Chapter Six: Bonnie Slayers

The almost full moon shone down cheerfully through parted clouds as Spike and Buffy lay on the grass, just outside the crypt in Restfield Cemetery. They’d stayed with Andra and Torch until his shaking had subsided and he’d fallen asleep. Wanting to give Andra some privacy, they’d gone outside to wait after sending Faith back to Giles with as good an explanation as they had.

Buffy turned in Spike’s arms and kissed him softly before saying, “Do you think we should go back in now?”

They sat up together and gazed into each other’s eyes. Spike nodded and helped her up.

“Let’s take a peek. If he’s still asleep, we’ll tell Andra that we’ll come back tomorrow at sundown.”

The door creaked as Spike pushed it open. With Andra’s help, Torch stood on wobbly legs. His bright brown eyes were clear, with just a hint of his old self shining through.

“Bet yer surprised to see the likes of me.”

“That’s an understatement, mate,” Spike said, taking the lead and holding out his hand to shake Torch’s. “What the hell happened?”

Andra had cleaned his face up, but the bloody stains on his t-shirt were evidence of some sort of struggle.

“Have a seat.” Torch gestured towards the floor by the sarcophagus. “My mind’s still a bit muddled from the drugs, but give me a minute and I’ll do my best to explain.”

Buffy grabbed Spike’s hand and took note of Andra’s grip on Torch’s arm. It was as if she thought he’d float away if she let go. The group of vampires sat down together on the floor in the dark and dirty crypt, the breeze whistling through a crack in the door, and waited for Torch to gather his wits.

“It was like waking up fer the first time,” Torch started. “Only this time, I dinnae have to claw through dirt, just a flimsy box in the middle of a bright room with strange writing all over the walls.”

“Where was this room?” Andra asked.

Torch shrugged. “I dinnae ken.” He paused to glance around the crypt. “Still don’t know where I am.”

Spike cleared his throat and said, “You’re in Sunnydale, California.”

“Aye, right!” Torch glared at Spike. “Dinnae pull my leg, ya blether. I’ve just come back from the dead.”

“He’s telling you the truth, man,” Andra said. “Yer in the United States.”

Torch scratched his head, displacing his already messy orange hair. “That cannae be.”

“What happened after you got out of the box?” Buffy asked, trying to move things along.

“I was a wee bit disoriented and a bunch of people in black rushed me. One stuck a needle in me and I passed out. I woke up later with my hands tied behind my back and tape over my mouth.”

“Bloody hell!” Andra said. “I think that’s when I saw you the first time. In the trees.”

Torch nodded. “Must be, because while my vision was blurred, I was sure I was seeing you as well.”

“Who are they?” Andra asked, ready to go kill whoever it was. Buffy was ready to go with her.

“Cannae be sure. They kept me drugged up. Heard one of the men call the woman Ms. Morgan.”

Andra shot to her feet, pulling a knife out of her pocket. “I’m going to kill that bitch!”

“Who?” Buffy asked.

“Lilah Morgan. She’s the one we met after I offed that serial killer. The lawyer.” Agitated, Andra paced, getting angrier by the second. “She approached me a while back and asked me to join her evil corporation. She said I was a better candidate than Angel.” Andra’s eyes softened as she gazed at Torch. “She did this to you?”

“You dinnae have to worry about her death,” he said as he nodded. “I timed when the drug would wear off and was able to get free and kill my two guards before she came back with a new syringe. She stuck me with it, right before I broke her neck. Was able to drain her and one of the guards before the effect really hit me. I heard yer voices and that’s when I stumbled on to you lot before I so gracefully crumpled in a heap at yer feet.”

“It’s getting late,” Spike said, as he gazed out the tiny window near the ceiling of the crypt. “We’d best get back home before the sun comes up.”

“I’ll stay here with Torch,” Andra said, sitting back down with the still shaken vampire. “I can only guess that he would not be welcomed at the house or the Magic Box.”

Buffy nodded sympathetically. “You’re probably right.”

“We’ll come back tomorrow night with a new kit and whatnot,” Spike said, grabbing Buffy’s hand and gently leading her to the door. “Wish we had time to bring some things now, but…”

“’S’alright, pal,” Torch said. “Just be sure to bring me a change of clothes. Something with color would be nice. Oh, and a couple of bottles of something strong and fortifying.”

“Will do.”

Andra walked out with them and the three stopped at the entrance to the cemetery. Buffy gave Andra a hug and held her at arm’s length. “I’m sure that this goes without saying, but you’re going to have to keep him from feeding.”

“Aye. And from what he said, it sounds like he filled up on that lawyer and one of the guards. That should keep him for some time.”

~ * ~ * ~

Just before dusk the next day, Buffy stood in the middle of the crowded living room full of angry people arguing about Torch and was about to tell everyone to shut up when the front door slammed. With Connor at her heels Dawn came in to the living room and beat Buffy to it, shouting, “What is it with you guys? Always yelling at each other. We could hear you halfway down the block!”

Giles took a seat on the couch, pursing his lips and glaring at Spike. Faith joined him, a matching glare aimed at Buffy. She could only sigh and turn away. They were right. She knew it, they knew it, but there was no way Spike, Buffy or Andra would let anyone harm Torch. They would just have to convince him to not feed on humans.

Giles broke the silence. “Faith goes with you tonight. And she will lay down the law. Torch will be warned of the consequences if he cannot abide by our demands.”

“Fair enough,” Spike said, putting a hand on Buffy’s arm and giving it a gentle squeeze when she started to argue. He turned to Dawn. “Did you get everything on that list?”

Connor stepped forward, laden down with shopping bags. “We did. Xander bought the alcohol. We even found the green shirt you asked for.”

Buffy smiled fondly at him and dug into the bags. “Ooh, Torch will like it, I’m sure.”

Faith got to her feet and pointed to the bags. “I can’t believe we’re buying a dangerous vampire booze and clothing. I’m supposed to kill the evil bastards, not play dress up with them.”

“Yeah, well, you’ll do neither with Torch,” Spike said.

“Don’t order my Slayer around,” Giles practically growled.

“I’ll do what I damn well please!” Spike sneered at Giles, and it was Buffy’s turn to diffuse the situation as she put a hand on Spike’s shoulder.

“You forget that Torch saved our lives back in London,” Spike said. “Then again, maybe you weren’t too happy that we survived. We are vampires, after all.”

Giles did not back down, his voice rising with every word he spoke. “You know that’s not it. Torch is a soulless vampire. He feeds on humans. Should he get a free pass to kill others because he saved your lives?”

“Come on, Connor, let’s leave the grownups to their infantile playground fighting.” Dawn took Connor’s hand and led him back towards the stairs.

“Hey!” Spike yelled. “Just where do you think you two are going?”

Buffy sighed, exhausted from all the fighting, and said, “Leave them alone, Spike.”

Of course, he ignored her and stomped after them. Buffy followed, glad to leave Giles and Faith to stew in the living room.

“We’re going to my room to get some peace and quiet.”

“Oh, no, you’re not! You know the rule. No boys in your room,” Spike said, blocking their progress.

Buffy yanked him out of the way, and they struggled for a few seconds. Dawn and Connor stood a few steps up and watched, fascinated.

“Will you stop being such a jerk?” Buffy said. She gave Spike a good shove, and while he smoothed down his duster, she turned to address the teens. “Keep the door open.”

Spike glared at her, but wisely kept his mouth shut. He turned away and headed back to the living room. She couldn’t believe him. With all that was going on with Torch, he was still fixated on Connor. Even though she’d begged him to just let them be, telling Spike she was positive that the two teens would lose interest in each other if they were left to themselves. By the time she gathered herself together and let the anger go, he was sorting the items into two bags, one with clothes, the other with the booze. They heard a car pull up and walked together to the front door.

It was dark enough for them to go out and just as they cleared the steps, Spike turned to Buffy, his head tilted. “You called Angel?”

“He knows this Wolfram and Hart group. Of course I called him. He says that they tried this same thing on him when they brought Darla back.”

Gunn got out and ran to the trunk. He turned the key and popped it open. Angel jumped out, tossing the blanket that he’d covered up in back into the trunk before slamming it shut.

Angel paused to look up at the nearly black sky. “Perfect timing, Gunn.”

“Told you I’d get you here fast,” the tall man said, grinning at his boss.

Connor and Dawn came out, but went no further than the porch. Buffy’s heart constricted at the look passing between Connor and Angel. It was so obvious that they both wanted to mend their relationship, but they were too stubborn.

Connor turned his hurt gaze on Spike, pointing at him. “You called my da—Angel?”

“I didn’t call him,” Spike said, sounding disgusted. “Buffy did.” He whirled around, saying to Angel, “But you’re taking the kid with you when you go.”

Angel nodded and, as Connor started to protest, cut him off to ask Buffy, “Where are they?”

“At Spike’s old crypt.”

“What are we waiting for then?” Angel asked, his lips drawn in a straight line.

Gunn pointed towards the house. “I’ll just stay here and catch up with Junior.”

~ * ~ * ~

Spike and Buffy stopped in front of the door to the crypt. Spike wanted to tell her he was sorry, but the words just wouldn’t come out. They’d walked ahead of Faith and Angel, and even though they’d kept their voices low, Spike knew Buffy was embarrassed that the other two knew they’d been fighting the whole way there.

Connor was getting to be more of a problem. Spike should just back down and get over his aversion to the idea of Dawn having a boyfriend or the way Connor was sniffing after her. But Dawn was family. She was basically his sister-in-law and no one else seemed to care how close those kids were getting. If Buffy would just see things the way he did. But, that wasn’t usually the case. All he ever got from her on the subject was an order to back off. To let the thing between the teenagers run its course. Like hell he would.

He bit back a curse and pounded on the door, not wanting to just barge in on the reunited couple. It was clear that Buffy didn’t care about being polite as she went ahead and pushed the door open, just as the other two caught up to them.

“Hey there,” Andra said, standing up and adjusting her shirt. “Looks like you brought us some things.”

“And dragged in a couple of mangy pets with you, eh?” Torch said, nodding his head at the strangers who were standing quietly behind Buffy and Spike. He got the last button done on his jeans, but didn’t bother putting the dirty t-shirt on. “Please tell me ya got me something to drink?”

“Looks like you could use a new shirt, too.” Buffy grinned and tossed him the green one.

“What are they doing here?” Andra asked while Torch buttoned up his new shirt.

Angel brushed past Buffy and with his usual dour expression on his face, he said, “Buffy called me. What they did to you,” Angel said to Andra, and pointed to Torch, “they did to me once. Bringing my sire back.”

Andra nodded. “Stupid lawyers.” She quickly turned her gaze to Torch. “Not that I’m not grateful to have him back, but if that bitch weren’t already dead, I’d be tracking her down right about now.”

“And that’s why I’m here,” Faith said, stepping forward.

“You’d best stay back,” Andra said, menace dripping from her voice. “I like you, Slayer, but I won’t hesitate to lay you out if you threaten him.”

Torch glared at Andra. “I can take care of myself, woman.”

“Maybe so,” Spike said. “But we’ve got your back. Just in case.” Addressing Faith, Spike said, “Say your piece and let us get on with things here.”

Spike almost felt bad for Faith. She was one slayer in the midst of five vampires. Sure four of them had souls and two were once slayers themselves, but it was obvious that only Angel would back her up, if the need arose.

Faith held her hands out. “Look, I’m just here because I have a job to do. You try to feed on the citizens and I’ll have to stake your ass. As long as we’re clear on that, it’s cool.”

Torch looked Faith up and down and back up again. One corner of his mouth hitched up, he let out a small laugh and then grinned widely at her. Without taking his eyes off her, Torch said, “Damn, Spike, my theory is correct. They really only come called in one way. Bonnie.”

“What?” Faith asked, scowling at Spike’s laughter and the smiles from Buffy and Andra.

“Can’t argue with you there,” Spike said. “But tell her what she wants to hear so we can get rid of her.”

“Yeah, lass, I do solemnly swear not to snack on your people.”

“Well, you better not. ‘Cause then I’d have to dust you. Friends or no friends.” Faith glared at them all and strutted to the door. She paused before she went out, turning back to them. “I think it would be best for everyone if Andra took her boy here and got out my town.”