full 3/4 1/2   skin light dark       
 
 
Chapter 15
 
<<     >>
 


Spike couldn't be sure he'd heard right. This man couldn't be who he claimed he was; the man who had left Buffy alone to raise a child, his child. The man who'd broken her heart and made her doubt her own worth. No, this could not be the man, because if it was, Spike was sure he would kill him where he stood.



"I'm her father. Right sweetheart?"



She shook her head. "No, Spike is my daddy."



Martin looked beyond pissed. "That… thing is not your dad," he spat at her.



The girl looked frightened and that was all it took for Spike to shove the useless bastard away from Camilla and into a stack of wooden crates a good ten feet away. The crates crashed to the ground and a few cracked open with the force of impact.



"He… he said if I screamed or tried to get away that he would kill mommy," Camilla said.



"He's not going to hurt anyone," Spike told her, knowing full well that as soon as Buffy arrived, and Camilla was safely out of view, the only person hurt would be her sorry excuse for a father.



"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Martin wheezed, pushing himself up to a sitting position. "You're right about me. I may not be able to hurt you, but if you take my daughter, I can guarantee you and my leftovers will both be six feet under."



Martin was hanging by the collar of his shirt before he could take another breath.



"What did you say?" Spike asked, shaking the man whose feet were no longer touching the floor.



Martin tried to laugh but a fractured rib prevented it. "Take her and you die."



"And who exactly is gonna stop me, mate? You? Because right now, you can barely breathe on your own."



"Not me," Martin said and Spike dropped one half of Martin's shirt and used the free fist to punch him in the side of the face.



Spike dropped the man back to the floor, satisfied with the blood trickling from his mouth.



"Who?" the vampire demanded.



"I think you already know."



"You and I don't know each other that well," Spike said, walking back to where Camilla was crouched on the ground. "But I don't like cryptic answers. So you can either tell me what I want to know or I'll get the little one to safety and you and I will have a go."



Martin tried to keep up his façade of toughness, but the pain in his abdomen, combined with the new aching in his jaw made it difficult. This had not been a part of the plan. He was supposed to get his daughter and get out of town. But the girl had rejected him, run from him, and somehow Spike was not dead. He'd been promised the Brit would be the first to die, and yet here he was, saving the day like some kind of hero.



"Who are you working for?" Spike asked again.



"I don't work for anybody," Martin said, managing to stand to his feet. He regained some of his defiance. When Spike made a move towards him, he continued. "I made a deal with the vampire. He wanted that selfish bitch, I wanted my daughter back. I help him get what he wants; he helps me get what I want. It's a win win."



"A vampire? You mean Angelus?"



Martin nodded, giving Spike a bloody smile.



"And you really think Angelus will hold up his end of the bargain?" Spike asked. "You're a bigger git than I thought."



"He already did. I have my daughter, don't I? There's no reason for him to go back on our deal now. I fulfilled my part. Buffy will be on her way to him right now," Martin said smugly.



He'd been the one to call Buffy, Spike surmised, not Angelus. But they had been correct in their assumption that the whole thing was a trap. Spike took solace in the fact that Buffy hadn't hesitated to say she would kill Angelus if it came down to it. Even still, he wanted to get Camilla back to Red and find the slayer.



"Or she won't."



A knowing smirk appeared on Spike's face. Seems he wouldn't have to find her after all.



Martin on the other hand looked nothing shy of pissed the hell off. His plan was breaking apart at the seams. He cursed out loud. "How are you alive?" he demanded angrily.



"I could ask you the same question," Buffy said. "But I really don't care."



"Mommy!" Camilla shouted suddenly and Buffy was instantly at the girl's side, checking her over as Spike had done. When she was satisfied that her daughter was not hurt she pulled her into her embrace and held her there. This was the second time in a year Camilla had been taken from her and she would be damned if she let it happen again.



The thought entered her mind that maybe the first time Camilla had gone missing had not been an accident, but maybe a failed attempt by Martin to get her, which begged the question, why did her asshole of an ex suddenly have such an interest in their daughter.



Spike put a hand on Buffy's shoulder, though never took his eyes off of the fuming man across from him. All he needed was permission from Buffy and Martin would never hurt anyone ever again.



"So you're with this Billy Idol wannabe?" Martin asked, his voice wavering despite his attempted valor.



Spike made a growling noise. Stupid wanker. He would never forgive the rocker for stealing his look.



"You think he can make you happy?" Martin continued. "You think he can be a father to our daughter?"



"Our daughter? Since when was she our daughter?" Buffy said, standing to her feet. "Where were you when she was keeping me up every night? On her birthdays? Or when she was born for that matter? You weren't there. You left us, you son of a bitch."



"No, I left you. It was you who wasn't good enough. Not her."



The words stung, but Buffy kept her composure. She'd cried enough tears over this bastard. She wouldn't cry anymore. "He does make me happy," she said, answering his earlier question. "Spike. He makes me very happy. Happier than I've ever been. And he is more of a father to Camilla than you will ever be."



Spike was shocked at her confession, elated even, but kept his face hard. Now wasn't the time to be mushy.



"We'll see about that." Martin turned his gaze towards the little girl, who was now holding on to Spike's leg with all her might. She was scared of him, he knew. But not as scared as she would be of the cocky Brit once she knew the truth. "Does she know?" Martin asked too pleasantly.



"Know what?" Buffy demanded angrily.



"That her new daddy isn't a man at all. He's a monster." He directed the last part at Camilla.



She looked confused for a moment and looked up at Spike. "What is he talking about?" she asked him.



"It's nothing, sweetheart," Buffy said. "He's a liar."



"I'm the liar? I'm not the one letting a vampire help raise my daughter."



Camilla looked back and forth between the three adults. Even at five she could read the guilt on both her mommy's and Mr. Spike's faces. She let go of Spike's leg and backed up a little. "You said you weren't a monster."



"I'm not, Nibblet."



"But… but…vampires are monsters."



Spike knelt down in front of her. "Most of them are. But I would never hurt you."



Buffy took a cautious step towards them. She had dreaded this moment for a while now and didn't know exactly how her daughter would take this news. She readied herself for all of the possibilities.



"Can I see your crinklies?" Cam asked Spike, somewhat curiously.



He looked to Buffy for permission and she nodded her head yes. Spike took an unneeded breath and let his vampire face slip on.



Camilla jumped back and stared at him with wide eyes. She seemed surprised but she didn't look scared. Then, ever so slowly, she began inching back toward him. She had crinkled her own brow and was studying his face, her head tilted slightly to the right. After a moment, she reached her hand up to touch his forehead. She jerked it back at first, and laughed. "I never seed a bampire this close before," she said, her hand returning to trace the lines on his face. "This is so cool."



Buffy didn't know whether to be relieved or worried that her daughter thought seeing vampires up close was cool. At the current moment, relief seemed to win out.



Martin, on the other hand, was far from relieved. He was angry, standing just this side of rage. He had been sure that would work. Revealing that her so-called-father-figure was dead was supposed to scare the child, not make her love the blood sucking bastard more. His plan was falling apart, piece by piece. And he could not let that happen.



"You stupid little brat," he yelled at the child. "I am your father. Me. Not some talking corpse. And you will love me."



Spike's face had returned to normal but now threatened to vamp out on this wanker.



"No I won't," Camilla yelled back at him. "You're scary and mean and I hate you."



As Martin made a move at Cam, Buffy stepped in his path and shoved a hand into his chest, causing him to fall backwards onto the ground. "Don't you dare threaten my daughter."



"Or what?" he challenged, though his ribs protested in pain.



"Get her out of here, Spike. I've got this," Buffy said over her shoulder, her glaring eyes never leaving her ex.



The vampire nodded and lifted the girl off of the ground. "C'mon, bit, let's get you home."



Camilla wrapped her arms around his neck and after they'd made it outside, she looked at him seriously. "He won't hurt mommy will he?"



"No, little bit." But I can't promise mommy won't hurt him, he added in his head. Spike did his best to soothe her and fought the growing urge to run back inside and rip the other man's head right off of his body.





"You can't keep her from me," Martin said. "I will get my daughter back." He rose up from the ground and tried his best to look defiant, ignoring the stabbing pain in his abdomen.



"Over my dead body."



"Well, you see. That can be arranged." He took a step closer to her. "Because," he whispered. "I made a deal with the devil." An almost psychotic smile formed on his face. "And as luck would have it, the devil only wants one thing… you."



Buffy just watched as he rambled, wondering what had ever attracted her to this man in the first place. Had it been that he was normal? Good looking? Successful? Whatever it had been, it was gone now and in its place was only hate. She hated him with all of her being. For leaving. For coming back. For trying to hurt Camilla. For hurting her.



"It took me a while to realize that you were right. Having a child is one of the greatest gifts you can get. Especially when they come with great tax benefits. And did you know the state will even give you money to raise them? They're like little gold mines."



"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Buffy said becoming even more angry.



"Like you're such a saint. He told me… about all the things you've done. How much blood is on your hands, Buffy?"



"Who told you?" she demanded, though she suspected she already knew.



"And he was right about you. You're not fit to be a mother. What kind of mother would leave the care of her child to a vampire? To someone who's not even alive? He could be killing her right now, draining her blood, and you're too busy fighting with me to even care. I am her flesh and blood. She is mine and I will hav…" he broke off as he felt his chest catch fire. A cough emanated from his throat, accompanied by a stream of blood.



Martin looked down in shock at the poll now protruding from his chest. Buffy's eyes were wide but she hadn't made a sound. She was no longer focusing on the man dying in front of her. Instead her eyes were locked on the one wielding the weapon.



Angelus yanked the poll out of his victim and the now lifeless body fell to the ground. "Sorry," he said unsympathetically. "I couldn't listen to any more of that whining." He smiled cruelly at her. "Now it looks like it's just you and me, lover."





Dawn was at her wits end. Buffy and Spike had been gone for over an hour and neither had called or answered their phones when she'd tried to call them. Eric had been attempting to calm her, but she was in near panic mode now. Camilla could be dead, and it was all her fault.



"They'll find her," Eric tried again.



"And what if they don't, Eric? What if we never see her again? Or worse, what if they find her… what if they find her and she's already dead?" A choked sob escaped from her throat.



Her fiancé stood to his feet and took her into his arms. She resisted a little at first but when he refused to let go, she gave in and let him hold her, though as far as she was concerned, she didn't deserve even the least bit of comfort. Not until her niece was home safe.



Willow emerged from the bedroom with a book in her hand. "Anything?" she asked and Eric shook his head no. The witch sighed and returned to her spell, wishing she had gone with them.



Her spell had revealed two humans in the building, one of which was Camilla, and no vampires. She was hopeful that they'd found the girl and just hadn't thought to call yet.



Re-entering the bedroom, Willow glanced down at the map so see if there had been any change. The building where Camilla had been now housed a single human and a vampire. Willow could only hope and pray to the powers that be that the vampire was Spike.



Angelus was behind this… somehow. And she would find out how and why he was tormenting Buffy. She had to convince Spike to let her try the spell on him again, the one to help him regain his memories. If… no… when they returned, she would cast it, stronger this time. There had to be something in Spike's brain that could help them. There just had to be.





"What do you want?" Buffy ground out.



"What do I want? Isn't it obvious? I want to finish what we started." He stepped over Martin's body and sauntered towards her, an evil smile playing on his lips. "Our last fight… wasn't a fair one. What with pesky little witches and their spells."



"I had you long before the spell was complete."



"Is that so?"



He walked ever closer and Buffy fought the urge to step back. She had to stay strong, remember everything he'd done to her daughter, her sister. The man in front of her was not the man she had loved, and furthermore, didn't want to be. And she'd also come to wonder if there had always been a part of Angel that longed for his dark side. He'd been cursed with a soul a couple of times now and never once had he, to her knowledge, searched for a way to make it permanent. She knew there was a way as Spike had managed to find it in a matter of weeks.



"I seem to recall a certain amount of… hesitation on your part. I can sense it now, too."



Buffy glared at him.



"I can also sense your anger. I love that," he said, evil smile still intact. "Anger is almost as much fun as fear. I've really enjoyed these last few months. I hadn't planned for the fun to end so soon, but some people just don't have patience."



"Me among them. So, are we gonna do this or are you just gonna keep talking all night?" Buffy challenged.



Angelus laughed lightly. "So eager to die."



"We'll see." Her fist connected with his jaw before he could give another snarky response. His head jerked back to the right.



"Now that hurt." The smile was gone from his face.



His fist flew in her direction, but Buffy ducked just in time to avoid the blow. She attempted to use her leg to trip him, but he was too fast, jumping over her leg and landing a punch to the side of her head. Though she was a bit dazed, Buffy was on her feet in time to block his next attempted hit.



"I almost forgot how much fun it was to fight you."



Buffy ignored him, swinging her leg back around at his torso. Angelus caught her foot and jerked, causing Buffy to lose her balance. She managed a complete backflip and landed, crouched in a cat-like pose. She pushed herself up and ran at him full speed landing a few jabs to his chest before he grabbed her arm and rammed his fist into her midsection.



She doubled over but only for a moment. They continued throwing punches and kicks at each other until Buffy realized this was going nowhere. Angelus wasn't trying to kill her, he wasn't trying hard enough. Instead he seemed to be enjoying himself, as if they were sparring for fun. The thought angered Buffy immensely. The bastard had hurt her sister, helped her asshole of an ex kidnap her daughter, and was planning God only knew what else.



She'd thought his whole plan had been about her. That he'd wanted to play with her, hurting the people she cared about before coming for her. But if that were his plan, if she was all he wanted, then why wasn't he trying harder to kill her? And why was he letting her get the upper hand now?



Buffy rolled away from him to grab a shard of broken crate. A make-shift stake. Did it really matter why he was half-assing this fight? Angelus had been a problem for too long now, and it was time that she took care of him, once and for all. Without hesitation, the last thing Buffy needed was to second guess her decision, she ran toward him, dodging a blow and pushing him back against the wall with all of her strength. She pulled the stake back, ready to plunge it into his chest, but paused as Angelus held both of his hands in the air, in mock-surrender.



"Giving up so easily," Buffy found herself saying. In her mind, a little voice was chanting, less talky, more stakey.



His malicious smile had returned. "You can't do it," he teased. "After all, your lover's in here somewhere."



"I killed him once. I can do it again," she replied matter-o-factly.



"But this time is different. You dust me, there's no chance in hell either of us comes back. You really think you can live with that? It nearly destroyed you before."



"Yeah," Buffy said almost sadly, dropping her hand slightly. "It did."



Angelus looked smug for only a moment before the stake was protruding from his chest.



"But not this time."



She'd held onto the memories of Angel, the man she'd loved, for far too long. Buffy wasn't so arrogant as to think this wouldn't affect her. In fact, she was sure it would. Last time she'd killed him, it had nearly destroyed her. Nearly. But that was when she was seventeen, when losing her boyfriend had been the worst thing that had ever happened to her. She was older now, an adult, a mother, someone who could live with this loss. It would hurt, but not as much as it had back then. He was not the love of her life, not anymore.



Buffy stepped back and waited. When he didn't immediately turn to dust, her brow crinkled in confusion. She had hit the heart, she was sure of it.



The smile had slowly returned to Angelus' lips. He reached up and slowly pulled the stake out of his chest, dropping it to the ground. "Bravo. I didn't think you had it in you, kid. Guess you really have grown up."



Buffy's eyes widened as he neared her. Why was he not dead?



"See I've learned a thing or two since last we met."



"How?" was all Buffy could force past her lips.



"You think it's gonna be that easy? You ask and I give you the answers?" He laughed cruelly.



"Well yeah."



"And what fun would that be?"



He landed a kick to her side, enough to disorient her long enough for him to grab her by her neck and lift her off of the ground. Buffy struggled to free herself from his grasp, but the lack of oxygen was making it difficult.



"I could tell you, but I'd rather let you stew on it for just a bit longer."



With that said, Angelus brought her closer to the metal wall of the warehouse. Her head slammed into the wall once, twice, three times.



And everything went black.





"It could be a protection spell."



"Is that possible?" Dawn asked. "For a vampire to 'protect' themselves from being staked?"



Willow shrugged. "I've never seen it done this way, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. You remember the Gem of Amara?"



"But Angel destroyed that," Dawn replied. "And it was some kind of rarity. Unless he managed to find another cursed piece of jewelry. Did you happen to see anything, Buffy?"



The slayer shook her head, the head that was still pounding from being bashed into a wall. After Spike had gotten Camilla home safe and sound, he'd returned to find Buffy lying unconscious on the warehouse floor. It wasn't until they'd gotten back to the apartment that she'd come to, and revealed that Martin hadn't been alone. Spike was infuriated to know his grandsire had shown up and hurt Buffy. If he'd known, he'd have called Willow to pick up the girl and never left Buffy alone with tall, dark and forehead. Not that he didn't think she could handle herself in a fight against Angelus, she'd beaten him before, but now that he had some sort of magic on his side, Spike was sure he was capable of almost anything.



"Either way there's not much we can do," Giles' voice said through the speaker. "Until we determine what caused this. Perhaps if we research…"



"There is one thing we can do," Willow said, interrupting Giles before he could go on a research tangent.



Three sets of eyes rested on her.



"The spell… to help Spike regain his memories. There is a way to make it stronger. It will last longer and hold his subconscious until he remembers everything."



"Willow," Giles began.



"And I can bind myself to you with a spell that will allow me to see what you see," she told Spike, ignoring Giles' wary tone. "Everything you recover will project itself into my brain as well."



"Hold my subconscious? What the bloody hell does that mean?"



"In short, it means you won't be able to wake yourself up. Not until there are no memories left to recover."



"But…?" Buffy interjected, suspecting there was something Willow was holding back.



"But, it's dangerous. Last time the spell affected Spike more negatively than I thought it would, and it was a weaker incantation."



"So if he does the spell, it could actually hurt him? Physically?"



Willow nodded. "The odds are in favor of it having extreme dire effects. There's also a chance, a very good chance, he might not be able to break free from the memories. If it takes too long to recover them… His body will be weakened by the spell every second he's under. Though, time in the memory and time here work differently. Days there could amount to mere minutes here. I can't be one hundred percent sure."



"Then how sure are you?" Buffy asked, anger seeping into her voice.



Willow shrugged apologetically. "I can't give you a number, Buffy."



"The coven hasn't used this spell before?"



"They have."



"So…?"



The witch took a deep breath. "No one's ever recovered."



"What does that mean, never recovered?" Buffy asked, a certain edge to her voice.



But Spike understood the witch's meaning immediately. In order to save Buffy and Camilla, he would have to die.


 
 
<<     >>