Author: Hilary
Title: Unexpected
Part: #2
Disclaimer: The characters from the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not mine, they are the creation of Joss Whedon's genius and Mutant Enemy.If you plan on posting this on your web site please include my name and the disclaimer, and notify me.
Rating: PG
[Unexpected (2)]
Buffy marched into Spike's crypt but saw no sign of the vampire. This was great. When she told him to getgone she hadn't expected it to be so hard to find himagain. This was so typical, he was always around whenshe didn't want him and now on the one occasion whereshe needed his help he was nowhere to be found. Sheturned and made her way to leave.
"Looking for me?" called Spike as he stepped from the shadows. Buffy turned back to face him.
"What did Willy have to say for himself?" asked Spike,still a little hurt at the way she'd treated himearlier.
"There's a vampire called Leon in town who's freakingout the locals. I figured that since you're so in withthe vamps that you'd know something about thisguy...Spike?"
Buffy suddenly saw something in Spike's eyes that she'd never seen before, fear.
"If Leon's got your boy, you'd better hope he's dead by now." Said Spike quietly.
This was beginning to scare her a little. She'd never seen Spike like this before and she'd certainly never seen him afraid of another vampire. She'd come here prepared to beat the information out of him if she needed to but it seemed like it wasn't going to benecessary.
"Tell me" she coaxed gently,
Spike looked into her eyes. She'd never used a tone like that with him before. It made him feel a little more at ease.
"Leon was sired by the Master at about the same time as Darla. They were in inseperable team and he was deeply in love with her. Things were great with them until Darla sired Angel. She began to spend more and more time with her childe and less with him. In the end the Master forced Darla to choose between him and Angel. Leon was with the Master all the way and he tried his hardest to convince Darla to stay with him. She didn't. After tha Leon was gutted, he went crazy and made the things that me, Dru and Angel did seem like kids games. He's had the hurt and betrayal eating at him for 200 years. There's nothing left but pure hatred now. If he's got Riley then he's as good as dead. No one'd ever fought him and won."
Buffy wasn't fazed by this. She'd faced supposedly unstoppable vampires and she'd always come out on top. After all, she'd killed the master so what could be worse than that.
"Where's he likely to be hiding?"
Spike stared at her in disbelief.
"Weren't you listening to me Slayer? He'll kill you in a heartbeat."
All Buffy's reservations about using violence vanished. She grabbed Spike by the throat and smashed him against the wall of the crypt, pinning him there.
"Listen Spike. I'm not about to let Riley die. Tell me where to find him or do I have to beat it out of you. Don't think I won't just because you can't fight back."
Spike knew she would.
"The....mansion."
Buffy dropped him and he remained on the floor rubbing his neck.
"He likes solitude, so he's probably at the mansion." Leaving him where she'd dropped him Buffy left.
~~~
As she left the cemetary Buffy passed a call box and decided to phone Giles. It didn't take her long to fill him in on the details.
"I've heard of this Leon...Just a minute." Buffy heard him rustling through his books.
"Here we are, Leon. Got his from the ancient word for Lion. Apparently the way he used to tear his victims throats made it look like the result of a wild beast."
Buffy shuddered and tried not to think of Riley being with him. She just prayed she wouldn't be too late to save him.
"So, its a standard stake through the heart job." She tried to sound calm although she was beginning to feel less so.
Giles sensed the panic in her voice. This was a formidable foe for her to face alone and was going to be more dangerous now that Riley was involved.
"Yes, but Buffy be careful. Leon has fought a number of Slayers in the past and the ones he didn't kill he left incapacitated."
"I'll be careful."
Buffy hung up the phone and continued to make her way towards the mansion. As she walked to began to psyche herself up for what she knew was going to be one of the toughest battles she'd had yet. She didn't care what the outcome of the fight was, all that mattered was saving Riley. Although she knew she didn't love him she couldn't bear the thought of him being in danger. It took her about ten minutes to reach the masion and as she approached ti door she prayed that Spike's infomation had been correct.
~~~
Riley's eyes had now fully adjusted to the darkness of the room and he saw that it was a vampire who was holding him prisoner. He was taller and broader than any vampire he'd seen before. His long , black hair was tied loosely in an unkempt pony tail and Riley could see his piercing green eyes shining in the moonlight. He struggled to pull his chains loose but to no avail.
"What do you want with me?" He spat, still pulling at his chains.
"You? What makes you think it's you I want?"
Riley heard a soft, low chuckle and he realised with horror that he was merely bait in all this.
"You see," continued Leon who was now stood in front of his prisoner " I've learnt that when fighting a Slayer it must be on your terms and not hers. She's bound to come here to save you so I know the battle will be on my ground."
"You're forgetting one thing." Called Buffy who was now standing in the doorway of the mansion. "I've been here plently of times before. A friend of mine used to live here. I think you know him actually, his name's Angel."
Leon laughed, which hadn't really been the reaction Buffy had been expecting.
"Ah yes, Angel. He's the real reason I'm here actually. You see my dear, as much as I enjoy killing Slayer's, I've been particularly keen to fight you. I want to see the look on Angel's face when he finds out I've killed his one true love, I want him to suffer as much as I have."
Leon put the keys to Riley's chains on the table behind him.
"If you can get past me Slayer then your new man can go free."
Buffy put her hands on her hips.
"So, are we going to fight our are we just going to talk about it?"
Incensed with rage Leon lunged at Buffy who easily blocked his punch. The fight was on! For the first few minutes the pair were evenly matched, each blocking whatever the other threw. However as time went on Leon began to gain the upper hand. His nager and hatred were fuelling his strength and he was anticipating all Buffy's moves and throwing in some extra punches as well.
"You can't win Slayer" He cried as he backhanded her acroos the room so that she smashed into the wall where Riley was chained.
"Buffy!" Cried Riley, still pulling at his chains and feeling completely helpless.
Buffy climbed groggily to her feet, seeing stars in front of her eyes. As her head cleared she began to doubt whether she would be able to beat this guy. He was stonger than most of the vampires that she'd fought.
"Buffy, get out of here." Said Riley. "Don't worry about me."
"I won't leave you!" Buffy raised her fists and prepared to resume the fight when she suddenly became aware that someone else was fighting Leon. Her eyes went wide with suprise when she realised who it was. Spike. Leon seemed equally suprised although his fighting didn't stop for a moment. If anything he seemed quite amused by the way events were turning.
"Well, well, well Spike" he sneered. "I'd heard you'd gone soft and teamed up with the Slayer but I never would have believed it. I'm going to enjoy killing you. You're shaming vampires all over the world. You haven't even got the excuse of a soul that Angel had."
Ignoring Leon's taunts Spike shouted to Buffy. "Take the keys and get out."
Buffy hesitated for a second, not sure what to make of what was going on. Then she grabbed the keys and ran back over to Riley. Leon was too busy fending off Spike to stop her. She unlocked his chains and pulled him to his feet. Without pausing for a momet Riley grabbed Buffy by the arm and pulled her outside. Not letting go he began to walk back towards town. After a moment Buffy pulled away from him and turned back to face the mansion. He stopped and walked back to her.
"Come on Buffy." He urged. "Let's get out of here."
"Riley, I can't leave him."
He looked stunned and then almost a little angry.
"Spike? Are you crazy? If you go back in there he'll kill you both. It's you he wants anyway."
He took her arm again and this time she pulled away a little more forcfully.
"Listen! I don't know why but Spike risked his life to get us out of there, I can't just leave him to die."
Riley sighed. He had a good idea why Spike wanted to save Buffy but he would never admit it to himself or to her.
"Fine, I'll go with you."
"No!" She protested. "I need you to go and see Giles. Angel has a history with this guy and I need someone to call him and find out what his weaknesses are. I'm just going to get Spike out of there and make a break for it."
Seeing that there was no use arguing Riley pulled Buffy into his arms and kissed her.
"Be careful. I'll meet you back at Giles' later."
Buffy nodded and then ran back into the mansion. Riley ran back into town, still not happy with the fact that Buffy was risking her life to save a vampire. If he hadn't known how stubborn she was he would have done more to convince her not to be stupid. He was just glad he could rely on her to be careful.
~~~
Back in the mansion the fight was still going strong between Spike and Leon. As had happened with Buffy Leon seemed to have gained the upper hand. Spike was bleeding from several deep gashes on his face and his attacks were much slower and more slow and sluggish than when they'd first started. Buffy watched them for a moment, looking desperatley for a way to get him out of there. She could tell be looking at him that he wasn't going to last much longer. Leon knocked him to the ground and dealt him several powerful kicks to the ribs. Spike climbed slowly to his feet only to be knocked down again. Leon leered down at him as Spike pulled himself to his knees.
"Why did you come here Spike? Was it to save your little Slayer friend? You're pitiful. Do you really think she would ever love you. You're nothing. You know what, I think it would be better to let you live. Being around her everyday and knowing she doesn't think twice about you is better than any torture I could ever inflict."
Almost as if he'd been thinking aloud Leon dealt Spike one final kick before running out of the back door. As soon as he'd gone Buffy ran over to Spike who had managed to drag himself to his feet. His eyes focused on her and it was all he could do manage a weak smile. She actually looked concerned for him.
"Spike..." She began but was cut short as he collapsed, unconscious into her arms