Now and Always- Chapter 3
On we go.
Previous chapters can be found here.
Chapter 3
“Day 5: Giles managed to get the supply lines set up, but I have no idea how. The National Guard has evacuated everyone in the affected zone, and everyone in the buffer zone, too. There’s still no sign of Spike, and I’m settling in for the long haul. Vi and Audra arrived yesterday, and along with Faith and Wes, we’ve got a good team.” ~Excerpt from the diary of Buffy Summers
Buffy didn’t know if she’d done the right thing by asking Willow to remove the barrier, but she also knew that she couldn’t keep Spike trapped inside the room forever. Aside from his understandable confusion, he was sane and not a danger to himself or others.
“Spike?” she called.
He didn’t move from his spot by the window, looking out at the city. Patiently, she called again, raising her voice slightly in case he hadn’t heard. “Spike?”
He still didn’t move, and she walked over and put a hand on his arm. “Spike.”
He started. “I’m sorry?”
“I called you three times.”
Looking abashed, he attempted a smile. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were talking to me.”
Somehow it hurt to know that Spike didn’t even recognize his own name when he heard it, and she wondered what was going through his mind. Buffy wasn’t sure she had the right to ask, however; they were virtually strangers.
“Do you want a tour of the place?” It was one of the few innocuous questions she could think of.
After a moment’s hesitation, Spike nodded. “Yeah.”
Buffy turned to leave, stopping by the door when she realized that Spike wasn’t following her. “Is something wrong?”
He appeared uncertain. “Is there something else you call me?”
“Huh?”
“It’s just that ‘Spike’ doesn’t seem like a…real name.”
Buffy blinked. “Well, it’s a nickname, but no one ever calls you anything else. I know your first name’s William, but I don’t know your last name. I’m sorry.”
She could see him considering that. “I see.”
“Would you prefer William?”
“I just thought maybe it would sound more familiar.”
Buffy didn’t know what to say. “So, um, tour?”
“You haven’t told me what happened yet.”
“I don’t know where to begin,” she said honestly.
“At the beginning?”
“That’s easier said than done.” She sighed, realizing that it would likely be better to address his questions first. They could do the tour later. “You might want to sit down for this.”
He raised an eyebrow, then sat. “It was bad.”
It was a statement, not a question, and Buffy nodded. “Yeah.”
She still had no words. How much to tell him? How much did he really need to know?
“How long have I been gone?”
His question at least got the ball rolling. “Fifteen months, three weeks, and five days when we found you.”
His puzzled frown indicated that he was still confused. “And I was unconscious?”
“No, you-” Buffy rubbed her tired eyes. “A year and a half ago we had an apocalypse on our hands here. We’re talking demon hordes, portals to hell dimensions, big conspiracies-the whole nine yards. Giles-he’s the head of the Council, and kind of in charge of this sort of thing-asked you to come here to help out. By the time I arrived, you were gone. Somehow you got sucked into a hell dimension.”
“I don’t remember any of that.”
Spike didn’t sound as though he believed her, but then, he didn’t sound as though he didn’t believe her either. It was a lot to take in, that was for sure. “No, because you were tortured so badly that you were pretty much nuts, and the only way to make you not nuts was to help you forget it for a while.”
“And that’s why I don’t remember anything.”
“No, that’s why you’re not acting like some kind of wild animal,” Buffy replied bluntly. “You don’t remember anything that came before the torture because of what happened to you in the hell dimension. Ellen can explain it better. She was the one who explained it to me.”
Spike was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on her face. “What were we?”
Buffy swallowed. “We’ve been everything, but when-when you disappeared, we were lovers.”
“I see.” He rose. “How about that tour?”
She swallowed her disappointment. “Sure.”
Her hand was on the doorknob when he spoke. “Buffy?”
She didn’t turn around. She didn’t think she’d be able to meet his eyes. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
Facing him, she asked, “For what?”
“For not remembering you.”
Buffy swallowed her tears. “It’s okay. It’s just a matter of time.”
She just hoped that was true.
~~~~~
Faith watched as Spike followed Buffy through the lobby, hands in the pockets of his blue jeans. “Hey. Good to see you conscious.”
Spike blinked, apparently aware that she was talking to him, but with no idea of how to respond.
“Faith,” she said, putting her hand out for him to shake. “You were pretty messed up when Buffy brought you in.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Faith glanced at the other Slayer. They had become fairly close over the last year or so, and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Buffy. Getting Spike back, only to lose him again, only to get him back with no memory of her-Faith had no idea how she’d handle it if their positions had been reversed.
“You giving him a tour of the place?” she asked.
Buffy nodded. “I don’t know how long we’re going to be staying now, but I figured Spike should probably know where everything is.”
“And who everybody is?” Faith smiled at Spike. “Let me give you a tip. There are enough people here that you’re not going to get their names on the first try.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“You want to stay in tonight?” Faith asked. “We’ll take care of things.”
“I’d like to go.”
They both stared at Spike. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Buffy was clearly afraid of overstepping her bounds with him by telling him that he wasn’t allowed outside of the hotel.
“It might jog my memory,” Spike said. “This is what I do, right?”
“It’s what you did. Spike, if you don’t even remember who you are-”
“How am I going to remember how to fight?” Spike shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.”
Faith grinned. “Take him down to the basement first, B.”
Buffy stared at her, then a smile broke out over her face. “Yeah, okay.”
“What’s in the basement?” Spike asked, following Buffy towards the door.
“Training room.”
Faith followed them down. She might feel sorry for Buffy, but she was ready to see the fireworks. As were the other Slayers who were sparring when they got down there. “Hey, Spike.” Vi grinned at him. “You’re looking a hell of a lot better.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Spike, that’s Vi. You guys worked together in Africa.” Buffy’s explanation was brief, but Faith knew that a longer one was probably out of the question for the moment. There was just too much that had happened. “Audra is the one sparring with her. You guys partnered up for a lot of stuff.”
She named off the other Slayers, proving that she’d come a long way since Sunnydale, when she’d barely known half of their names. “Leslie, Uta, Phoebe, and Caridad have been here since the beginning,” Buffy finished up.
Spike was looking more than a little overwhelmed, and Faith knew that he’d never be willing to give sparring a try with all of those eyes looking on. “Hey, guys, that’s enough for now. Get something to eat and get ready to roll.”
They didn’t question her, trooping up the stairs in a jostling, chatty pack. She and Buffy had worked out a lot of the kinks that had tripped them up in Sunnydale. The mission here was too big for one person; they had needed to split the leadership responsibilities.
“Okay, we’re good.” Faith leaned back against the wall. “Go for it.”
Spike was watching Buffy warily as she toed off her shoes. “Should I-”
“Yeah. Go ahead and take them off. Less chance of getting hurt that way.” Buffy stretched as Spike untied his laces.
“How are we doing this?” Spike asked.
Buffy shrugged. “We’ll start out slow. If it’s not coming back to you, we’ll call it quits.”
Faith could see how much Buffy wanted this-how much she wanted Spike to remember how to fight, because if he could remember that much, he might remember everything else.
She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. “Hey, Wes,” she said softly.
“What’s going on?”
“B is going to try and jog his memory.”
Wesley’s eyebrows went up. “Is that a good idea?”
“I don’t know, but they’re going to give it a try. Spike wants to go out.”
“Tonight?” Wesley’s eyes narrowed as he considered the situation. “That could be interesting.”
“Buffy wants to make sure that he’s not going to get himself killed if they get into trouble.”
He put an arm around her shoulders. “Perhaps we’d better go with them. The others should be okay on their own.”
“I’m sure.” Faith focused on Buffy and Spike, who were now circling each other warily. “Ten bucks he doesn’t remember.”
“You’re on.” Wesley smiled. “Let’s see if what they say about muscle memory is true.”
~~~~~
Spike knew that he was probably an idiot for even attempting this, but everything that Buffy had said indicated that this was what he did. He was a fighter, and if he couldn’t do that anymore, he had no idea what he would do.
Besides, Buffy looked so very sad; he wanted to make her happy-or happier.
She threw a punch that he didn’t see coming, stopping just short of his nose. Dropping back, Buffy raised her eyebrows. “Where were you just now?”
Her tone was suddenly less careful, sounding less like she was talking to a stranger and more like she was talking to a friend. She was teasing him, he realized. “Thinking about you.”
Buffy’s cheeks flushed. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
This time he saw the punch coming, although he somehow knew that she wasn’t going full out. Spike ducked and threw one of his own that Buffy easily avoided. After a few more tentative feints, he began to get into a rhythm, getting a sense for what his body could do, the power that lay in his muscles.
Suddenly, Spike realized that he was anticipating Buffy’s moves even before she made them, and she was doing the same. It was like a dance, and the occasional contact just made it that much more interesting.
He felt a grin pulling at his lips, and saw an answering smile on Buffy’s face. Her eyes were glittering in obvious pleasure, and Spike threw himself into the fight.
Buffy was the one to finally end it, getting in a roundhouse kick that put him flat on his back on the thick exercise mat. He grunted at the impact, but he was no sooner down than he saw Buffy’s hand extended. “Are you okay?” she asked anxiously.
“I’m fine.” He allowed her to help him up, clambering to his feet with a profound sense of relief. “I guess there are some things you don’t forget.”
Buffy smiled. “Looks like.” Her eyes went past him. “So, who won the bet?”
“Wes.” Spike turned to see Faith handing a tall, thin man a well-worn bill. “He said Spike would remember.”
Wesley shrugged. “The muscles remember what the mind does not.” He gave Spike a sympathetic look. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” The man appeared no more familiar than anyone else had; it was incredibly disconcerting to be continually meeting people who knew him, when he couldn’t remember faces or names. “It’s all a bit strange.”
“I’m sure.” He looked at Buffy. “Vi and Audra picked up the shipment. You both may want to think about getting something to eat before going out tonight.”
Buffy nodded. “Thanks, Wes.”
“Of course.” He glanced at Faith. “Would you like to warm up?”
Faith smirked. “Sure, but we’re on hand-to-hand today.”
Wesley grimaced. “So we are.”
Spike followed Buffy up the stairs and into the lobby before asking his question. “What did she mean about being on hand-to-hand?”
Buffy glanced at him, then smiled. “Faith is a Slayer, which means that she wins when they fight hand-to-hand. Wes is a demon with a sword, though, so they switch.”
“Did we-did we do that often?” Spike asked.
“What? Fight?” Hope kindled in her eyes. “Was it familiar? Are you remembering anything?”
He hated to disappoint her. “Not really remembering, but yes, it did feel familiar. It was like…” Spike struggled to find an analogy. “It was like pulling on a comfortable pair of jeans.”
Buffy’s eyes went to his own well-worn pair. “Oh. I get that.”
“Buffy-” He had no idea what to say to her. Spike knew that she wanted him to remember, wanted things to be like they were before, when he had no idea what that had been like. At the same time, he was drawn to her in a way he had been to no one else. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” They were alone in a hallway; Spike had only a vague idea of how they’d managed to get there, or where they were going. “I may not remember you, but I need you. You’re the only one who seems familiar.”
She blinked rapidly. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
Spike already knew that he wouldn’t try.
~~~~~
“You okay?”
Oliver’s green eyes bore a mild reproach. “You’ve already asked me that. Three times.”
“I love you, therefore I worry about you. So sue me.”
The smile that touched his lips told her that he bore her no ill will. “I understand. I won’t lie. This isn’t my preferred method of travel.”
His crutches were leaning against the seat next to him, and Dawn winced as they went over a particularly vicious bump. The buffer zone had moved since the army had first evacuated the civilians. As Buffy had cleared out the demons, the army had moved in, making sure that the area was clear for humans.
That didn’t mean that they’d done required road repairs, and she’d heard that the weather in L.A. had been weird. Giles had claimed that was normal after a major portal had been opened.
This was Dawn’s first trip to Los Angeles, however. Buffy had refused to let her get within five miles of the city, and she had refused to leave-although she’d made an exception for Christmas. They’d spent a week together in Cleveland, and then Buffy was gone again.
Dawn had been in Cleveland when she’d heard about Spike. Giles had been planning on sending Rose to visit-she was old enough to gain some experience on a Hellmouth-and so he sent Spike’s clothing along with her. Dawn, in turn, had decided to hand deliver the items.
And she didn’t care what Buffy thought about her showing up.
They stopped at the checkpoint, and she and Oliver got out of the transport. “Thanks for the ride!” she called to the driver, unloading Spike’s suitcase herself.
“Let me get that for you, miss.” The young guard took it from her and Dawn made sure her pack was secure, surreptitiously making sure that Oliver had done the same. “Do you two have someone meeting you?”
“There should be.” Dawn looked around. She’d told Vi she was coming and had asked that the woman not mention that fact to her sister. As the roar of a motor reached their ears, she smiled, relieved. “There they come.”
Vi and another Slayer came roaring up on two ATVs. “Hey, Dawn,” Vi said. “I see you brought gifts.”
“Not for you,” Dawn retorted with a grin. “Unless you were the one who asked for Oreos.”
Vi clutched her chest in mock hurt. “What? It would have killed you to remember my Doritos?”
“No, but the Doritos wouldn’t have survived the trip.” Dawn was careful not to look at Oliver. She knew that he had a bag of chips in his backpack.
He was nicer than she was, however, and the small bag of chips went flying through the air, landing in Vi’s hands. “Oh, God,” she said, sighing in ecstasy as she ripped open the bag. “Leslie, you’re driving back.”
Leslie rolled her eyes. “You’d better finish them fast. I know half a dozen girls who would fight you to the death.”
“Are things here that bad?” Dawn asked, securing Spike’s suitcase to the back of the ATV that Vi had abandoned. “I thought Giles had the supply lines going pretty good.”
“They are, but it’s just for essentials,” Vi replied, in between crunches. “That doesn’t include things like Doritos.”
“We’re fine,” Leslie assured Dawn. “I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Dawn climbed on and waited for Oliver to get on behind her. She knew that this was going to be especially uncomfortable for him, but there was nothing to be done. According to Buffy, the all-terrain vehicles were about the only things that could handle the torn up roads and piles of debris. There were a few motorbikes, but the ATVs were more practical.
“You okay back there?”
“Let’s just get there quickly.”
He kept his voice even, but his pain was evident. Dawn had tried to talk Oliver out of coming, but he’d been stubborn. Dawn had a feeling that he wanted to meet Buffy because their relationship was getting pretty serious. She was the only blood relation Dawn had left-unless you counted her father, which she didn’t.
And she wasn’t going to miss seeing Spike. Buffy would just have to deal with her presence.
Previous chapters can be found here.
Chapter 3
“Day 5: Giles managed to get the supply lines set up, but I have no idea how. The National Guard has evacuated everyone in the affected zone, and everyone in the buffer zone, too. There’s still no sign of Spike, and I’m settling in for the long haul. Vi and Audra arrived yesterday, and along with Faith and Wes, we’ve got a good team.” ~Excerpt from the diary of Buffy Summers
Buffy didn’t know if she’d done the right thing by asking Willow to remove the barrier, but she also knew that she couldn’t keep Spike trapped inside the room forever. Aside from his understandable confusion, he was sane and not a danger to himself or others.
“Spike?” she called.
He didn’t move from his spot by the window, looking out at the city. Patiently, she called again, raising her voice slightly in case he hadn’t heard. “Spike?”
He still didn’t move, and she walked over and put a hand on his arm. “Spike.”
He started. “I’m sorry?”
“I called you three times.”
Looking abashed, he attempted a smile. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were talking to me.”
Somehow it hurt to know that Spike didn’t even recognize his own name when he heard it, and she wondered what was going through his mind. Buffy wasn’t sure she had the right to ask, however; they were virtually strangers.
“Do you want a tour of the place?” It was one of the few innocuous questions she could think of.
After a moment’s hesitation, Spike nodded. “Yeah.”
Buffy turned to leave, stopping by the door when she realized that Spike wasn’t following her. “Is something wrong?”
He appeared uncertain. “Is there something else you call me?”
“Huh?”
“It’s just that ‘Spike’ doesn’t seem like a…real name.”
Buffy blinked. “Well, it’s a nickname, but no one ever calls you anything else. I know your first name’s William, but I don’t know your last name. I’m sorry.”
She could see him considering that. “I see.”
“Would you prefer William?”
“I just thought maybe it would sound more familiar.”
Buffy didn’t know what to say. “So, um, tour?”
“You haven’t told me what happened yet.”
“I don’t know where to begin,” she said honestly.
“At the beginning?”
“That’s easier said than done.” She sighed, realizing that it would likely be better to address his questions first. They could do the tour later. “You might want to sit down for this.”
He raised an eyebrow, then sat. “It was bad.”
It was a statement, not a question, and Buffy nodded. “Yeah.”
She still had no words. How much to tell him? How much did he really need to know?
“How long have I been gone?”
His question at least got the ball rolling. “Fifteen months, three weeks, and five days when we found you.”
His puzzled frown indicated that he was still confused. “And I was unconscious?”
“No, you-” Buffy rubbed her tired eyes. “A year and a half ago we had an apocalypse on our hands here. We’re talking demon hordes, portals to hell dimensions, big conspiracies-the whole nine yards. Giles-he’s the head of the Council, and kind of in charge of this sort of thing-asked you to come here to help out. By the time I arrived, you were gone. Somehow you got sucked into a hell dimension.”
“I don’t remember any of that.”
Spike didn’t sound as though he believed her, but then, he didn’t sound as though he didn’t believe her either. It was a lot to take in, that was for sure. “No, because you were tortured so badly that you were pretty much nuts, and the only way to make you not nuts was to help you forget it for a while.”
“And that’s why I don’t remember anything.”
“No, that’s why you’re not acting like some kind of wild animal,” Buffy replied bluntly. “You don’t remember anything that came before the torture because of what happened to you in the hell dimension. Ellen can explain it better. She was the one who explained it to me.”
Spike was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on her face. “What were we?”
Buffy swallowed. “We’ve been everything, but when-when you disappeared, we were lovers.”
“I see.” He rose. “How about that tour?”
She swallowed her disappointment. “Sure.”
Her hand was on the doorknob when he spoke. “Buffy?”
She didn’t turn around. She didn’t think she’d be able to meet his eyes. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
Facing him, she asked, “For what?”
“For not remembering you.”
Buffy swallowed her tears. “It’s okay. It’s just a matter of time.”
She just hoped that was true.
~~~~~
Faith watched as Spike followed Buffy through the lobby, hands in the pockets of his blue jeans. “Hey. Good to see you conscious.”
Spike blinked, apparently aware that she was talking to him, but with no idea of how to respond.
“Faith,” she said, putting her hand out for him to shake. “You were pretty messed up when Buffy brought you in.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Faith glanced at the other Slayer. They had become fairly close over the last year or so, and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Buffy. Getting Spike back, only to lose him again, only to get him back with no memory of her-Faith had no idea how she’d handle it if their positions had been reversed.
“You giving him a tour of the place?” she asked.
Buffy nodded. “I don’t know how long we’re going to be staying now, but I figured Spike should probably know where everything is.”
“And who everybody is?” Faith smiled at Spike. “Let me give you a tip. There are enough people here that you’re not going to get their names on the first try.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“You want to stay in tonight?” Faith asked. “We’ll take care of things.”
“I’d like to go.”
They both stared at Spike. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Buffy was clearly afraid of overstepping her bounds with him by telling him that he wasn’t allowed outside of the hotel.
“It might jog my memory,” Spike said. “This is what I do, right?”
“It’s what you did. Spike, if you don’t even remember who you are-”
“How am I going to remember how to fight?” Spike shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.”
Faith grinned. “Take him down to the basement first, B.”
Buffy stared at her, then a smile broke out over her face. “Yeah, okay.”
“What’s in the basement?” Spike asked, following Buffy towards the door.
“Training room.”
Faith followed them down. She might feel sorry for Buffy, but she was ready to see the fireworks. As were the other Slayers who were sparring when they got down there. “Hey, Spike.” Vi grinned at him. “You’re looking a hell of a lot better.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Spike, that’s Vi. You guys worked together in Africa.” Buffy’s explanation was brief, but Faith knew that a longer one was probably out of the question for the moment. There was just too much that had happened. “Audra is the one sparring with her. You guys partnered up for a lot of stuff.”
She named off the other Slayers, proving that she’d come a long way since Sunnydale, when she’d barely known half of their names. “Leslie, Uta, Phoebe, and Caridad have been here since the beginning,” Buffy finished up.
Spike was looking more than a little overwhelmed, and Faith knew that he’d never be willing to give sparring a try with all of those eyes looking on. “Hey, guys, that’s enough for now. Get something to eat and get ready to roll.”
They didn’t question her, trooping up the stairs in a jostling, chatty pack. She and Buffy had worked out a lot of the kinks that had tripped them up in Sunnydale. The mission here was too big for one person; they had needed to split the leadership responsibilities.
“Okay, we’re good.” Faith leaned back against the wall. “Go for it.”
Spike was watching Buffy warily as she toed off her shoes. “Should I-”
“Yeah. Go ahead and take them off. Less chance of getting hurt that way.” Buffy stretched as Spike untied his laces.
“How are we doing this?” Spike asked.
Buffy shrugged. “We’ll start out slow. If it’s not coming back to you, we’ll call it quits.”
Faith could see how much Buffy wanted this-how much she wanted Spike to remember how to fight, because if he could remember that much, he might remember everything else.
She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. “Hey, Wes,” she said softly.
“What’s going on?”
“B is going to try and jog his memory.”
Wesley’s eyebrows went up. “Is that a good idea?”
“I don’t know, but they’re going to give it a try. Spike wants to go out.”
“Tonight?” Wesley’s eyes narrowed as he considered the situation. “That could be interesting.”
“Buffy wants to make sure that he’s not going to get himself killed if they get into trouble.”
He put an arm around her shoulders. “Perhaps we’d better go with them. The others should be okay on their own.”
“I’m sure.” Faith focused on Buffy and Spike, who were now circling each other warily. “Ten bucks he doesn’t remember.”
“You’re on.” Wesley smiled. “Let’s see if what they say about muscle memory is true.”
~~~~~
Spike knew that he was probably an idiot for even attempting this, but everything that Buffy had said indicated that this was what he did. He was a fighter, and if he couldn’t do that anymore, he had no idea what he would do.
Besides, Buffy looked so very sad; he wanted to make her happy-or happier.
She threw a punch that he didn’t see coming, stopping just short of his nose. Dropping back, Buffy raised her eyebrows. “Where were you just now?”
Her tone was suddenly less careful, sounding less like she was talking to a stranger and more like she was talking to a friend. She was teasing him, he realized. “Thinking about you.”
Buffy’s cheeks flushed. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
This time he saw the punch coming, although he somehow knew that she wasn’t going full out. Spike ducked and threw one of his own that Buffy easily avoided. After a few more tentative feints, he began to get into a rhythm, getting a sense for what his body could do, the power that lay in his muscles.
Suddenly, Spike realized that he was anticipating Buffy’s moves even before she made them, and she was doing the same. It was like a dance, and the occasional contact just made it that much more interesting.
He felt a grin pulling at his lips, and saw an answering smile on Buffy’s face. Her eyes were glittering in obvious pleasure, and Spike threw himself into the fight.
Buffy was the one to finally end it, getting in a roundhouse kick that put him flat on his back on the thick exercise mat. He grunted at the impact, but he was no sooner down than he saw Buffy’s hand extended. “Are you okay?” she asked anxiously.
“I’m fine.” He allowed her to help him up, clambering to his feet with a profound sense of relief. “I guess there are some things you don’t forget.”
Buffy smiled. “Looks like.” Her eyes went past him. “So, who won the bet?”
“Wes.” Spike turned to see Faith handing a tall, thin man a well-worn bill. “He said Spike would remember.”
Wesley shrugged. “The muscles remember what the mind does not.” He gave Spike a sympathetic look. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” The man appeared no more familiar than anyone else had; it was incredibly disconcerting to be continually meeting people who knew him, when he couldn’t remember faces or names. “It’s all a bit strange.”
“I’m sure.” He looked at Buffy. “Vi and Audra picked up the shipment. You both may want to think about getting something to eat before going out tonight.”
Buffy nodded. “Thanks, Wes.”
“Of course.” He glanced at Faith. “Would you like to warm up?”
Faith smirked. “Sure, but we’re on hand-to-hand today.”
Wesley grimaced. “So we are.”
Spike followed Buffy up the stairs and into the lobby before asking his question. “What did she mean about being on hand-to-hand?”
Buffy glanced at him, then smiled. “Faith is a Slayer, which means that she wins when they fight hand-to-hand. Wes is a demon with a sword, though, so they switch.”
“Did we-did we do that often?” Spike asked.
“What? Fight?” Hope kindled in her eyes. “Was it familiar? Are you remembering anything?”
He hated to disappoint her. “Not really remembering, but yes, it did feel familiar. It was like…” Spike struggled to find an analogy. “It was like pulling on a comfortable pair of jeans.”
Buffy’s eyes went to his own well-worn pair. “Oh. I get that.”
“Buffy-” He had no idea what to say to her. Spike knew that she wanted him to remember, wanted things to be like they were before, when he had no idea what that had been like. At the same time, he was drawn to her in a way he had been to no one else. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” They were alone in a hallway; Spike had only a vague idea of how they’d managed to get there, or where they were going. “I may not remember you, but I need you. You’re the only one who seems familiar.”
She blinked rapidly. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
Spike already knew that he wouldn’t try.
~~~~~
“You okay?”
Oliver’s green eyes bore a mild reproach. “You’ve already asked me that. Three times.”
“I love you, therefore I worry about you. So sue me.”
The smile that touched his lips told her that he bore her no ill will. “I understand. I won’t lie. This isn’t my preferred method of travel.”
His crutches were leaning against the seat next to him, and Dawn winced as they went over a particularly vicious bump. The buffer zone had moved since the army had first evacuated the civilians. As Buffy had cleared out the demons, the army had moved in, making sure that the area was clear for humans.
That didn’t mean that they’d done required road repairs, and she’d heard that the weather in L.A. had been weird. Giles had claimed that was normal after a major portal had been opened.
This was Dawn’s first trip to Los Angeles, however. Buffy had refused to let her get within five miles of the city, and she had refused to leave-although she’d made an exception for Christmas. They’d spent a week together in Cleveland, and then Buffy was gone again.
Dawn had been in Cleveland when she’d heard about Spike. Giles had been planning on sending Rose to visit-she was old enough to gain some experience on a Hellmouth-and so he sent Spike’s clothing along with her. Dawn, in turn, had decided to hand deliver the items.
And she didn’t care what Buffy thought about her showing up.
They stopped at the checkpoint, and she and Oliver got out of the transport. “Thanks for the ride!” she called to the driver, unloading Spike’s suitcase herself.
“Let me get that for you, miss.” The young guard took it from her and Dawn made sure her pack was secure, surreptitiously making sure that Oliver had done the same. “Do you two have someone meeting you?”
“There should be.” Dawn looked around. She’d told Vi she was coming and had asked that the woman not mention that fact to her sister. As the roar of a motor reached their ears, she smiled, relieved. “There they come.”
Vi and another Slayer came roaring up on two ATVs. “Hey, Dawn,” Vi said. “I see you brought gifts.”
“Not for you,” Dawn retorted with a grin. “Unless you were the one who asked for Oreos.”
Vi clutched her chest in mock hurt. “What? It would have killed you to remember my Doritos?”
“No, but the Doritos wouldn’t have survived the trip.” Dawn was careful not to look at Oliver. She knew that he had a bag of chips in his backpack.
He was nicer than she was, however, and the small bag of chips went flying through the air, landing in Vi’s hands. “Oh, God,” she said, sighing in ecstasy as she ripped open the bag. “Leslie, you’re driving back.”
Leslie rolled her eyes. “You’d better finish them fast. I know half a dozen girls who would fight you to the death.”
“Are things here that bad?” Dawn asked, securing Spike’s suitcase to the back of the ATV that Vi had abandoned. “I thought Giles had the supply lines going pretty good.”
“They are, but it’s just for essentials,” Vi replied, in between crunches. “That doesn’t include things like Doritos.”
“We’re fine,” Leslie assured Dawn. “I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Dawn climbed on and waited for Oliver to get on behind her. She knew that this was going to be especially uncomfortable for him, but there was nothing to be done. According to Buffy, the all-terrain vehicles were about the only things that could handle the torn up roads and piles of debris. There were a few motorbikes, but the ATVs were more practical.
“You okay back there?”
“Let’s just get there quickly.”
He kept his voice even, but his pain was evident. Dawn had tried to talk Oliver out of coming, but he’d been stubborn. Dawn had a feeling that he wanted to meet Buffy because their relationship was getting pretty serious. She was the only blood relation Dawn had left-unless you counted her father, which she didn’t.
And she wasn’t going to miss seeing Spike. Buffy would just have to deal with her presence.