Logan told me that he’s going to come see you. That
doesn’t thrill me, but I’d rather he was there than you were with strangers.”
“I’m glad he’s coming.” Veronica’s heart lifted.
“Veronica, this is all a misunderstanding or something.”
“Probably,” Veronica agreed wistfully.
“Just hang in there, sweetheart.”
“I always do.”
Veronica hung up the phone and started counting the seconds to when Logan
could possibly get there.
Chapter Three:
Buffy leant her head against the window as she and Logan drove back to Veronica’s apartment.
“I’m going to have to call her dad. He’ll be furious.”
“Will he believe in the supernatural side of this problem?"
“No. He’s more of a down to earth sort of person. Quite charming though.
Good with a gun.”
“Probably had to use it on ya too,” Buffy said with a small smile. “But my
point is that it was hard enough getting you to believe it and you probably still
don’t.”
“Not really, no. But I’d do anything for her.”
Buffy glanced at him before returning her gaze out the window.
“It would probably be best if I called and used her voice and then you got on
the line. At least he’d have something he recognized. Then maybe Veronica could
call him herself and do the whole ‘ask me something only I’d know’ routine you guys
performed earlier.”
“We do work well together.”
Logan pulled up in front of the apartment complex. They got out of the car
and a motorcycle started to rev.
“Really not good timing,” Logan said in a tight, worried voice.
Buffy couldn’t see what was wrong, but Logan had obviously heard something
that spooked him.
“Hiding behind your girl again?”
Logan turned to face the four bikers that came out of the shadows by the wall.
“Hector, you’re looking well. Glad to see the immigrant office hasn’t caught
up with you yet. We’re just going.”
“You’ve got a lot to answer for before you go anywhere.”
“Might just be six foot under,” another biker joked.
Buffy moved closer to Logan.
“So, you’re real popular, huh?”
“Notorious is a better word,” Logan answered.
“Am I supposed to be helping you or helping them?”
“Helping?” Logan asked incredulously. Buffy rolled her eyes. Just because she didn't have her Slayer strength in this body didn't mean she couldn't fight. “Get out Veronica’s taser, but be careful.”
Buffy flexed her muscles and appraised her physical status. Veronica wasn’t
in nearly as good shape as Buffy was accustomed to, but she was definitely strong.
There might be some strains tomorrow and no fancy moves should be attempted, but she
could take four bikers if need be. The taser probably wouldn’t hurt though.
“Do they have guns?”
“Switchblades.”
Buffy whirled into action, cursing her slow reflexes and lack of strength.
It would have been over in two minutes if she were in her own body. As it is, she
only knocked down three while Logan took care of the last one.
***
Logan watched in amazement as Veronica’s body moved through well rehearsed patterns of combat he’d never seen outside of a movie. Right then and there he decided that this was really not Veronica. Buffy punched, dodged and kicked like a graceful dancer with a deadly force.
Hector tried to stab him with his knife and Logan’s attention moved back onto
more important matters. He avoided the knife and landed two hard hits to Hector’s
nose. He kneed him in the stomach and grabbed a nearby trash can lid, using it to
knock him unconscious.
“So...” Buffy casually tasered one of the bikers who was foolish enough to
try and get up “...this happen to you often?”
“Let’s get inside. I’ll tell you a charming bedtime story.”
“Sounds good.”
Buffy moved up the stairs while Logan spent a brief moment wishing his car
were any other color. Locked inside his gated house was one thing; here, a
completely different story.
“It doesn’t take that long to get from Sunnydale to Neptune so Spike should
make it, hopefully, before dawn. Or he might not make it at all.” Logan was, and
knew he looked it, confused. “Vampire. Anyway, plenty of time for you to fill me in
on your sitch here. Not quite what I’m used to, but hey, I’m up for a challenge.”
Logan wondered if this girl knew how much of a superiority complex she had.
But she expressed it so…perkily. She was definitely interesting and he was intrigued
about those moves she’d employed out there.
“Do you want the cleaned up or explicit version?” He leaned forward, a smile
playing on his lips.
***
“So, I can’t leave this town?” Veronica surmised.
“Yes, well, I’m afraid whatever has done this wants you in this particular
place.” Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them.
Veronica raised her eyebrows. She’d never met someone quite as…British. She caught Willow hiding a smile and wondered what the witch was thinking of.
“I’m off now, Private Eye,” Spike told Veronica. She rolled her eyes. He’d
started calling her that since she told him she helped her dad solve crimes. It was
endearing to have a nickname she supposed. “You’ll be all right in their hands.
They’re a fundamentally boring lot, but they’re very concerned about the right
thing.”
Veronica found Spike slightly unnerving but she didn’t want him to go. Why
wasn’t Logan rushing to her side like Spike obviously was to Buffy’s?
“Have a good trip,” she said, not knowing what else to say.
Spike turned to Giles.
“You’re gonna have to tell the Nibblet, but Slayer said under no circumstances were
you to tell Joyce. Just tell her Buffy’s off slaying somewhere.”
So, everybody got a nickname and not just her.
The door shut behind Spike and Veronica found herself alone with more
strangers. Hours passed and another guy named Xander arrived. He was one of the
group, but he looked like he’d just gotten off the night shift at an adult movie
store. He was also obviously not close to Spike.
“So why did the evil undead go to Buffy?”
“The evil undead is the best chance of protecting her in her powerless body,”
Willow explained as if to a child. “He can travel easiest and lightest and if we pay
him he’ll do it well.”
“And betray us the first chance he gets. Can we talk about Adam or is the
fact that I’m right still too painful?”
They continued to argue.
“Don’t mind them,” came a soft voice from behind Veronica.
She turned to see Dawn sitting on the stairs. She’d woken up when Xander had
arrived and hadn’t taken the news of her sister’s condition well.
“They’re quite effusive.” Veronica sat down beside her.
“Xander just hates Spike because he’s stronger than him and doesn’t have to
work out.”
“I sense a few more underlying issues,” Veronica put in.
Dawn laughed a little.
“You’re totally right. But, whatever, just don’t listen to them. Spike is
of the cool in every sense. He’s like a hero.”
“A real live hero. Imagine that.”
“He’s saved my life, like, almost as many times as Buffy. I wish I were a
zillion years older.”
“He doesn’t look more than twenty-five, not that I approve of dating minors
because believe me I don’t.”
Veronica got a sick taste in her mouth if she even thought about it.
“Oh, he’s like a one hundred and fifty or something. Vampires and their
eternal youth, yada yada.”
“Gotcha. Should’ve known.”
“We all have to get entrenched in this world somehow. My mom and I didn’t
find out about Buffy until her boyfriend tried to end the world and Spike totally
helped stop it.”
“And I thought my life was tough.”
“What’s your life like? Tell me about being a private eye and all the cases
you’ve solved. Buffy never talks about saving the world to me.”
Veronica’s lips curved slightly. The girl’s naivety was refreshing.
“Well, there was this purity test at school…”
***
“Bloody hell, woman, let me in before I parboil!” Spike pounded on Veronica’s apartment door.
Buffy opened it and Spike seemed to resist the urge to hug her. He did rush
past her so that the smoke rising from his back didn’t become anything more.
Logan stared slightly at the Billy Idol who had suddenly stepped into the
kitchen.
“Name’s Spike.”
“Logan.” They shook hands.
“Spike, I appreciate you coming out here, but there’s nothing you can do.
I’m all stuck and stuff.”
“Gotta be something. Whatever did this wants you here. Might be to hurt
you, yeah?”
“Wouldn’t that just be a good day for you?” she challenged.
“In a lot of ways.” He rose to it.
“Um, I hate to break up this touching reunion, but I’m confused over here.”
Logan pointed to his chest. “What is the next supernatural step or whatever it is
that you do?”
“Kinda like point and slay, usually,” Buffy answered ruefully. “It’s a
little different when I’m not in my body. You didn’t tell my mother, right?”
“Almost like she’s in Sunnyd-enial,” Spike assured her.
“But what about Dawn? Oh, Spike, I forgot about Dawn. What about Glory?
What if…?”
“It’s okay; she doesn’t know it’s her.”
“No, but she could find out. Spike, you have to go back there and protect
her!”
“Why do I have to bloody do everything?”
“You’re the only one strong enough at all to save her. Willow’s mojo can
help, but physically, you’re it.”
“How entirely comforting. Sure, Spike, go kill a hellgod for me.”
“You’re always asking to help and following me around wanting violence, well,
here it is. Carnage and blood, popcorn to be sold later.”
“I’m gonna go, Slayer, no need to be dramatic. I just don’t like leaving you
here.”
“I want to come with you,” Logan cut in. He put his hands on his hips. “I
want to see Veronica.”
It had suddenly hit him. Veronica was far away and she was in trouble. He’d
still been trying to grasp the supernatural bit of this and he hadn’t been
remembering that, despite the fact that Veronica was tougher than any girl he knew,
she had already been through too much to take anymore. This was all impossible. He
was still trying to figure out the catch to all this. Supernatural stuff being
real? It didn’t make sense. But him helping Veronica? That made all the sense in
the world.
“So, we’re really leaving Buffy here all by her lonesome. Quite chivalrous.”
“I can take care of myself, Spike, powers or no powers. My only problem is
convincing people I am Veronica or convincing them I’m not.”
“I’ll help you there before I go,” Logan said. “But come on, man, I just
want to see my girlfriend, like you wanted to see yours.”
“I’m not her-“
“He’s not my-“
“Girlfriend!”
They spoke in unison and quickly glanced at each other and away.
Logan watched it all with a sense of detached amusement.
“Fine. Just take me to mine then.”
“Fine,” Spike said, glaring at him. “But my car, my bloody tunes.” Logan
smirked at the immaturity.
“Fine, I’m just going to call Mr. Mars.”
“Let me first.”
Buffy picked up the phone and listened as Logan rattled off the number.
***
The phone rang hours later and Veronica jerked awake from where she’d fallen asleep on the couch. There were now two other women in the house, Anya and Tara. She’d never met such complete opposites before. It was a little dizzying.
“It’s for you,” Willow said quietly, holding out the phone.
Veronica took it.
“Hello?”
“What do I always say that you hate?”
“Dad! You say ‘who’s your daddy?’ “
Veronica didn’t realize how much she’d wanted to hear a familiar voice.
“Are you all right? No bruises, unnecessary sarcasm?”
“I’m fine.” She laughed. “I’m me, I promise. I freed lobsters and you used
to have sock puppet shows for me.”
“Veronica, seriously tell me you’re in someone else’s body.”
“I swear, Dad. I’m a little on the shocked side myself. Didn’t exactly
teach me that in bio. I must’ve missed the day they talked about body snatching.”
“Didn’t I tell you never to cut school?”
“I’ll listen better, I promise, if I ever get the opportunity.”
“I’m coming home. Logan told me that he’s going to come see you. That
doesn’t thrill me, but I’d rather he was there than you were with strangers.”
“I’m glad he’s coming.” Veronica’s heart lifted.
“Veronica, this is all a misunderstanding or something.”
“Probably,” Veronica agreed wistfully.
“Just hang in there, sweetheart.”
“I always do.”
Veronica hung up the phone and started counting the seconds to when Logan
could possibly get there.