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Second the First by SinisterChic
 
Helpless
 
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Second the First

By Heather Martin

Rated- R (rating risen in this chapter)

Disclaimer- Joss owns everything important in this life (Buffy TVS and Angel)

Summary- Sequel to Replay. It has been months and Spike still hasn’t come home from his journey to Africa. Buffy goes in search of him, not only because of her aching heart but also because he is vital against the battle with the First. When she finds him, will he be the Spike she knew?

Recap-

Dawn accidentally sent Buffy and her back to the sixth season. They managed to save Tara from a terrible death, keep Giles in town, and prevent Xander bailing out at the wedding. Buffy and Spike got together, but the vampire left at the end to win not his soul but . . . life. It has been months since Spike left and Buffy is worried. She goes to Tara for help in finding out where he is. Tara discovers that he is in Indiana of all places. He has been living with a girl named Velvet. Velvet has been taking care of Spike, who goes by the name William now, and he thinks he has been brought to the future from the year 1880. William switched into Spike long enough to do the down and dirty with Buffy. He switched back into William after biting her. Buffy has a theory that Spike has something like dissociative identity disorder, or multiple personalities.



You all guilted me into continuing. *L*



Chapter 8- Helpless

Buffy regretted turning Robin Wood’s councilor job down. It was time to deal with Cassie and it would have been easier to talk to her if she worked at the school. Good thing she had a little scout.

“Dawn, I need you to make friends with Cassie again,” Buffy told her sister.

“One step ahead of you. I invited her over tonight.”

Buffy smiled with pride. They were a good team.

That was yesterday. She was greeted today with laughter. She peeked into the living room to find Cassie and Dawn on the sofa. She caught the drift of their conversation. Boys. She hated to break up the happy-fest. But she had to deal with the impending doom.

Dawn glanced up. “Oh, hey, Buffy. This is Cassie.”

Buffy stepped over. “Hi, nice to meet you.”

Cassie smiled, but it quickly died. “You know, somehow you know.”

Buffy took a second to share a look with Dawn. She sighed. “Yes, we both know. We want to help.”

“You can’t change it,” Cassie said.

“I can. I’ve changed things that I thought might be impossible. I at least have to try,” Buffy said.

Cassie nodded. “I understand.”

It took no convincing to get Cassie to the hospital. She was quiet the entire drive there, though.

I can change this, Buffy thought. I know what is wrong this time. I saved Tara from getting shot. I can do this.

The hospital was busy. No one seemed to want to help them. Buffy tried to get the attention of a doctor that passed, but he hardly noticed. He mumbled something about going to surgery. Buffy felt the urge to slam one of them against the wall and threaten them into checking Cassie over. Eventually, after standing in line, they were able to talk to a receptionist at the front desk.

Cassie stood behind with a straight face and Buffy faced off with the woman.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you are not the girl’s guardian. I cannot admit her without a legal guardian’s concent.”

Buffy did a good imitation of a vampire’s growl. She leaned over the white counter and gave the woman a death glare. “If you don’t look this girl over she will die!”

“I-I’m sorry, ma’am, but that is policy. Please leave or I will have to call security.”

Dawn snatched Buffy’s arm and dragged her away.

Outside, Buffy lost it. She kicked the curb with the toe of her sneaker until all the strength left her. She sunk to the concrete.

“You tried. Thank you,” Cassie told them.

“So, what?” Buffy spat. “You just give up?”

“Everything I see comes true. There’s no way to change it. I’ve tried.”

“You could talk to your mom. Get her to put you in the hospital, do tests,” Dawn suggested.

Cassie shook her head. “That’s not the way I’d like to spend my last few days.”

“Carpe diem,” Buffy whispered. She raised her head. “Live life to the fullest.”

“Yeah,” Cassie said. Her lips wobbled.

Buffy nodded. “I understand. Don’t have regrets. Don’t put things off. Make the most of the time you have left. Yeah . . .” Buffy should have done that before. She should have told Spike she loved him when it wasn’t too late.

With a heavy heart, Buffy dropped Cassie off at her house. Buffy and Dawn walked into their home, the darkness closing in on them.

“This isn’t fair. Why go back in time if you can’t change things? She should be able to go to prom with that guy and graduate, fall in love, have kids. Is there really nothing I can do for Cassie? ,” Buffy croaked.

“I-I don’t know,” Dawn replied. “But she is right. It wouldn’t be fair to make her spend her last few days in the hospital as a pin-cushion. You should know, given your hospital-phobia.”

“But they could help. They could make her better.”

“Maybe not.”

They were silent for a long time. Buffy sunk down into the couch. She knew Dawn was right. The memory of her cousin’s death proved it. Sometimes doctors couldn’t save a person no matter how hard they tried.

“I’m going to stop that teen cult tomorrow,” Buffy told Dawn.

“Can I help?” Dawn asked.

“You have a Chem test.”

“But this is so more important.”



The sadness filtered off Buffy and toward William. He stood in the shadows, and watched her with admiration. His heart went out to her as he listened to her words. She cared so much and she didn’t even know this Cassie. She was a true hero.

“William?”

He spun around, started. Velvet glanced into the living room. She frowned.

“William, I think we should head home soon,” Velvet said quietly.

“What?” He blinked.

“I have school. I need to get back.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. I haven’t figured out what is going on with me yet.”

“Things were better before you came here.”

How could she even suggest they leave? They had a purpose here. He wasn’t an out of place house-guest stored away from society. They treated him like he belonged- like family.

“Something of an evil sort is coming. I can’t walk away without at least trying to help,” William said.

“William- I’m sorry to say this, but you might just get in the way.”

William froze.

The words of his mother crossed his mind. “My sweet boy. So gentle and kind. I raised you right. Would never hurt a fly”. No disrespect to his mother, but he didn’t want to be the pathetic one who had to be taken care of. He was a man and it was his duty to take care of the woman he chose to love.

Suddenly the darkened hall became more in focus. He felt his gums ache. Velvet jumped back. He wasn’t stupid. He knew he must have turned into his vampiric visage. It felt good.

Feel me?

William smiled. I feel you, Spike.

What do you say we teach this wench a lesson or two?

Sounds heavenly.

William, or maybe Spike, he wasn’t sure anymore, backed Velvet into the stairs. Her body shrunk away from him. His breath hit her face.

“Forget what I was, luv? I’m quite capably of doing anything I fancy whenever I please. Now, you can stick around and support my decision or flutter back to your secluded little town, forgetting what nasties linger in the real world.”

“W-ill, this isn’t you,” Velvet stammered.

“Isn’t it?” Isn’t it? “You don’t know me at all.”

“What the hell is going on in here?” Buffy demanded.

William turned, allowing Velvet to sneak away. She raced upstairs.

He pointed toward where she retreated. “I was telling Blue-Velvet how I wasn’t doing an Angel and leaving.”

Her green eyes lit up. “Spike?”

He stalked up, backing her into the wall. She trembled, just like Velvet had, but for a very different reason.

“I’m whoever you want me to be, baby. I think William and Spikey made a little truce.”

Her fingers trailed down his chest. “Just be you,” she said. “I love you.” She went down to cup the bulge in his jeans. “All of you. Every . . . last . . . molecule.”

Spike’s eyes rolled back and he took in a deep breath.

“I think everyone is in bed. Well, Velvet might not be, but I think she won’t be coming back down tonight,” Buffy continued.

Spike dove for her neck. Buffy tipped it to the side. Her fingers weaved into his locks as he nibbled. She hissed and then moaned in pleasure as he bit down.

I love you, demon and man. I accept you, Spike. Drink me, go right ahead.




Buffy should have awoken peaceful. Sunlight bathed her with its warm comfort. The arm around her waste held her possessively in place. She could feel his legs still tangled around her. This could have been heaven.

But a girl was going to die today.

Buffy tore away. She glanced at the clock. Oh my God, how’d I sleep so late?

“Luv?” Spike groggily moaned.

She almost smiled. Spike’d been Spike for over two days now. She was beginning to believe he was cured. She leaned down and kissed his shoulder.

“Go back to sleep.”

He did. She dressed and then took one last look at her beautiful hybrid.

She stood outside Cassie’s class until she came out. She grabbed the girl’s arm.

“You are going to the hospital now! I don’t care about stupid policies. We’ll park it in the waiting room until they agree to see you.”

They were about ready to enter the hospital when Cassie slowed. Buffy swiveled to face her.

“Come on.” We don’t have much time, she thought. She didn’t know how much.

Cassie’s lips lifted slightly. Her eyes sparkled. “Some things you can change. You will leave the battle with one more than before. But some things are inevitable.” Cassie reached up and pressed her palm to Buffy’s cheek. “Like me.”

With that, Cassie Newton dropped. Buffy caught her in her arms. Buffy let out a yelp. She hoisted her up and fled into the Sunnydale medical facility.

“I have a girl here that needs help!” Buffy shouted.

They took her away. She wasn’t allowed to follow. Even so, she knew what was going on from the sounds. Flatline.

At precisely 3:51 pm Cassie Newton was pronounced dead.

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Okay, I’ve learned that once you take a loooong break it is hard to get back into the flow. Sorry, if it isn’t as good as it could be.
 
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