Summary: A broken Slayer befriends Clem as she starts spending more and more time at Spike’s crypt after the bleach blonde flees to Africa. Then Spike returns with dire news and the Slayer’s world is turned upside down once more.

Spoilers: Set post “Grave”

Rating: PG-13

Author’s Notes: None

Distribution: If ya want it, take it, just give me credit… And, if ya could, let me know where it’s going.

Feedback: You can send it to brock3005@aol.com or otownfan1520@yahoo.com.

~*~*~*~

After being at the Magick Box since 4am, Spike was beginning to get restless. For the past hour, he’d been watching the clock; waiting for the sun to set so he could go pick up Buffy. Really, he hadn’t been getting much done… They still hadn’t found anything and Spike was bored out of his mind. Rather than actually reading, he’d simply kept his eyes on the books and turned the pages every now and then… It kept Giles happy, and it gave him time to think about his Slayer… Again… Just like he’d been doing every second of every day ever since he’d fallen in love with her… Or since he’d realized his feelings, anyway.

Sighing, Spike closed the book he’d been holding and glanced up at Anya… Who was obviously as bored as he was. Only she was a little more open about it. Ever now and then, she would let out a little sigh, and her fingers tapped consistently on table in front of her. He smiled a little when he saw her look up to shoot a death glare at the watcher sitting across from her, though he took no notice of it. In fact, Spike could’ve sworn he hadn’t so much as glanced up from the books he’d been working through ever since Buffy had left with Dawn and Xander. When the thought entered his mind, he wondered briefly whether or not Buffy had gotten any sleep. Something had been keeping her up at night… He could see it… And he planned on finding out what was up as soon as he saw her again.

“Anya?”

When she heard Spike’s voice, she nearly jumped out of her skin. No one in the room had said a word for quite a log time, and she hadn’t been expecting the sudden break in silence. “Don’t do that!” Anya scolded, giving him a wide-eyed that screamed annoyance.

Upon hearing Anya’s exclamation Giles glanced up from his book and smiled at her slightly. It was funny how the vengeance demon, and one obviously difficult to kill considering her previous eleven hundred years as the same, could be so easily frightened by a thing so insignificant as Spike’s voice… Or a rabbit, for that matter. It was… Cute.

Spike noticed the slight exchange between the two and smiled a bit… This was different. And really not something he’d been expecting. For as long as Spike could remember, Giles had seemed to be… offended, by the girl. Now he seemed comfortable with her. Almost overly so, in fact.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you…” Spike apologized, when he realized it was about time he said something.

“It’s fine… Now, what do you want?”

Her words, if interpreted the wrong way, could’ve been considered offensive… But he knew better. She was Anya. She didn’t mean anything by it, she was just looking to get to the point. And then there was the fact that her tone had been far more curious than it had been annoyed or offending.

“Is there anything more you can tell us about this thing? About it’s origin, or what it does, or, well… anything?”

For a moment she considered his question. Then she glanced up and shook her head. “Nope, not really.”

“Maybe more details?” Giles put in, pulling his glasses off to clean them.

“Um…” Again, she looked thoughtful for a moment. “It affects different people at different times.”

“Which means…?” Spike prompted, arching an eyebrow in her direction as Giles replaced his glasses and looked at her curiously.

“Well,” she replied, speaking slowly as she tried her best to recall everything she’d heard and seen over her years as a vengeance demon. “For one, it only affects humans… Or, well, Spike and Angel would be affected because this thing would recognize them as human. Right now, they’re not exactly demons… They’ve got souls and they’re being forced to hold the demon in check… But otherwise, it’s just humans. Anyway, let’s say the three of us were infected at the exact same time. Me, it wouldn’t affect, ‘cause I’m an active demon. With you and Spike, kick in at different times… Depending on who’s stronger mentally and emotionally. Other than that, I really don’t know anything else…”

“Alright.” Spike nodded his thanks as he glanced up at the clock again. There were still a few more minutes until sunset, and he really wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it…

“Ya wanna get goin’ to go see Buffy, huh?” Anya questioned, noticing the way his eyes were continuously locking with the clock above her head.

“Huh?” He looked at her, surprised for a moment, until her words registered and he chuckled lightly, nodding his head in affirmation. “Am I really that obvious?”

“Like a lovesick puppy dog.” She replied matter-of-factly, before cracking a smile. “I think it’s good. She’s missed you. A lot… Like a lot, a lot. You’re good for her. I think she needs you around. Makes her feel comfortable… Loved.”

“I’d have to agree with Anya.” Giles replied, giving him a supportive, almost fatherly look. “Before you came back, we thought we’d lost her… She just wasn’t… Well, she just wasn’t Buffy anymore. She was lost; alone… We’re all grateful you’re back.”

“Well, gotta say, I wasn’t expectin’ that…” Spike told them, his face showing his all too obvious surprise. He was shocked. There was nothing more to it… He could hardly believe what he’d just heard. From Anya, he wasn’t quite as shocked, but from the Watcher… That was just… Not what he’d expected.

“And I never expected her to fall for you… But she did, and I have no right to judge her. If she feels you’re worth it, then that’s her decision, and I’m going to support her… And I think she made the right choice. You’re a good man… Or vampire, actually… But you love her, and I know that. She needs that right now…” Giles explained, obviously a bit uncomfortable with the conversation. “But if you ever hurt her, I’ll kill you myself.”

Spike smile slightly, nodding his acknowledgement to Giles. “No need to worry about that, mate... If I ever hurt her, I’ll kill me myself.”

“As long as we’re clear on that.” Giles replied, before turning back to his research.

Smiling, Spike shook his head and got up… The sun was set, and it was time for him to go. “Finally.” he mumbled to himself as he grabbed his duster and slipped it on. When they overheard his statement, Anya laughed and Giles smiled. Then, Spike glanced up at ‘em and nodded. “Well, I’m off… I’ll be back later with Buffy.”

“Be careful out there.” Giles warned, glancing up at him once more, almost fatherly in his concern.

“Always.” And with that, he was on his way to the door. Just as he reached it, he nearly ran into Xander and Willow, who were on their way him. Nodding a quick hello to the both of them, smile plastered on his face, he allowed them to pass before continuing on his way.

Glancing back toward the all too happy vampire, Xander looked back at Giles and Anya, confusion etched on his face. “What was that all about?” he questioned, motioning over his shoulder in the general direction Spike had headed.

The answer came from all three of the others in the room. “Buffy.”