Chapter 26 - Decisions

“Fred, would you get the first aid kit, please?”

Buffy sat on the edge of the desk and pulled her hair to one side as Wesley inspected the wound on her shoulder.

He’s going to say something. I know he’s going to say something. Why doesn’t he just get on with it?

“You’ve let Spike do that before? Drink your blood?”

“It was right after I found out. We were in the kitchen and I cut my finger.”

Wesley was silent.

“I was bleeding, he was a vampire—it seemed like the thing to do. It was barely a few drops.” She shrugged.

“Yes, well. But I can’t stress enough the impropriety, the insanity, of allowing him your blood. It’s incredibly stupid—and dangerous; a few drops can quickly become more, or all of it. Especially now that you’re the Slayer. Your blood is powerful, practically an elixir to vampires. Under any circumstances, you should not let—”

“I didn’t exactly invite him over!”

“You didn’t exactly stop him.” He paused, taking the kit from Fred, who immediately disappeared again. Wesley began to disinfect the cut. “Don’t let it happen again.”

“Okay, okay.”

“I don’t like this, Buffy.”

“What, you think he’s been following me around, waiting for something to cut me?”

“Probably not. But he didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?” Buffy demanded. “You told me not to push it. I can’t make him go away. Besides being annoying, what’s he really done on patrol?”

“Spike has been nothing but vaguely threatening ever since you became the Slayer, and even before,” he said. “He has obviously been following you. He chose to make his appearance on patrol by pulling Fred into an alley. He reminded me what would happen if I made a move against him— He would, Buffy,” Wesley cut off her protest as she started to open her mouth. “He’s told me flat out that if I ever decide to start something, he’ll kill me. And tonight he came up after you were injured and took his fill. It was a reminder, a reminder that right now there’s nothing we can do but let him.”

“Or maybe he was hungry,” she said sarcastically. “Or maybe he li—” OK, so not bringing that up. Besides, there’s nothing flattering about a vampire liking your blood and wanting more of it. “And what do you mean, ‘even before?’ What did he do before? Did he threaten you?”

“Sort of. He threatened to threaten me.”

Buffy looked at Wesley. “I think you’re reading too much into things.”

“You don’t know him,” he said gravely.

“Maybe not as long as you have—”

“I can’t believe you’re defending him, after you saw him—”

“I am not defending that. But I still say Spike won’t hurt me. And I’m not going to waste my time worrying about something that hasn’t happened. Period.” She hopped off the desk, fingering the sliced ends of her tank top strap. Slaying was obviously going to be taxing on the wardrobe.

“Well then,” Wesley said, changing the subject, “perhaps we should worry about something that has happened.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, a bit preoccupied with trying to see how big a bandage he’d put on her.

“The Council has contacted me about the Slayer. About you.”

Buffy turned her head. “What about me?”

He leaned back against the desk. “The Council feels that it would be prudent to have a Slayer present on the Hellmouth. They want you to go there.”

“First off, what’s a Hellmouth?”

“It’s basically a hotspot of paranormal energy beneath the ground. Also a possible portal between realities. The point is, it attracts vampires, demons, and all sorts of entities with its mystical properties. Without the presence of a Slayer, the town has become quite overrun. Case in point, the Aurelian vampires.”

“These were the vampires that Faith was sent to fight?”

“Yes, although there may have been a change in their number. The oldest of the Aurelian line is also reputed to be there. But all we know for certain is that Angelus has been running things. He’s the one Faith took up with.”

Buffy crossed her arms. “What if I don’t want to?”

“Certainly, no one can force you to. Recent events have shown that Slayers are hard to force to do anything. However, the Council has been known to resort to…forceful persuasion in the past.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“The Council doesn’t like Slayers opposing them. But as their operations unit is out of commission, I doubt they’re in a position to do anything right now. But more importantly, they are eager to welcome a new Slayer and establish a good relationship.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Buffy,” he said seriously, “I know this must be difficult. But there are people there that need help, help that only a Slayer can give. Mr. Giles would be your Watcher. He’s a good man. You could do a lot of good.”

She sighed. “So where is this Hellmouth? Like in Brazil or something?”

“Actually, it’s a town not a few hours from here called Sunnydale.”

Buffy looked up sharply. “Whoa. Did you say Sunnydale? My mother was just offered a job in Sunnydale.”

“Yes. The Council is trying to make this as easy and appealing for you as possible.”

“And what are you supposed to be doing?”

Wesley busied himself putting items back in the first aid kit. “I no longer work for the Council. I don’t have to do anything they say. I did, however, agree to impart their information to you, simply because I thought it would be easier to hear from me.”

“What about not wanting anything to happen to me?” Buffy asked. “Now I’m supposed to go fight these powerful vampires?”

He turned to face her. “While it wouldn’t be my first idea to send you to the Hellmouth, Buffy, I believe you can do this. And though I will miss your company, I think this could be a good change for you. You’ll be able to come into your own. And practically speaking, your mother is already moving there. You said you’re selling the house here.”

“Did the Council manage that too?”

“No, that was just fortuitous.”

“If I don’t go, will my mom lose the job?”

“Possible, though unlikely,” Wesley said. “The Council merely pulled some strings to get her noticed. She is highly qualified for the position, I understand.”

“School? I’ll never get in this late.”

“They’ll arrange that.”

She sighed. Being the Slayer was about fighting evil, helping people. She wanted to do good. But she had sort of gotten used to doing good here, in the short amount of time that she had been the Slayer, that is. And she dusted random vamps in alleys; here, there wasn’t a particular fight that she was fighting, no established evil just waiting for her. “What do you think? Honestly?”

“I think it’s a challenge, but not one that you’ll be unable to meet. You’ve shown great promise, and you would undoubtedly benefit from the tutelage of an older and more experienced Watcher. Mr. Giles has never had a Slayer, but he has had years of experience on the Hellmouth. He’s been monitoring it for the Council for some time. I believe you can do this.” He paused. “And I think a change of scenery would be good for you.”

She realized what wasn’t being said: Spike would be less likely to follow her around if she were hours away and in another town. Especially if he didn’t know she was going.

Buffy made up her mind on the spot. It was probably not the best thing to do, but something told her that even if she waited, the answer would be the same.

“I’ll go. You tell the Council, I’ll tell my mother.”

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October, 1998:

“I bet we could find all sorts of interesting things to do together.” Faith glanced over him appreciatively. “Cause this? It’s getting old.” She kicked at him, quickly compensating and spinning to face him when he feinted. “Nothing like Slaying to get a girl going, if you know what I mean.”

“Playing it dangerous, don’t you think? I could kill you during.”

She flipped a stake, then ran her hand over it suggestively. “So could I. Kinda gives you a rush, huh? My stake at your heart as you fuck the life out of me.” She grinned. “I need a man who likes it rough and knows how to ride. C’mon, I bet you’re just itching to do a Slayer.”

“What part of vampire/Slayer don’t you get?” He threw a punch at her.

She dodged. “But that’s what makes it kinky. Much as we beat each other up, wouldn’t it be more fun when we’re locked together? Or do you only like virgins? Cause, I can do role playing.”

He shook his finger. “You’re asking for it.”

“Baby, you’re going to be begging for it.”

Angelus grinned widely. “My place or yours?”

Faith spun and staked a newly risen vampire who was staggering toward her from behind. “Right here on the ground is fine with me.” She pushed him down on the loose grave soil.

“Most Slayers are all high and righteous. Did they not give you the job description?”

“I slay, I fight. It’s a thankless job. Half the idiots in this fucking town don’t have a clue that I put my life on the line every night. And I got sick of it a long time ago. I deserve a reward.” She moved to straddle him, holding the stake over his heart as she unbuckled his pants. “I’m a girl who gets what she wants. I want, I take, I have.”

“That’s always been my way of thinking,” he said, flipping her over. He ripped her jeans down and entered her in one brutal thrust.

It was Faith, however, who started the rhythm, bucking back before he had a chance to. She grinned up at him. “Baby, I’ve got muscles you never even dreamed of.”