I Need You
Sequel
to “Hurting The Ones We Love”
by Calli
Buffy was deep in thought. A knock at the door interrupted her. Oh go away, she thought moodily.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
I’m not here!
BANG! BANG!
No! The Slayer isn’t opening for business today! Will they never leave me alone?
“Slayer!! Open up! I know you’re there!” A Brit accent came
through the panels of the door, making Buffy’s heart lurch.
Spike? Oh my god! Wait a minute. I have a bone to pick with him. “Just a minute!” she yelled as she grabbed a stake. Rule number one of being a slayer -- never trust a vampire, chip or no chip, even if he is drop dead gorgeous. She opened the door. “What do you want Spike?” she asked tiredly, walking back into the room.
Spike stood uncomfortably at the door.
“You gonna invite me in Slayer?”
“Willow invited you ages ago.”
“I do have manners sometimes, slayer.”
“Okay Spike,” said Buffy, holding up the stake. “Come on in.”
“Now, don’t go stakin’ me or nothin’, but -- ”
WHACK!
Spike punched Buffy on the chin. “Ah, that feels better. Sorry Slayer, just had to see if Dru really had got that bloody chip out me head,” he explained.
He looks almost -- apologetic?
“Are you apologizing to me? This is Spike I’m talking to,
right? Did Willow do another spell that
went wacky? Or am I really talking
to...Spike?”
The vampire ignored the comment.
“Wait a minute,” said Buffy, picking up the stake she had dropped when
he punched her. “Drusilla...is back??”
Spike nodded. “And you’re chipless? So how come you haven’t tried to kill me
yet?”
“Well...I...uh...” Spike rubbed the back of his neck. “I...I need your help slayer.” And I couldn’t kill you. Not now.
“You’re asking me for help. Your mortal enemy.
Haven’t you got some demon friend that can help? I’m the slayer for God’s sake! I slay vampires, I don’t help
them!” Much as I’d like to help him,
he’s chipless…he could jump on -- attack me at any moment. Mmm…Spike.
Jumping on me…oh stay focused Buffy!
“You shagged Angel, unless you count that as staking. He’s a vampire,” Spike said
sulkily.
Buffy froze at the mention of Angels name. “That was different. He had a soul.”
“But it didn’t take him long to lose it, did it?”
“Willow gave it back to him.”
“Yeah, and now look what’s happened. It’s all your fault y’know slayer.”
“You know??”
“Course I know. Bloody hell slayer, I was the only sober one at that party. I heard you call him; I heard everything you said to him. Everything.” Spike whispered the last word, sending a chill down the slayer’s spine.
Buffy had turned a little pink at the mention of the phone call. I’m just glad I didn’t say what I’d like to do to him. Huh, that’d be funny. ‘Oh, and Angel…that isn’t even half of what I want to do to Spike. Bye now!’ She blushed even more as she thought it, glad that vampires couldn’t read minds. “Well, what is it Spike?” Buffy sighed, trying to change the subject. “How can I help?” I might as well, nothing better to do. No vamps to slay, friends all busy, no boyfriend.
“Angelus. He’s taken Dru again.”
Better not tell her he’s kicked me out -- it’ll make me look weak.
“Yeah Spike, I’m really sorry to hear that,” Buffy said,
shocked at the own heartless sarcasm. I
can’t believe I just said that.
“Slayer -- you’re a slayer. You
slay. So slay Angelus.”
“It’s not that easy, Spike, and you know it.”
A heavy silence fell between them.
“It’s hard, Slayer.” Spike broke the silence after a few minutes.
“What?”
“It’s hard. To let go. It hurts and you think it will never go away, but it does. When Dru left me, I thought I’d die all over again. But the pain went away.” He took a step towards her, and looked deep into her hazel eyes.
Is that a spark of emotion I can see in your eyes, Spike?
“You’ll hurt, Slayer, and you’ll cry. And you’ll think you can’t go on without him, but you can.” Another step towards her. “Every time I get over Dru, every time I move on, she comes back into my unlife. It’s almost like she knows…she comes back, again and again. I can’t deal with that, slayer. She has to decide if she’ll be a part of my life. And all the time Angelus is around, she won’t be…you’re lucky you know.”
Shocked at Spikes speech, Buffy stuttered, “I’m…lucky??”
“Yeah, you can kill Angelus, and he’s out of your life forever. He won’t
keep coming back to you. I can’t kill Dru. I love her.” Or is it just that I’m used to having her
around?
“Spike, didn’t you know…”
“Know what Slayer?”
“Wesley called me an hour ago,” she began. Seeing the quizzical look on Spikes face, she continued. “Wesley’s another watcher. He’s just translated this old script…an ancient prophecy. It tells of a vampire with a soul, battling evil. Angel is never gone forever, I sent him to hell, he returned…I couldn’t change that. I can kill Angel -- Angelus over and over; he’ll still come back, until the prophecy is fulfilled. I’m sorry Spike. I can’t rid him from my life -- your unlife -- forever. I can’t help.” But I’d die trying.
“Oh.”
It was the first time Buffy had ever seen Spike speechless. She tried to fight back the tears -- everything had happened at once -- the battle with Adam, Riley two-timing her, Angel becoming evil again…all thanks to her, now Spike was asking for her help, and it hurt inside because much as she’d like to, she couldn’t help him. All the recent stress became too much, and to Spikes horror, she started crying. Tears streaming down her face, Buffy threw herself onto her bed, sobbing her heart out.
The old me would take this opportunity to kill the slayer. But I…want…need her. Spike walked quietly over to where Buffy was
lying, and sat on the edge of her bed.
“Slayer?” No answer. He gently put a hand on her shoulder. “Buffy?”
Red-eyed, with a tear-stained face, the slayer turned around to face him. “What did you just call me?” she asked
quietly.
“Slayer.”
“No, after that.”
“Look, Buffy, I-”
“There. You said it again. You called me Buffy. Why? You haven’t done that since we were under Willows spell.”
Spike looked at the floor and refrained from answering. I wanted to comfort you, he thought to himself. He looked back at Buffy, who had started crying all over again. Bloody hell. If anyone knew I was doin’ this, I’d be a laughing stock. He bent over the sobbing form of the slayer. “I’m sorry slayer. I upset you,” he said, stroking her hair. “Maybe you should stake me, then everyone would be happy.” He got up. “I’d better go. I’ve caused enough upset today.”
Buffy looked up. “No, Spike.”
Spike turned back to face her.
“Stay.”