Episode 1.6 "Desires"
Buffy sighed as she woke up from a very pleasant dream. It was the second dream she had that night that involved Spike. These weren’t the nightmares she had often had after his death. No, these dreams were about the life they could have shared. She rolled over and looked at the Immortal. He lay there peacefully and Buffy usually found comfort in the soft rise and fall of his chest. But not tonight. Ever since she and Spike had gotten back from what was once Sunnydale, she could sense something different about him. She could sense some anger under his usual veil of calmness.
She got out of bed quietly, trying not to wake him, and left the room. Once she made it down the stair she saw the commandos packing up and heading out. She walked over to Riley who was standing by the door as the last of the army men left.
"Leaving so soon?" Buffy asked already knowing the answer.
"Yeah. There’s no reason to stay here. I hear they’re having some trouble in Panama. So we’re heading down that way."
"I’m really grateful that you came." she said hugging him.
"I know" was all he said. He took one last look at her before heading out the door. She heard the roar of engines and watched the trucks take off.
* * *
Buffy sat on the couch thinking about the past year. From her relationship with The Immortal to Spike coming back. A few days ago everything had seemed so clear. She found out Spike was back, but she was with the Immortal now. She enjoyed his company. The Immortal was a great guy, but since Spike had come back, she sensed something about him that was off. And after her talk with Spike last night she wasn’t so sure of what she wanted anymore.
* * *
"Damn fools" The Immortal sighed, his plan was in progress, his minions were idiots, but the vampire problem would be dealt with soon and Buffy would be his again. His plan had gone into action as soon as he heard Buffy had been out with Spike. Everything was falling into place. And if there weren’t any major complications, the deed would be done tonight.
"What is it now?" The Immortal asked answering his cell phone "And this better be good news because I am not in the mood right now"
"Boss we have a problem"
"What type of problem?"
"Well se-"
"Shut up" The Immortal commanded as he hear Buffy come through the door. He looked at her and smiled "Whatever the problem is deal with it. I’m on vacation and I told you I didn’t want to be bothered"
"What was that about?" Buffy asked. She could tell something was going on that he didn’t want her to know about. To any other person he would seem as calm as he always was, but to her seemed very nervous. The slight emphasis on ‘deal with it’ and his forced smile were dead giveaways.
"Just some business. I left a few unfinished objects back home" he said sitting on the bed "No matter, though. It’s nothing as important as being here, with you"
She also gave a forced smile "Well you can get back to it soon. We’re leaving in an hour. I have the girls packing up the few things we brought. I want to be out of here before Angel gets back and before Spike wakes up. I just want to leave and get on with my life"
"I’m glad to hear it. Something tells me that they’ll never bother you again"
There.
She knew something he was planning something. She didn’t even have to push to get the information out of him. All Buffy wanted to do was to make him call off whatever he was planning against the two vampires with souls. But it was too early. If she showed that she knew now she could get everyone killed. So instead she laid next to him on the bed. She formed a plan as he held her.
An hour later Buffy stood at the front door of the hotel after saying goodbye to Xander and Faith. They would only have to stay down here for a few weeks, until Xander was healed. She was anxious to get back to Rome. It was her home now and she missed it. She also knew Dawn missed it and all of her friends.
"Ready?" Willow asked walking through the door after taking the last of their things out to the cars. Buffy knew Willow still had some healing to do herself after Kennedy’s death, but she was coping. Buffy looked around the room and saw Fred standing behind the desk. She looked out of place, like she wasn’t sure if she belonged. Buffy knew the feeling.
"Yeah, I’ll meet you guys out in the car" she said as Willow nodded. The Immortal smiled and kissed her forehead, following the witch out the door. "Will you tell Angel and Spike I said good-bye?" she asked walking over to Fred.
"Of course" Fred replied as Buffy turned to leave "It was really great of you to come"
Buffy turned around and stared at the woman, somehow surprised by her comment. "I know I haven’t been around for a while and I don’t know all that’s happened, but I know it must have been hard to come back"
"If you ever need anything"
"I know" Fred smiled "Willow already has my plane ticket booked. I’m coming to visit in a few weeks"
"Goodbye Fred" Buffy said as she walked out of the hotel.
* * *
Angel stood in shock as he stared up at the ruined remains of Wolfram and Hart. He could hardly recognize it ; windows were shattered, debris was scattered throughout the street, and everything was burned. He wondered if anyone got out alive. That thought filled him with dread. Conner. The last time he saw him was in that building. But what scared him the most was that he couldn’t pick up his son’s scent. He had searched through the city for hours that led him to this condemned place, but this is where the trail ended.
"I guess Wolfram and Hart is pretty much closed for business"
* * *
Spike woke up to the sound of doors slamming and cars starting. He darted up from bed to look at the window, but was stopped by a note that had fallen to the floor. On the front was written ‘Spike’ by handwriting he knew well and there was a lingering scent of a familiar blond Slayer.
Spike,
As you’ve probably already figured out we left. I would have said goodbye, but I thought this way was easier. You’ll never know how happy it made me to see you alive again. You know how I feel from last night, so please don’t chase after me and make this even harder. I hope some time we can see each other again without the tension that we both know is there. Hopefully that time will be soon. But until then . . . goodbye.Love,
Buffy
Spike looked out the window, fighting the urge to read too much into the ‘love’ statement, and noticed that the cars had left. She had left. Without hesitation he grabbed his coat off the chair and ran out the room. She told him not to follow her, but he would rather fight for Buffy and have her hate him, than to never have her know how much he still loved her and only be friends. He didn’t want to be friends. They couldn’t be friends. He had told her and Angel once that they weren’t friends and that they would be in love until it killed them both. He wasn’t lying, but he realized that love carried on after death. He knew that from experience. He ran into the street and turned right, they had a head start and he had to beat the oncoming sunrise, but the wouldn’t stop him.
* * *
Buffy turned to look out the back window, not sure why she even bothered. Part of her hoped that Spike would be there, running after her car. But she told him not to. She shot down all hopes he had last night. She glanced at The Immortal, sitting in front of her driving. She wondered if she made the wrong decision, choosing The Immortal. Why was she looking for Spike if she didn’t want to be with him? She felt something tugging at her. Telling her to look back again and when she did she saw nothing.
Spike was running faster than he ever had. This was his only chance and he knew it. It turned another corner and saw a retreating black car. It was her. He knew it. The vampire quickened his pace, way past supernatural strength. He was running on pure fear. Fear of losing the best thing he had ever had in his life. He was about to shout out her name, but as he drew the breath to do so he was hit from behind.
Spike went crashing to the ground, skidding across the hard pavement. He turned to see his attacker, but there was no one in sight. He went to get back up, but couldn’t. He was paralyzed and starting to lose consciousness. He saw Buffy’s car fade into the distance, unable to stop it.
* * *
"Conner?" Angel asked whirling around to stare at his son. "I was so worried. I didn’t think you made it out."
"Come on you have to have more faith in me than that? I’m very capable of getting out of a building."
Angel smiled, relieved that Conner was alright. He looked back up at the building then back to his son. "How about we h-head back t-to . . ." Angel felt a sharp pain in his back and began to lose his balance. He was about to fall to the ground when Conner grabbed him.
"Dad, what’s wrong?" But he didn’t get an answer as a fist connected with his face.
* * *
Spike felt like his head weighed a hundred pounds as he started to wake up. He tried to move his hand to wipe the blood from his nose, but he couldn’t. His hands were chained to the ceiling.
"Bugger" he said looking at his surroundings. He was hanging five e feet in the air in the middle of a cavern. Somewhere deep under ground, he figured. There was a moldy smell and water dripped from the cave walls. He didn’t see or hear anyone. He tried to move his feet, but they too were chained.
"Conner?"
"Oh bloody hell!" Spike screamed as he realized he was chained to someone. He was chained to Angel, who was just starting to come to. "Wake up, mate" he said banging his head against Angel’s for emphasis.
"Why you?" Angel asked "Why do I always get stuck in these situations with you?"
"What can I say? We’re soul mates."
Angel just grunted. He had a million different things running through his head. The most obvious why were they here and who was in charge of this.
"You’re probably wondering what you’re doing here" A figure said stepping out of the shadows.
"It’s quite simple actually. I’m going to kill you"
Spike lifted his head, straining to see the man standing in front of him. When he came into view, Spike growled.
The Immortal.
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