Title: Past Imperfect 4/?
Author: Ruby
E-mail: ruby_113@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-16
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Summary: Spike has had a slight mental adjustment.
Archive: Charity's site, Willow's Men, Fever of Fate,
and all the rest of my usual haunts.
Feedback: Yes, please!
Buffy whirled around as a car screeched to a halt beside the curb. The door flew open, and the slayer's jaw dropped.Back to Fan Fic"Willow!" she called out as the redhead ran to her.
Buffy hugged her and stepped back to take a long, appraising look at her friend.
"Where have you been? We've been looking for you since--" her relieved eyes hardened as Spike came around the front of the car.
"I should have known," she hissed. "I'll stake him!"
"No!" Willow a grabbed hold of the slayer. "It isn't what you think, Buffy. I swear it isn't. Something's wrong. We have to talk to Giles."
***
"You don't know who they were?" Giles asked.
"No idea," Spike answered. "I don't even remember being taken. I just woke up in that room, and Willow was there."
"You shouldn't have gone there alone," Buffy admonished Willow gently. "There's no date on earth more important than you."
"I know," the redhead smiled. "I just--I knew he was in trouble. I had to find him. Anyway, I'm okay."
"Okay?" Xander stared at her. "You've got two holes in your neck. You call that okay?"
"He needed--he was hurt. I offered, Xander," Willow insisted. "He didn't force me."
"I'd never force you, pet," Spike said, taking her hand in both of this own.
"Willow, you said you knew he was in trouble. How did you know? How did you find him?" Giles asked.
"I don't know. I just--did." "My blood drew her to me," Spike told the watcher.
"You drank from him," Giles said to Willow. "That night in your dorm, after he bit you. You drank from him."
"I don't remember it, but I must have," she answered.
"I should stake you right now, you bastard," the slayer glared at Spike.
"Buffy, I know you don't trust me, but you know how I feel about Willow. It isn't unusual for vampires to offer their blood to their lovers," Spike replied.
Buffy gaped at him, as shocked at hearing her name on his lips as she was at his reference to Willow as his lover.
"Spike, how long have you and Willow been--involved?" Giles asked.
"You know all of this--"
"Humor me," the man requested.
Spike shrugged and sat back, pulling Willow with him and tucking her under his arm, "After I left Dru for good and came back here, I realized how I felt about Willow."
"You went to her dorm. Do you remember that?" The vampire nodded and nuzzled his cheek against Willow's hair, "That was the first night we claimed each other, the first time I told her I love her."
"I can't listen to this," Buffy growled. "He's deluded."
"I don't understand you," Spike said to her. "I thought you were okay with this."
"You thought I was okay with you breaking into our room and atta--"
"Buffy!" Willow jumped up and grabbed her arm.
"He's sitting there with his hands all over you like he thinks--"
"Not here," the redhead insisted and pushed her out the front door.
"He's playing some sort of game," Buffy warned her as Willow closed the door. "I don't know what--"
"No, he isn't. He remembers everything--you, Angel, Drusilla, me--everything. He just doesn't remember things correctly."
"Big understatement there, Will."
"Buffy, he never tried to hurt me when we were alone in that house. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gotten out of that place."
"If it weren't for him, you never would have been drawn there to begin with! He forced you to drink his blood the night he attacked you!"
"I know that, now, but I didn't then, and he doesn't remember that night as an attack. We have to find out who those men were and why they took Spike. His memory seemed clear enough before they dragged him off."
"I suppose you're right," Buffy sighed. "But I don't want you near him."
"He thinks we're in love. He won't hurt me,"
"What happens when he really does remember? What do you think he'll do to you then?"
"I don't know," Willow admitted. "But he hasn't tried to hurt me since he was forced into helping us. If he ever remembers things correctly again, he'll also know none of this was our fault."
"Okay, but I'm keeping close tabs on you."
"I hope so," the redhead grinned. "I'm going to get Spike out of here before Xander says something he shouldn't. Will you talk to him about this?"
"Yeah," Buffy nodded. "Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise," Willow nodded. "Oh, and that car we drove up in. Spike stole it from two of the guys who are involved in this."
"And where are those guys now?" she asked.
"Um, well...actually, they're sort of...dead," Willow answered. "But he had to! They had a crossbow and guns and--"
"I get it, Will," Buffy grinned. "I'll ask Giles to check out the car and see if he can find out who owned it."
***
"Buffy didn't seem too keen about you leaving with me," Spike said as they walked toward campus.
"She's just worried, after everything that's happened."
"Can't fault her for that," he nodded. "I'm not letting you out of my sight, you know."
"Spike, my room isn't big enough for the three of us."
"Exactly. So, we'll get a few of your things and go back to my place."
"No! I mean, I can't go off with you now without a word to--"
"I already told Giles while you were talking to Buffy. He knows where you'll be."
Willow looked up at him, "He does? He's okay with it?"
"Yeah. The git didn't seem too thrilled about it, though. I thought he was shagging that demon--what's her name?"
"Anya. I guess they're together. Sort of," she answered.
"Then why is he so jealous that you love me?"
"I'm sure he isn't jealous. We've just been friends since forever, and--"
"He jealous," Spike insisted, his lips curling into a grin. "I'll bet he calls out your name when he's sticking it to her."
"Spike!" she squealed.
He chuckled at the blush that spread over her cheeks and pulled her around to give her a kiss.
"Come on, luv. Let's go get your things and get back to my place. I want to spend tomorrow in bed with you."
