REPLAY

Thanks everyone for the comments. I love you all. More Spuffy action next chapter, I promise.



Chapter 3- Walls

The scoobies hardly took their eyes off their leader and friend the entire way. Buffy could understand. It was amazing to get back someone you had lost. She was going through the same thing. She had to restrain herself from crushing Tara and Anya with another hug. One moment they’re not there and then bam, they are. Wait a sec . . .

Buffy abruptly stopped walking. Everyone sent her questioning glances, which she ignored.

Spike!

The revelation was too much. Spike was alive. Or undead, the technical term was. Nevertheless, he was there. Her heart thumped wildly.

“Buffy, are you all right?” Willow asked.

“What? Oh, uh huh. I was just thinking about Dawn. She isn’t home alone, is she?” Buffy covered.

Tara stepped up from the back of the group. She gave Buffy a sweet smile. “We wouldn’t leave her by herself. She’s with Spike.”

It was one thing to think about Spike being back in her life; it was another having it confirmed. She became dizzy.

“G-Good,” Buffy stammered.

She quickened her pace. She didn’t think, instead running on automatic. All she knew was that she needed to get home.

Revello Drive was a mess. Trash cans had been tossed around. Pieces of glass were scattered over the pavement. The Summers house stood unharmed, except for the crushed mailbox. Buffy hardly noticed the damage. Instead her attention was riveted to the dark windows.

He’s not here, Buffy thought. She remembered what had happened the first time. He had come looking for Dawn. Apparently her sister was out with him, not having wondered off. All she had to do was be patient.

The door was unlocked. At first that made her nervous, but then recalled it being that way before when Dawn led her home before. The place was dark and silent. She took a hesitant step inside. She just stood in the entryway, unsure of going any further.

Willow stepped around her and flipped on the light switch. Her eyes were flooded with luminescence, and things came into focus. Everything was there: her mother’s coffee table, standing erect with not even a scratch on it, the small television, the sofa, and pictures. The pictures had the most impact. She ran her fingers over the glass frame that covered her smiling mother.

Distantly Buffy could hear her friends talking. They were discussing Dawn. They weren’t sure where Spike and her had gone.

Buffy sat down on the couch, clutching Joyce’s photo. She watched the other four people, detached. Things didn’t feel real. It was as if she were watching a movie, instead of taking part in what was going on.

Tara was the first person to bring Buffy back in. She came toward the slayer slowly, a little concerned.

“B-Buffy? How are you doing?” the timid woman asked.

Buffy’s head shot up. She opened her mouth. “I . . .”

The conversation about Dawn died away. Everyone turned to Buffy. She was bombarded by their voices speaking all at once.

“Buffy?” That came from Willow.

“Do you need anything?” Xander inquired.
“You don’t have brain damage do you? Sometimes when people come back, well zombies anyway –“

“Ahn!” Xander scolded.

“She’s fine, she’s not a zombie,” Willow said.

“What do you know about what happened?” Tara asked.

Buffy’s mind reeled. She couldn’t seem to form a sentence. Couldn’t they calm down and speak more slowly?

“What was it like?” Anya questioned.

“It's okay. You don't have to talk about this, Buff. Hey, do you want something? Anything. Pizza. I'll get you pizza,” Xander offered.

“Buffy likes pizza.”

“Yeah, something to eat,” Tara said.

“She doesn’t want pizza,” Willow said.

“I just meant-“

The door burst open. Buffy shot to her feet. The picture fell from her lap, crashing to the floor. She gasped, hoping it was all right. She didn’t get a chance to check. She almost tumbled back as she was hit by her sister.

“Buffy!” Dawn cried.

“Dawn?” Buffy whispered. She ran a hand over Dawn’s head. “What did you do?”

Dawn pulled back. “You remember?”

Softly, Buffy replied, “Yeah.”

“I don’t know how I did it. The light just came out of nowhere.”

“We have to get to the magic shop and research . . .”

Someone else burst into the house.

“Dawn!”

Buffy froze.

A deafening silence fell over the group. After what seemed like an hour Buffy mustered enough courage to look toward the voice. She was captivated by blue eyes. He tilted his head to the side.

“Buffy?” It came out hoarse.

Buffy glanced down at herself, realizing that she was still covered in dirt. She almost laughed. Great, it’s our reunion and I’m a mess.

“Your hands,” Spike said. “It’s true then. Clawed yourself out of a coffin?”

Buffy hid her bleeding hands. “That’s- what I had to do.”

Spike moved forward, about ready to take her hands. Then he noticed everyone else. Xander glared at him warningly, ready to step in if need be. Spike let his arms fall to his sides.

Buffy knew then that with her friends around, major blockage stood in the way between Spike and herself. No good could come of it. Sudden inspiration came to her.

“I’m tired,” she said.

“That’s good. You-You should sleep,” Tara said.

“Oh,” Willow said. “Long day.”

“Well yeah, jet leg from hell must be . . . jet leg from hell,” Anya commented.

Buffy shot them a look. Oh yeah, they still thought she had come back from the fiery depths. There was no way she was dealing with that now. She would- soon. But not now.

Spike nodded. “Right. I’ll go.” His face was blank, his eyes hollow orbs. In a flash he was gone. Buffy stared at the spot he had stood for a moment.

She faked a yawn. “Tired. See ya in the morning.”

“Goodnight,” Tara said.

Willow flashed her a grin. “Be happy, Buffy, we got you out. We really did it.”

Buffy had to restrain herself from grabbing her best friend and shaking her. Stupid witch!

Buffy managed to go up the steps and into her room calmly. She shut and locked the door with a long sigh. She leaned against the door for a couple minutes. Then she went over to the window, opened it, and climbed out.

She hadn’t snuck out of the house since high school. The memory made her smile slightly. She crouched on a tree branch and then jumped down. She landed perfectly. I’m like a cat, she thought.

Buffy straightened. She scanned the darkness. There wasn’t a radioactive head in sight. I guess it’s to the cemetery I come.