Not in Kansas
Part 4
The moonlight was bright now, flooding the graveyard like a spotlight, hiding nothing. He spotted a group near the entrance, clustered near the newer graves. A party to welcome some fledging new vamp into the world. He'd been to such things before, but never with a Slayer.
Spike glanced behind him and saw that Buffy had skulked back into the shadows, trying unsuccessfully to reach the limb of one of the trees that overhung the crypt.
"What are you doing?" he hissed under his breath, trying to count the number of vampires that were milling about.
"I need a stake."
He fumbled in his pocket and tossed one at her, which she deftly caught while asking, "Is there anything you don't keep in that coat?"
He winked, turning his attention to her for a moment, "Want to come find out?" A noise over his shoulder pulled him back to the scene at hand and he noticed one of the vamps was staring, puzzled, in their direction.
"Slayer, I think we'd best run," he stated matter of factly, edging back further into the shadows.
"What are you talking about?"
He grabbed her arm and pulled her with him behind the protective screen of the crypt. "Heard the one about living to fight another day?"
"Spike, if there's one thing I know, it's how to take out a vamp."
"How 'bout two dozen?"
Buffy peered around the crypt at his direction and he watched as she slowly retreated, her face ashen.
"Spike, that's Willow and Xander out there." She looked unnerved and he gave her a quick shake.
"Stop that. Not going to go all girly-girl on me, are you? I thought not. Now run."
He grabbed her arm and they dodged behind the line of tombstones towards the back wall of the cemetery.
++++++++++
Three blocks later, she slowed down, rubbing her calf ruefully. "Stupid boots. So not made for running. Or walking even."
"Why'd you wear them, then?" he asked.
She gave him a look that said stupid. "Cause racing through the streets wasn't on my list of things to do this afternoon. I had other plans."
"Oh. Right." Seemed a million years since she'd shown up in his crypt, all hot to trot and ready to go, not just a few hours. "So where to next, Slayer?"
She glanced around, noting the intersection of the deserted streets. "Let's go see if Giles is home."
++++++++++++
He'd roamed the streets of Sunnydale many nights before in the past few years he'd called the place home sweet home.
The one thing that never failed to surprise him was how oblivious the good citizens of the little burg were. People disappeared on a regular basis and sometimes returned after their funeral. Strange beasties prowled out of the corner of the eye, things that clearly weren't human. Even the town forefather had turned into a giant snake.
But no one batted an eye, and fresh meat continued to wander the streets late at night and provide easy pickings at the Bronze buffet.
He glanced at the dark and deserted street as they made their way through less traveled roads to Giles's apartment. This was not the same old Sunnydale. The houses were shuttered, many with iron bars, and no rays of light spilled out onto the street to attract attention.
And not a tasty morsel was in sight. An abandoned car littered the side of the roadway, something obscene spray painted across its hood, and bits of trash swirled past them across the concrete. But humanity was not to be seen.
"Guess Sunnydale finally wised up," he muttered.
She was clutching her stake firmly at the ready as she walked beside him, sweeping the street with her eyes. All predator.
"Looks like. Except for those . . . never mind," she replied.
He followed her gaze to the vamps emerging from behind an abandoned car. Just a handful, but clearly intent on closing in on the two idiots roaming the streets so late.
Spike fell into position beside her. "You want the big one or the two smaller ones in front?"
"I'll take the big guy," she responded.
"Good enough."
It wasn't the fairest of fights really, they had the element of surprise on their side and Mutt, Jeff and Co. were entirely taken aback by the pint-size ass kicker who whirled past him and sent their apparent leader up in a cloud of ashes before they could blink.
Then they were gone as well.
Buffy gleefully dusted her hands and flicked off the bits of vamp remains that had landed like flakes of dirty snow on her black shirt. "Now that felt good."
He fell back in beside her as they resumed their walk. "Amazing."
“Me killing those vamps? Hardly. They barely put a fight. Easy pickings." She gave a little bounce that reminded him of the Buffy of before.
"No, not the vamps. This place. Sunnydale's not the same town without you."
She was quiet until they'd gone another half block. Then she spoke. "I wonder if the Buffy in this world is happier though? Because she didn't come here? She didn't die at the hands of the Master, or lose . . . or have to stop the world from ending over and over again."
"You don't know that, Buffy."
She shrugged. "Maybe not. Look, here's Giles's place.
He let her change the subject and followed her into the courtyard below.
++++++++++
Giles's doorway was still dark, but Buffy knocked for several minutes before collapsing back against the stairs in defeat. She'd been sure they'd find him here this late. How were they going to get home without him?
Spike roamed the courtyard, poking at things and testing the doorknob. Sometimes she found that nervous energy fascinating, that he could be so animated when he was so, well, dead. She wished she had half his zest for life, and all that came with it. She wished she could get over dying as easily as he seemed to have.
He stopped again in front of her, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "So where to next? Giles have any birds stashed around town 'bout this time where we might find him?"
Buffy wrinkled her nose. "Eww, no. At least I don't think so. There was Ms. Calendar, and I don't know if she'd still be around. I guess if I was never here, neither was Angel. So I wouldn't have . . . and he wouldn't have killed her."
Her voice trailed off and she was drifting again. He could see it. And he knew the best way to stop that slide. "So does that mean you're all untouched in this world, pet? Not let anyone slide between those dimpled knees yet?"
She glared and batted at his arm, but he could see the subtle shift in her mood. "Hardly likely with you around, is it?"
He leaned in closer, pinning her against the steps as he ghosted his lips across her face and whispered, "Now is that an invitation?"
She turned her head for a moment, but he knew he had her, could feel the pounding of her pulse against his mouth as he traced her throat, then returned to the warmth of her lips. She didn't even bother to protest, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting him shift her up to straddle his lap as she sought purchase against the stairs. She balanced herself on his thighs, her tongue never leaving his mouth.
Until a loud harummph sounded above them and she scrambled off, only her Slayer grace preventing her from an inelegant tumble into the courtyard below.
"Giles!"
++++++++++++
He watched the Watcher as he eased down the steps, looking older than his counterpart, but with the same worn expression Giles had born last summer. When she was gone.
He had a crossbow in his hand. "Who are you?"
Buffy stepped forward, suddenly tentative. "I'm Buffy Summers. And you're Rupert Giles. I know this may sound crazy, but you were supposed to be my Watcher if I had come to Sunnydale."
Spike watched something that looked a little like hope creep over the grey face as Giles slowly lowered the crossbow. "Buffy?"
She smiled. "Yes! And this is . . ." she shot him a glance, "William. This is William."
Giles gave him the once over, and he could see the raised eyebrow at the leather and bleach. But he said nothing as Buffy plowed ahead, animated once more.
"Giles, we need your help. We're from a different dimension and we need to get back to where we came from. I have a sister there, and she's all alone. There's a Giles there, and he knows all about spells and how to fix stuff. I was hoping you would too."
Spike had to admit that were it him, he'd be dialing the looney bin direct to come collect the bug-shagging crazy pair on his doorstep. But if he was anything like Giles I, this version would find them fascinating and polish his glasses a thousand times as he mulled the implications and pawed through dusty old tomes.
Giles II did seem to be cut from the same cloth. He nodded to Buffy and moved past them both to his front door. "Very well then. Perhaps I can help."
There was something a bit off in Giles's tone as he gave his acquiescence, unlocked the wooden door and walked inside, leaving it standing ajar. Buffy followed eagerly as Spike stood still in the courtyard. The Watcher had figured it out.
"Spike, aren't you coming?" She stopped in the doorway and Giles appeared behind her.
“Yes, Spike, aren't you?" he echoed, crossbow at the ready again.
It was a split second before she realized she'd slipped and called him Spike, and a fraction more before it sunk in that Giles knew he wasn't human. But it was fast enough, and her upflung arm jarred the crossbow a fraction so that the bolt whistled high and to the left, grazing his shoulder just a bit.
"Giles, wait, you don't understand. Spike's different." Her pleading words didn't matter, really, because the look in Giles's eyes as he shoved the door shut in her face clearly said he wasn't looking for explanations.
Despite the slight throb in his shoulder, he felt something warm unfurl inside. Whether from her words, or her actions, he wasn't sure. She'd just saved him. She thought he was different. She wasn't leaving without him.
He didn't think she'd worked that out exactly, in her head. Probably wouldn't, not on any level of consciousness. But the fact that she didn't stand to the side and let that bolt fly straight to his heart means something. He'd take another beating in the alley right now if she asked.
She pounded on the door, demanding Giles open up and talk to her. Spike stopped her hand as she smashed it again so hard she drew blood.
"Enough, Buffy. He's not going to open up."
The fury turned on him then, as expected and she ranted and raved as he led her up the stairs and back to the street. He ignored it, trying to mull what Plan B should be. He'd never been good with backups, even worse than his A plans, but there had to be someone in this town who could mojo them back to where they belonged.
"This is your fault. If it weren't for you . . ." Before he could stop her, Buffy turned and ran off into the night.
"Bugger." So much for plan B.
The moonlight was bright now, flooding the graveyard like a spotlight, hiding nothing. He spotted a group near the entrance, clustered near the newer graves. A party to welcome some fledging new vamp into the world. He'd been to such things before, but never with a Slayer.
Spike glanced behind him and saw that Buffy had skulked back into the shadows, trying unsuccessfully to reach the limb of one of the trees that overhung the crypt.
"What are you doing?" he hissed under his breath, trying to count the number of vampires that were milling about.
"I need a stake."
He fumbled in his pocket and tossed one at her, which she deftly caught while asking, "Is there anything you don't keep in that coat?"
He winked, turning his attention to her for a moment, "Want to come find out?" A noise over his shoulder pulled him back to the scene at hand and he noticed one of the vamps was staring, puzzled, in their direction.
"Slayer, I think we'd best run," he stated matter of factly, edging back further into the shadows.
"What are you talking about?"
He grabbed her arm and pulled her with him behind the protective screen of the crypt. "Heard the one about living to fight another day?"
"Spike, if there's one thing I know, it's how to take out a vamp."
"How 'bout two dozen?"
Buffy peered around the crypt at his direction and he watched as she slowly retreated, her face ashen.
"Spike, that's Willow and Xander out there." She looked unnerved and he gave her a quick shake.
"Stop that. Not going to go all girly-girl on me, are you? I thought not. Now run."
He grabbed her arm and they dodged behind the line of tombstones towards the back wall of the cemetery.
++++++++++
Three blocks later, she slowed down, rubbing her calf ruefully. "Stupid boots. So not made for running. Or walking even."
"Why'd you wear them, then?" he asked.
She gave him a look that said stupid. "Cause racing through the streets wasn't on my list of things to do this afternoon. I had other plans."
"Oh. Right." Seemed a million years since she'd shown up in his crypt, all hot to trot and ready to go, not just a few hours. "So where to next, Slayer?"
She glanced around, noting the intersection of the deserted streets. "Let's go see if Giles is home."
++++++++++++
He'd roamed the streets of Sunnydale many nights before in the past few years he'd called the place home sweet home.
The one thing that never failed to surprise him was how oblivious the good citizens of the little burg were. People disappeared on a regular basis and sometimes returned after their funeral. Strange beasties prowled out of the corner of the eye, things that clearly weren't human. Even the town forefather had turned into a giant snake.
But no one batted an eye, and fresh meat continued to wander the streets late at night and provide easy pickings at the Bronze buffet.
He glanced at the dark and deserted street as they made their way through less traveled roads to Giles's apartment. This was not the same old Sunnydale. The houses were shuttered, many with iron bars, and no rays of light spilled out onto the street to attract attention.
And not a tasty morsel was in sight. An abandoned car littered the side of the roadway, something obscene spray painted across its hood, and bits of trash swirled past them across the concrete. But humanity was not to be seen.
"Guess Sunnydale finally wised up," he muttered.
She was clutching her stake firmly at the ready as she walked beside him, sweeping the street with her eyes. All predator.
"Looks like. Except for those . . . never mind," she replied.
He followed her gaze to the vamps emerging from behind an abandoned car. Just a handful, but clearly intent on closing in on the two idiots roaming the streets so late.
Spike fell into position beside her. "You want the big one or the two smaller ones in front?"
"I'll take the big guy," she responded.
"Good enough."
It wasn't the fairest of fights really, they had the element of surprise on their side and Mutt, Jeff and Co. were entirely taken aback by the pint-size ass kicker who whirled past him and sent their apparent leader up in a cloud of ashes before they could blink.
Then they were gone as well.
Buffy gleefully dusted her hands and flicked off the bits of vamp remains that had landed like flakes of dirty snow on her black shirt. "Now that felt good."
He fell back in beside her as they resumed their walk. "Amazing."
“Me killing those vamps? Hardly. They barely put a fight. Easy pickings." She gave a little bounce that reminded him of the Buffy of before.
"No, not the vamps. This place. Sunnydale's not the same town without you."
She was quiet until they'd gone another half block. Then she spoke. "I wonder if the Buffy in this world is happier though? Because she didn't come here? She didn't die at the hands of the Master, or lose . . . or have to stop the world from ending over and over again."
"You don't know that, Buffy."
She shrugged. "Maybe not. Look, here's Giles's place.
He let her change the subject and followed her into the courtyard below.
++++++++++
Giles's doorway was still dark, but Buffy knocked for several minutes before collapsing back against the stairs in defeat. She'd been sure they'd find him here this late. How were they going to get home without him?
Spike roamed the courtyard, poking at things and testing the doorknob. Sometimes she found that nervous energy fascinating, that he could be so animated when he was so, well, dead. She wished she had half his zest for life, and all that came with it. She wished she could get over dying as easily as he seemed to have.
He stopped again in front of her, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "So where to next? Giles have any birds stashed around town 'bout this time where we might find him?"
Buffy wrinkled her nose. "Eww, no. At least I don't think so. There was Ms. Calendar, and I don't know if she'd still be around. I guess if I was never here, neither was Angel. So I wouldn't have . . . and he wouldn't have killed her."
Her voice trailed off and she was drifting again. He could see it. And he knew the best way to stop that slide. "So does that mean you're all untouched in this world, pet? Not let anyone slide between those dimpled knees yet?"
She glared and batted at his arm, but he could see the subtle shift in her mood. "Hardly likely with you around, is it?"
He leaned in closer, pinning her against the steps as he ghosted his lips across her face and whispered, "Now is that an invitation?"
She turned her head for a moment, but he knew he had her, could feel the pounding of her pulse against his mouth as he traced her throat, then returned to the warmth of her lips. She didn't even bother to protest, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting him shift her up to straddle his lap as she sought purchase against the stairs. She balanced herself on his thighs, her tongue never leaving his mouth.
Until a loud harummph sounded above them and she scrambled off, only her Slayer grace preventing her from an inelegant tumble into the courtyard below.
"Giles!"
++++++++++++
He watched the Watcher as he eased down the steps, looking older than his counterpart, but with the same worn expression Giles had born last summer. When she was gone.
He had a crossbow in his hand. "Who are you?"
Buffy stepped forward, suddenly tentative. "I'm Buffy Summers. And you're Rupert Giles. I know this may sound crazy, but you were supposed to be my Watcher if I had come to Sunnydale."
Spike watched something that looked a little like hope creep over the grey face as Giles slowly lowered the crossbow. "Buffy?"
She smiled. "Yes! And this is . . ." she shot him a glance, "William. This is William."
Giles gave him the once over, and he could see the raised eyebrow at the leather and bleach. But he said nothing as Buffy plowed ahead, animated once more.
"Giles, we need your help. We're from a different dimension and we need to get back to where we came from. I have a sister there, and she's all alone. There's a Giles there, and he knows all about spells and how to fix stuff. I was hoping you would too."
Spike had to admit that were it him, he'd be dialing the looney bin direct to come collect the bug-shagging crazy pair on his doorstep. But if he was anything like Giles I, this version would find them fascinating and polish his glasses a thousand times as he mulled the implications and pawed through dusty old tomes.
Giles II did seem to be cut from the same cloth. He nodded to Buffy and moved past them both to his front door. "Very well then. Perhaps I can help."
There was something a bit off in Giles's tone as he gave his acquiescence, unlocked the wooden door and walked inside, leaving it standing ajar. Buffy followed eagerly as Spike stood still in the courtyard. The Watcher had figured it out.
"Spike, aren't you coming?" She stopped in the doorway and Giles appeared behind her.
“Yes, Spike, aren't you?" he echoed, crossbow at the ready again.
It was a split second before she realized she'd slipped and called him Spike, and a fraction more before it sunk in that Giles knew he wasn't human. But it was fast enough, and her upflung arm jarred the crossbow a fraction so that the bolt whistled high and to the left, grazing his shoulder just a bit.
"Giles, wait, you don't understand. Spike's different." Her pleading words didn't matter, really, because the look in Giles's eyes as he shoved the door shut in her face clearly said he wasn't looking for explanations.
Despite the slight throb in his shoulder, he felt something warm unfurl inside. Whether from her words, or her actions, he wasn't sure. She'd just saved him. She thought he was different. She wasn't leaving without him.
He didn't think she'd worked that out exactly, in her head. Probably wouldn't, not on any level of consciousness. But the fact that she didn't stand to the side and let that bolt fly straight to his heart means something. He'd take another beating in the alley right now if she asked.
She pounded on the door, demanding Giles open up and talk to her. Spike stopped her hand as she smashed it again so hard she drew blood.
"Enough, Buffy. He's not going to open up."
The fury turned on him then, as expected and she ranted and raved as he led her up the stairs and back to the street. He ignored it, trying to mull what Plan B should be. He'd never been good with backups, even worse than his A plans, but there had to be someone in this town who could mojo them back to where they belonged.
"This is your fault. If it weren't for you . . ." Before he could stop her, Buffy turned and ran off into the night.
"Bugger." So much for plan B.