By Catseyes

Story: A visitor from Spike’s past gives Buffy an insight into her own feelings.

Feedback: Scoobygang63@hotmail.com very welcome. I wanna know if everyone likes Catherine as much as I do!

Rating: god knows, I’m English so… not too naughty?

Note: Riley does get killed (hahahaha!) so if you like Riley, please don’t be offended.

Credits: I also wrote Supernatural Separation. This is only my second fic!

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters besides Catherine and Ka’raath.

 

The Bronze was crammed with people from all over Sunnydale. Splendid were playing tonight and no-one wanted to miss it. Buffy and the gang danced away to Charge. Buffy was feeling great tonight. She was with everyone that mattered. The gang, her sister, Giles sitting at the bar watching them with a smile, like a proud parent. And that’s what he was to Buffy and Dawn. The closest thing they had to a parent nowadays. They loved him, and he loved and cared for them. Her and Dawn’s little family was doing quite well, thanks to him. Buffy smiled at the thought as Willow grabbed her hand and they continued to dance.

In a dark corner, Spike sat on a threadbare sofa watching the slayer and her friends. The light from a grimy Tiffany lamp bathed his pale features in a red tinted light. His face wore an statement of pain and longing. He did love Buffy, that was true but it wasn’t the sole source of his feelings. He felt isolated, alone, cut off from any contact with the world around him. They all hated him, the self-dubbed ‘Scoobies’. Wished him dead. Well he already was, but they meant terminally. Hang around with people like that for too long and you’re bound to feel bad. He saved them all, time and time again. Tried to maintain his oh-so-evil image. But he could feel that with each day, something crept in to his unbeating heart and tore at it. Despite the heat of the crowded club, Spike shivered and wrapped himself in his duster.

Another lone vampire watched the crowd with hunger. This was his first night as a vampire and he was hungry, but he wanted his first kill to be special. Like a first kiss. Only much more gory. Then he spotted her. His first victim. Leaning against the opposite wall, a busty brunette pouted at him. Her dark hair hung by her shoulders in looses curls. She smiled seductively and shifted position. He grinned slyly at her, holding her gaze as he began to move across the floor. The band left the stage to reams of applause. The techie whacked on a CD to cover the silence whilst the band grabbed a drink. Immediately, strains of Nickel’s Stupid Thing floated out of the speakers. The young vampire leaned against his quarry, moving his lips towards her neck, so close that he could smell her skin, hear her blood rushing in her veins. Not yet he told himself as he took her hand and led her on to the dance floor, the vampire swaying rhythmically like a snake about to strike its prey.

“Follow me,” he whispered huskily into her ear. The beauty followed him meekly as he led her towards the door

Spike Sighed, listening to the music. This song had been playing the first time he had watched Buffy dance here. What a bloody pathetic idiot I’ve become since then… Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice Buffy approaching him. She walked over to Spike and sat down, handing him a drink. He took it hesitatingly and sniffed at it.

“Oh come on Spike, It’s not poison!” He looked up at her inquisitively, before taking a big swig.

“Thanks love,” he murmured, a little subdued.

“What’s wrong?” Buffy sighed tiredly, turning in her seat and bringing her legs up on to the sofa. Spike shook his head at her, saying nothing. She gave him a look.

“Oh for gods sake woman! Ever think that it’s none of your business! Contrary to popular belief, I’m not your toy! You can’t just switch me on and then discard me as soon as you’ve had your fill! I’m fed up with the way you treat me, all of you!” there were tears of anger and frustration in his eyes now as he tried to make her understand. He got to his feet, face red. He was shouting. “It’s quite obvious what you think of me! ‘Don’t bother trying to be nice to Spike, he wont notice’ well I do! I- god I wish I could hate you all, but I can’t! You’re the closest things to friends I have but you treat me like dirt!” he became more quiet, surprised by his own outburst. He shook as he tried to control himself. “Sorry,” he mumbled “and it is possible for me to feel sorry you know.” With that he left, thrusting his drink in to the hand of a young man near the door. “Here, you take it. Have your self a real nice time.” He spat before storming out of the door. Seated on the sofa, watching him leave, Buffy swallowed hard, blinking back the tears of surprise and confusion that threatened to overcome her.

The newly made vampire was momentarily taken aback. He gazed for a minute at the drink in his hand, and the at the blonde guy who had just left. Shrugging he threw the cup to the floor and smiled as he grasped the girl by the wrist, striding outside towards the alley beside the Bronze. Once there he stopped smiling. Roughly, he shoved her up against a chain link fence at the end of the alley, chuckling at her shocked statement. His face twisted and he pulled back his lips to reveal yellowing fangs.

“Surprised?” he growled menacingly. The girl sighed.

“I suppose I shouldn’t be. You Sunnydale guys are all the same, you know.”

The vampire frowned. This wasn’t right.

“Huh?” The girl leaned towards him.

“You’re new to this aren’t you? Don’t be embarrassed, I’m a little different too,” she purred. “Want me to show you the ropes?” she asked, grabbing him by the shoulders and twisting violently so that he was up against the fence instead of her.

“Sorry,” he snarled, recovering slightly. “I don’t play with my food.”

“Pity,” she shrugged, taking a step back and drawing a stake from the waist of her jeans, smiling at him. “But I wasn’t planning on getting eaten.” With a roar of anger, the vampire lunged forward. The girl spun daintily and paused, waiting for him to turn to face her again before grasping the fence behind her head and flipping her legs up to plant both feet squarely on his chest. He flew backwards and hit the wall hard. The girl launched a punch to his chin, snapping his head back, before diving on top of him and driving her stake through his heart. She glanced in satisfaction at the resulting dust pile, before turning on her heel and marching silently away.

******

We have electricity

conducting sparks

shower with me

We made this spell

We may disappear…

Buffy leant back into the luxurious softness of the plush red sofa as the first notes of You And Me floated towards her. The band were back on stage and she was alone. Giles had taken Dawn home hours ago. Xander and Anya were slow dancing, as were Willow and Tara. Buffy felt oddly lonely, sitting there watching them dancing among the other couples. She remembered Riley and then Angel, remembered what it felt like when she was with them, the warmth. She new she was over them both. She could only remember these feelings and wish she could experience them again.

Movin on the couch

I hold you like a baby bird

Runnin my hands

in your worn black head

you don't need to be number one

and that's how come you are

Her mind began to wander. She thought of Spike, and his explosion today and she realised, This is how he must feel all the time. On the outside looking in… She dismissed the thought but as the song continued found herself thinking of him again.

I love how you surrender

We made this spell

We may disappear

You and me

She thought of all the things she had done to him, said to him, the pain she must have caused, and a tear ran down her cheek, leaving in it’s path a glistening trail that shone in the half-light. Standing up, she decided what she had to do, and left the Bronze.

In a dank corner of the shuttered warehouse, something sat. Cloaked in a fabric woven from the purest evil, it was motionless. The rats that had once inhabited the place had fled with it’s arrival, sensing it’s motives. As quickly as they had ran, some had been caught. Held by an invisible force, they had scrambled blindly to escape, their shrieks of terror only spurring their horrified brethren on to greater efforts. The unfortunate lay on the dry, cold floor. Empty husks, devoid of life. The hulking demon regarded them coldly. They were not nearly enough to calm it’s hunger. Silently, it rose.

Buffy strode purposefully through the dark streets of Sunnydale. Suddenly, she froze, sensing something. She listened carefully turning slowly in hope of pinpointing the cause of her alarm. There was a screech from behind her and she jumped round, arms in front of her face- ready to fight, only to be met by a startled cat, racing past her with it’s ears flat against it’s bullet head. Buffy sighed with relief, turning to continue on her way, when a hand came out from the shadows behind her. She felt cold flesh tighten around her neck, burning her skin and lifting her bodily from the ground. She flopped like a fish, struggling to free herself, but the grip was like a vice, tight and irremovable. Then Buffy was thrown to the floor. Rolling in agony, she clutched at her head and tried to clear the lights flashing in front of her eyes.

“Where’s Buffy?” Willow scanned the crowded club. “She was here a moment ago.”

“Relax Wil, she probably went home when you and Tara were getting all smoochy.”

“Yeah like you and Anya weren’t doing the same!” She gave Xander a disapproving smile before adding, “I wish she’d waited for us though…”

“Come on, Buffy’ll be fine. She’s the Chosen One remember, she can look after herself.”

Buffy looked about her frantically for a glimpse of her attacker but saw nothing but shadows. Then it drifted silently forward. She stared up, horrified into the face of a huge cloaked demon. He was eerily silent as he regarded her. Not wanting to waste this opportunity, the slayer rocked back and flipped herself onto her feet and straight into a spinning kick. When she was once again facing him she let rip a volley of punches, followed by a roundhouse kick. The hooded demon caught her foot and twisted hard, sending Buffy sprawling on the tarmac once again. She looked over her shoulder at her assailant and was filled with fear. Her onslaught seemed to have had no effect on him. He bent and lifted her by the throat once again. She winced in pain. He lifted her up to his face and squeezed, choking her. Buffy clawed at his hands, feeling her vision fade. Her head felt as though it were a balloon being over-inflated, the pressure was immense and she thought she was dead. Then at the last minute, the demon dropped her to the floor. The last thing the spluttering slayer felt before she blacked out was the demon gripping her limp wrists and dragging her into the bushes.

Sirens wailed outside the cockroach infested motel in the centre of the dock area of Sunnydale. Leaning out of the window, the girl from the Bronze closed her eyes and felt the breeze caress her face, lifting her hair. She could smell the blood up here, even with the overpowering stench of urine and damp. She was startlingly pretty, with eyes like emeralds. She looked down at the note clutched tightly in her hand and began to read it for the seventh or eighth time.

Sunnydale, California.

Hellmouth.

There was a knock at the door.

“Hey! Hey you in there! Where’s my rent?” Sighing, the brunette moved away from the window and pulled a wad of notes from her back pocket. She opened the door to a squat man wearing a pair of ill fitting jeans and a stained white vest. She wordlessly handed him the money. “Thanks Miss…?”

“Catherine. Catherine Knight.” She stated in a deadpan tone with a pretty English accent.

“Right, well…” he was taken back by her empty statement and quickly left her. God, he thought as he hurried back to his room, I’ve never seen someone with eyes like that before…

Buffy felt the gentle warmth of the sun on her cheek. What a dream…she thought sluggishly, shifting her head in an attempt to remove the ache in her neck. She regretted it immediately as the ache turned into a burn. She attempted to bring her hands to her throat but they were held tight above her head. With a jolt her memories of last night came flooding back and her eyes snapped open. She jerked her hands again before she realised that they were chained to the thick wooden beam above her. She looked around her and realised that she was in a warehouse. The only light came from a broken window. A figure stood opposite, watching her. The demon from last night! She rattled her chains at him.

“Who are you?” she shouted. He didn’t reply. “What do you want with me?” He turned and melted out of sight.

*****

“What? Dawn slow down.” Spike held the lithe girl by the shoulders and bent until his face was on the same level as hers. “Now what’s the matter?” Dawn was panicky.

“Buffy didn’t come home last night. The- the gang can’t find her. Spike I’m scared, Buffy wouldn’t do this. It isn’t like her to leave me!”

“Don’t worry Dawn, I’ll find big-sis. Now get to school!” Spike hid his concern, for the sake of the distraught teen. He watched her leave before rushing around his crypt, collecting together weapons and equipment for the search he would conduct that night. Xander, who had hidden whilst Dawn had been there, began climbing up from the sewer man hole in the crypt. He hadn’t wanted to alarm Dawn by showing that he was worried enough to think this warranted getting Spike’s help. Spike was too busy to pay much attention. “Bloody hell, slayer,” he muttered, his fear dripping off of every syllable, “What nasty’s after you now?”

“He’s after you and me actually. The blonde’s just bait.”

*****

Startled, Spike spun around to see a woman silhouetted in the doorway. She took a step forward, her rich brown hair contrasting with her strangely vibrant green eyes.

“Catherine?” he laughed, his surprise etched onto every feature. “I haven’t seen you in decades!”

“Centuries actually, but who’s counting?” she walked up to him, stroking his chest whilst eyeing him appreciatively. “You’re looking very well.” She purred, bringing her hand to rest above his still heart and closing her eyes. He did the same, feeling her consciousness enter his, probing silently, learning things about him even he didn’t know. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand up. She hissed at him, her eyes flashing.

“Now, now kitten. You know I don’t like you doing that without asking.” His face twisted as his vampire features revealed themselves.

“Your face betrays you,” she whispered, touching the contours of his forehead. “I can see your pleasure.” Spike smiled sullenly and shook off his game face.

“Couldn’t you always.” He deadpanned, moving back from her.

“So,” She sighed, draping herself across the top of the tomb at one end of the crypt, “You’re in love with the slayer and you have a- a soul?”

“A soul? You’re crazy pet. I’m soul free me. A sodding chip, is what I got.” She shook her head with a sly smile.

“No, not the chip, there’s something else there. Almost a soul. It’s what’s causing all these fuzzy feelings you keep getting for humans.” She sniffed the air tentatively, eyes wide. “Speaking of humans…” she darted to the manhole and threw the heavy cover aside as though it were paper. She reached into the hole and pulled out a terrified Xander, who had hidden when she came in. She snarled into his face, curling her upper lip to reveal prominent, pointed canines.

“Spike?!” Xander yelled as she threw him onto the tomb. Catherine jumped nimbly up and landed on all fours over him with a hand on his chest. As the terrified Xander watched helplessly, her hand began to darken and grow and her features morph, her teeth becoming longer.

“Down kitten, he’s a friend.” She turned to Spike, features returning to normal. “Play nice.” He commanded. She smiled evilly and jumped off. Xander sat up slowly.

“If you wanna help your girlfriend, meet me in the alley behind the Bronze at sun down. I’m fighting for good now. Well… when it suits me.” Without a backward glance at Xander she strode towards the door at out into the day. Xander stared after her.

“Well wasn’t she nice.” He said, stunned. Spike kept staring at the door.

“Yeah. She’s a real pussycat…”

England in the 1800’s, London Docklands.

A mysterious young woman dressed richly in black moved out from the shadows. There was something strange about her, about the way she padded noiselessly between the towers of crates. Something almost…feline. A tall man with lengthy dark blonde hair stepped forward to meet her. She smiled at him, revealing sparkling white teeth, a little too pointed for a human. He grinned back at her, cheekily.

“Where are the others?” She asked him in a low voice.

“I said I’d be alone didn’t I?” She smiled at him and moved closer, her face inches from his. He grabbed her arms and held her tightly there. She grinned at his angry statement and leaned her face in closer.

“What’s the matter, Spike? Afraid Drusilla will be mad? You should have brought her.” She pulled up her top lip menacingly, revealing her fangs. “I’m sure we would have…got on.”

“Now, now kitten, you know she doesn’t respect me. None of them do. That’s why I’m here.” He kissed her roughly. Smiling at her delighted statement he whispered huskily, “So don’t go getting all jealous.”

“Aren’t you worried that that demon is going to come after you?” She gasped in between their frantic kisses. He kissed her neck and stroked her hair as he replied.

“Who? Ka’raath? That sodding idiot. Oh yeah, ending the world, that’s original. Besides destroying his plans with you is much better than hiding from the slayer with Angelus and his motley crew.” Suddenly she pulled back from him, motioning for him to keep silent. She turned her head slightly, her ebony hair was piled up on to her head, loosely curling tendrils lifting in the breeze. She turned her beautiful emerald eyes onto him and whispered.

“There’s something here…” Spike turned just as a fist came flying from nowhere, striking him across the face and causing him to go reeling into a nearby crate stack, which promptly fell on him. He scrambled up, putting a hand to his lower lip and chuckling as it returned covered in blood. He looked up at Ka’raath with a taunting grin. Catherine was no-where to be seen. The demon spoke in a language unrecognisable by any human. Spike replied in the same language.

“Nice to see you too.” He joked. The huge demon turned his hooded head this way and that scanning the shadows around them. There was a movement, something shone in the black.

“Tell your girlfriend to reveal herself, vampire.” It growled in it’s ancient, guttural tongue. Spike stood up and shrugged.

“Well, if you insist.” He raised a hand in defeat. “You heard the man, pet… Reveal yourself.” Spike stood boldly. There was a moment of silence, followed by a growl from nearby. The demon Ka’raath looked as anxious as a faceless demon can. Then the scene exploded in a flash of black fur. A huge panther leapt at the demon from behind, tearing at him with powerful jaws. The demon rolled, throwing off his attacker. He sprung up, whirling around to face the creature again, only to find the enormous cat seated calmly in front of Spike. Muscle rippled as she purred, whipping an ebony tail from side to side. The confused Ka’raath stared at the green eyes for a second before realisation dawned.

“You…” he grunted.

“That’s right.” Spike laid a hand on the cat’s head, who closed her eyes happily. “So why don’t you run along, there’s a good chap.” The demon roared at the pair.

“This isn’t over, vampire. I’ll be back to take my revenge on you both.”

“And we’ll be bloody looking forward to it. Now shove off.”

After the demon had left, Catherine morphed back into her human form. Spike shut his eyes whilst she did so. The shapes she passed through on the way to human were enough to turn even a vampire’s stomach. She kissed him gently. He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Well that was nicely done,” he murmured.

“Mmm it was, wasn’t it.” She took him by the hand and led him into the darkness.

*****

Giles paced in front of Spike and Xander, who stood in the Magic Box. The girls were seated at the table before them.

“So this ex of yours, she’s a shapeshifter?”

“Don’t make it sound like something off of Star Trek. She’s a bi-morph. I trust you’re familiar with the term?” Giles looked intrigued.

“Of course, a being who can switch between two shapes! But if she was with you in England, why is she still alive?”

“She’s immortal. Most bi-morphs are. She got bitten by something on a jungle expedition with her father, he was an explorer. All the rich blokes were back then. Now she’s a cat. Well, occasionally.”

“And there’s no trigger? She can morph whenever she wants?”

“You know guys, this is fascinating and all but, can we trust her? I mean she dated Spike..” Willow looked concerned.

“Hey!”

“Sorry,” Willow tried to placate him, “I just meant, isn’t she a demon?”

“Actually no. She just found me attractive.” He sighed at the look of disbelief they gave him and continued to explain. “She’s like your ex-wolfie. Soul havin and all that. She just got bored of being a good little house-pet.” His eyes clouded over as he remembered. “She loved a good hunt. Sexy little thing… we had some good times. She never actually killed a human. Just demons. I respected that. Never killed in front of her. I wonder what she’s doing here.” Xander looked at the darkening sky.

“I guess we’d best find out.”

“Spike.” Catherine’s voice floated out from the end of the alley. She stepped forward. “Is that you? You’re late.” She muttered under her breath. “Some things never change.” She was faced with Ka’raath. “You..” she snarled. He lifted a hand and fired an arrow from a cross bow into her side. She looked at the shaft and pulled it out with some effort. Holding the end to her nose she sniffed at it. “Poison?” Her eyelids began to droop. The demon approached her. She yowled and swiped at him, scratching holes into the sleeve of his robe, before collapsing to the floor.

*****

Catherine came to in a stinking, airless room. She was chained to the roof-beams with her legs shacked to the floor. She shook them hard, straining against the bonds that held her.

“I wouldn’t bother if I were you. This guy knows how to chain people up.” Catherine jerked to her right to see the slayer of this generation chained next to her in the same way.

“Woah,” Buffy registered the girl’s temper, but totally misjudged her feelings. “It’s okay, I’m a friend.” The pretty girl smiled dryly.

“You wouldn’t be saying that, slayer, if you knew who I am.”

“You know I’m the slayer?”

“Give the girl a gold star!” Buffy narrowed her eyes, hating the girl immediately.

“Bite me.” Buffy muttered. Catherine’s sharp feline hearing picked up the words.

“Oh don’t worry,” She drawled to Buffy, her teeth elongating at her face morphing into it’s feline form, and then back again. Buffy stared, shocked. Catherine smiled. “I will.” Before Buffy could react, the hulking demon returned, followed by about 50 or so vampires carrying an enormous jewelled box. “Oh no..” Catherine groaned. Buffy turned her head towards her.

“What? What? Hello!” Catherine turned to her, “What?!?!” The girl began frantically straining at her bonds.

“ I’m Catherine, and that’s the demon Ka’raath. Spike and I really pissed him off in the 1800’s and now he’s back for king-sized revenge. And that is the box of Ka’raath.” Buffy looked confused.

“What’s it do? You know Spike?”

“You wanna live? Then we gotta get out of here.”

“It’s no use, these chains are rock solid…” Buffy trailed off in amazement as the girl heaved the chains that held her feet to the floor right out of the woodwork. She swung her legs up and wrapped them around the beam her hands were tied to. Buffy watched as she hooked a foot through the chains and pushed. Her hands morphed in to huge paws which slid through the cuffs as they grew in size. Then she dropped to the floor in a blur, landing as a fully morphed cat.

Riley watched through the window at Buffy and the strange cat-girl. Graham had told him that something strange was going down in Sunnydale, but he hadn’t expected it to be this strange. He had rushed back as soon as he heard to see if he could help Buffy. He had kept an eye on her, since she was likely to be at the centre of the activity. Then he had realised that she had been kidnapped, and had tracked her to this warehouse.

Riley watched as the cat-woman attacked a few vampires but there were a lot more coming. She seemed to be holding her own, although Buffy was unable to free herself from the chains. Time to help, she thought. He gulped, eyes on Buffy. That was one reunion he knew was not going to be pretty.

Buffy watched the cat fight off the demons with a slight turn of her stomach. She destroyed the creatures by tearing off their heads. It was a messy, but effective way of dispatching them. The cat pounced up onto the wooden ceiling beam. The vampires all backed off, waiting for the cat to descend. Instead, Catherine changed back, jumping into a somersault, landing behind the demons. They hadn’t noticed. Catherine cleared her throat.

“Excuse me?” she asked politely, as she drove the stake pulled from her pocket into the demons back. It collapsed into a cloud of dust. The vampires turned to face her. “What does a girl have to do to get some attention around here?” She spun, kicking several demons. Grabbing the closest one by his shoulders she twisted and threw him over her shoulder in to the vampires coming at her from behind.

Watching Catherine fight, Buffy was amazed by her skill and speed, but also her immense power. Buffy thought she might even be stronger than herself. As Buffy was observing Catherine, she didn’t notice a tall red-headed vampire approaching her from the front. He bared his fangs at her.

“I don’t think you should be eating the hostage,” Buffy stammered nervously, straining at her chains. The vampire leant towards her.

“Face it slayer,” He growled, “You’re gonna need a miracle to escape from here alive.”

“Present.” Both Buffy and the vampire turned to see Riley standing in the doorway holding a crossbow. He fired it at the demon and looked up as he turned to ashes. “Need a hand?” He ran and jumped in to the throng and struggled over to Buffy, whose chains he cut with an axe salvaged from a nearby vamp. The slayer crumpled to the floor. Riley looked around for the vampires, pulling Buffy to her feet and handing her a stake. Their eyes met for a second, and Buffy scowled at him. She shook his hand off her arm and together they fought their way over to Catherine. The three of them made a break for the door and ran out into the night, following Catherine as she ran ahead of them. The three paused as Catherine turned to sniff the air.

“This way,” she ran off down an alley way, heading for the Bronze.

The trio met up with the others who where still waiting in the alley beside the club. Buffy turned to Riley.

“What are you doing here?” she asked angrily. He searched her face for some emotion other than hate.

“I heard… I thought you might need my help.” Buffy turned her back to him.

“I don’t.” Riley stood alone in the alley watching Catherine and Buffy leave to join the others before silently slipping away.

“But what I don’t g-get is how your clothes ch-change with you.” Tara stammered. Catherine smiled.

“Just a little magick. I studied witchcraft for about a century so that spell is easy to perform. I find it’s more useful to be able to Change without having to run about naked when I change back!”

“I remember when you used to run about naked…” Spike sighed. “What?” he yelled as the others looked at him. A slow song came on. Giles assured Buffy that he would research this new demon and then left. Catherine swayed in her seat to the music. Spike watched her. He remembered all the times they’d spent together. She was wearing tight red leather trousers and a black vest. Her leather jacket lay at her side. Her long wavy hair curled gently by her shoulders. His eyes followed the line of her jaw and her taut neck muscles. She sensed him watching her and turned, arching her back at him. He smiled at her and she smiled flirtatiously back. Standing up she took his hands and gently pulled him onto the dance floor. They began to dance, her head on his shoulder. He reached up to stroke her hair, one hand on her waist. She left one hand on his arm and moved the other to his heart.

“Do you mind?” she whispered. He shook his head. She closed her eyes.

Buffy was transfixed by the dancing couple. Xander’s words seemed to drift away until all she could see was them. As they turned, Catherine looked over Spike’s shoulder and stared hard at Buffy. Buffy returned the stare until they had moved sideways on to her again. Catherine, with a sly grin at Buffy, reached up and took Spike’s chin in her hands, guiding his lips down to meet hers. As they shared a lingering, sweet kiss, Buffy stood sharply and left the Bronze.

Spike and Catherine ran, hand in hand out of the entrance to the Bronze. They where both a little drunk and Catherine was giggling maniacally.

“And, and do you remember when we pushed Darla down that well? She was soooo mad!” Catherine snorted with laughter. “I don’t think she liked me much.” Spike stopped laughing and pulled he close into him. He gazed breathlessly down at her.

“God, I missed you.” He rasped. Catherine smiled.

“Really?” she smiled seductively. “So…” she ran a hand down between them. Spike’s eyes went wide. “What do you wanna do now?”

The following morning the extended group had agreed to meet in the Magic Box. Buffy, Anya, Willow and Tara were sat round the table. Giles was shuffling amongst his books.

“So,” Buffy began. “Did you find out anything about our demon?”

“Well actually it seems there isn’t much know about him-” Buffy cut him off.

“So?”

“Um, no. Nothing.” Buffy stared in disbelief.

“Nothing?” Giles shook his head. Buffy sighed. “Well the plan is, we split up and look for these minion guys, see if they’ll tell us anything. They all were wearing these green tunic thingies. You’ll know ‘em when you see ‘em. Split up and capture one if possible and bring it back here. Got it?” She surveyed her troops, who nodded unenthusiastically and started getting up to leave. At that moment a dishevelled Catherine walked through the doorway. She was still wearing her clothes from last night which where creased and dirty. Buffy took all this in with a pang of jealousy and wondered at herself. She was jealous of Catherine for being with Spike?

“Mmm, sorry I’m late,” she mumbled. “Do I get a spanking?” She pouted naughtily at Giles who snorted at her and hurried away. Buffy felt her anger welling up inside her.

“A word?” she asked her. “In private?” Catherine got up and mooched out the door after Buffy.

In the training room, Buffy grabbed Catherine by the throat and pinned her up against the wall.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Buffy hissed between clenched teeth. “You come here, to my town, insult my Watcher, seduce my…friend, and I tolerate you! Why is that?” She squeezed her neck slightly. “Why haven’t I killed you yet?”

“You think you could?” Catherine choked out. She gripped Buffy’s wrist and pulled her hand away, twisting it so that she flipped Buffy on to her back. Catherine pounced on her, straddling her. She held Buffy still with her powerful thighs and held her wrists in one hand. The other she placed on Buffy’s heart. Buffy winced as she felt the other girl enter her consciousness. Catherine pulled her hand back, springing lightly to her feet. She hauled Buffy up too.

“What was that?” Buffy puffed.

“I read your heart. It’s a little magick trick I learned a long time ago. And you owe me.”

“What?”

“I’ve made you realise what’s right under your nose. Your heart’s been longing for a long time, Princess, but you’ve been ignoring it. Until I came along.”

“And did what, exactly?”

“Nothing happened between Spike and me, I was too drunk to make it home so I just crashed in his crypt. But I made you think. About your feelings for him.”

“You mean Spike? I don’t have feelings for him…” Catherine laughed.

“You may be able to fool yourself but you can’t fool me. Now you’re gonna have to admit that.” She looked at the slayer thoughtfully. “I want him to be happy.” Buffy stared at her. She felt a new respect for the clever witch. “Come on Princess, your loser friends are waiting.” Sighing Buffy followed the bi-morph. Just because I respect her doesn’t mean I have to like her…

Catherine stalked through the mall. It was closed now as it was the last place on her search list. She had spent the day fruitlessly hunting the vampire order that served Ka’raath. But as she passed the window to the toy store she noticed a glimmer of a reflection in the glass. Her animal instincts kicking in, she dropped to her knees, clutching a hastily drawn stake and rolled along the floor as a blast of electrical energy hit the spot where she had been standing moments before. She looked up to see Riley with a large gun she didn’t recognise trained on her. He smiled.

“I saw you go home with Spike last night after you left the Bronze, and I’m thinking maybe you’re not here to help.”

“That depends.” Catherine retorted confidently as she clambered to her feet. Riley showed no emotion.

“On what?”

“Which side I’m on.” She fell backwards as a bolt from the weapon hit her full on in the chest. She flew through the window which shattered glass everywhere. Landing with a thud on the shop floor she lay still. Riley ran forward. Catherine groaned and looked up at him. “I’m here to help the slayer.” She whispered hoarsely. Riley grimaced at her and held out a hand which she took. He kicked her hard in the stomach.

“Liar.” Catherine fell back and he smacked her over the head with the butt of his gun. She lay sprawled on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Smiling grimly to himself he turned away to retrieve the stake which had gone skittering across the floor as she fell.

“Now to dispose of the body,” he said to himself, turning back to the patch of floor that held Catherine. It was empty. “Or not…” he muttered to himself, raising his gun once again. Catherine jumped at him from the top of the shelves behind him, landing on his back. He struggled to throw her off as she snarled and snapped at him. He ran backwards into one of the shelves in a failed attempt to dislodge her. She flailed behind her as she hit the shelves and her hand found a toy yo-yo. Grasping it firmly, she wrapped the string round the soldier’s thick neck. He struggled to free himself as she jumped back, pulling the rope sharply, garrotting him. He fell twitching to the floor on top of her. Panting heavily, Catherine rolled him off of her, lying on the floor to get her breath back. She looked over at Riley, lying in an expanding pool of his own blood and vomited at the thought of having killed a human. She recovered herself, wiping her mouth and shrugged.

“I really didn’t like that guy.”

Buffy was confused. She walked through one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries as she thought about the things Catherine had said to her. Was this strange feeling she felt for Spike love? She shook away the thought, scowling at herself. He was a vampire. She was the slayer. It could never work. It almost worked with Angel though, didn’t it? Buffy wondered why that had worked so well. He had been able to help her as well as protect himself from the evil that trailed after her ceaselessly. But it had failed. The sex thing. She thought to herself with a sigh. But that wouldn’t be a problem with Spike, because he didn’t have a soul to lose. She thought about this and her brow furrowed, of course that’s kind of a problem in itself… all of a sudden a fist came out of no-where and Buffy sprawled on the pavement, lying still.

Spike was seated in his crypt. In his hand he held a photo of Buffy stolen from her house. He thought about her, how much he loved her. Then he thought about Catherine. The vampire felt a pang of guilt. He didn’t love Catherine, but after seeing Captain Cardboard back again… well, she had been a welcome distraction. He laughed at himself. A creature of the night getting all teared up over a kiss and a dance with his ex. He was supposed to be evil. That’s bloody pathetic that is.

“Good lord.” Giles, alone in the library corner of the Magic Box, sat down hard. Behind him, motionless, stood four vampires, game faces on. One swung a wooden statue at Giles’s head. Before slumping into unconsciousness, the book he held dropped to the floor, open at the page he had been studying.

Giles came to in the warehouse. He turned to see Buffy, Xander and Anya trussed up in the same way as himself. Buffy rattled her chains at him.

“I really hate this guy.” She sighed. Giles looked for Spike, Willow, Tara and Catherine.

“Where are the others?” Buffy shrugged.

“Rescuing us?” Anya asked hopefully. Buffy eyed the huge crowd of vampires in front of them.

“I hope so…” she breathed. The vampires dragged the jewelled box of Ka’raath in to the centre of the floor. Giles gasped. Buffy turned to him. “What?”

“I hate it when he does that!” Xander exclaimed. Giles continued whispering to Buffy.

“That box, as far as I could ascertain, it...um…well…it…”

“Spit it out!”

“It sucks our life force out through our eyes.” Buffy screwed up her nose in disgust.

“Eeeew!” Anya stuck out her tongue making gagging noises.

“Can I stop it?”

“Like this? No. Otherwise… probably not. It’s best not to look if he opens it.”

“Will that help?” Xander asked hopefully.

“You won’t have to watch it.” He looked crestfallen.

“Oh. Great. I’m gonna die.”

*****

Catherine walked into Spike’s crypt. She pushed open the trunk by his wardrobe and began pulling out the contents. A heavy leather belt, a wicked looking knife, a stake. Spike looked up from the couch where he sat, clutching his head. His hair was ruffled and he obviously hadn’t moved from the spot all day.

“What are you doing?” Catherine fastened the belt around her waist and thrust the stake into it. She examined the knife thoughtfully before stowing it along side the stake. Spike had stood up, alarmed by her silence. “What’s wrong?” She didn’t acknowledge him. He grabbed her arm fiercely. She turned and looked at him, eyes full of tears. He looked taken aback. He had never seen her like this. His face softened. “What is it pet?”

“I…I don’t belong here.” He smiled at her. “That soldier boy… he attacked me and now he’s-” Spike laughed.

“You bagged Captain Cardboard? Good for you!” she scowled at him.

“You don’t get it Spike, I’m not like you…” He took her in his arms, holding her as she cried.

“It’s not your fault, you are who you are. You don’t have to be a killer.”

“How can I stop this urge…”

“Stay. Here in Sunnydale. I’ll help you.” She looked up at him and smiled, wiping away her tears.

“And in return, I’ll help you.” He looked puzzled. “The slayer?” she prompted. “I can help-“ she paused, smiling at the irony, “save man kind.” He laughed at her.

“Terrorise is more like it!” Catherine looked up at the full moon outside.

“Come on,” she said, suddenly nervous. “If anything’s gonna happen, it’ll happen tonight.”

*****

“Spike! Catherine!” Willow shouted, running at them as they approached. “Buffy and the others are missing.” Catherine grabbed Willows shoulders.

“Are you sure?” Behind Willow, Tara nodded, stunned. Catherine turned to Spike. “He’s going to kill them all.”

*****

Standing outside the warehouse, the four of them craned to look through the grimy window. Spike surveyed the huge numbers of vampires.

“There’s no way we can take out all that lot in hand to hand.” Catherine turned to look at Willow and Tara.

“We won’t have to. Come on.”

Buffy knew she was in trouble. The vampires were everywhere. She knew there were others in the basement part of the building. The large chest was in the centre of the floor and her and the gang were chained against the back wall, opposite the door. The enormous hooded demon Ka’raath walked over to Buffy and grunted in a deep, guttural language. She looked at Giles questioningly. He only shrugged. Then Anya piped up.

“He said, He’s gonna have his revenge on the vampire and the cat. He said the slayer is a bonus. The last part was a laugh.” She added helpfully. Buffy thanked her. “Wow, sometimes having an ex-demon for a girlfriend is a definite plus.” Xander smiled ruefully. “In case we don’t live, I just want you to know that I...” Anya smiled.

“I know. I love you too.”

Ka’raath spun around as the huge door to the warehouse exploded into a burning ball of black fire. It died down to reveal Catherine striding through the doorway, Willow and Tara behind her. Their eyes were black, empty holes in the very fabric of the universe. Wind whistled around them, lifting their hair and screaming through the building. Catherine lifted both her hands and held them palms together. She drew them slowly apart, all three witches muttering in a language Buffy didn’t recognise. A spark appeared in the space. It swirled growing in to a glowing ball of spitting light. Catherine lifted it, hefting it in one hand before thrusting her hand, fingers spread wide into the air over her head. The ball flew upwards sending out streams of light. Sunlight, Buffy thought, they’ve finished the ball of sunshine! The confused vampires standing in the light, imploded into dust. Catherine turned her hand into a fist and the ball split in to a shower of sparks that cascaded down like fireworks.

Ka’raath roared in his own tongue. Catherine stared at him with blank eyes.

“For god’s sake.” She spat. “Speak English!” Willow thrust both hands towards him, sending green light down his throat. He hesitated before continuing.

“You!” He screamed. “You will die! You all will die!” The vampires that had survived the spell began to move towards the three witches. Tara spotted them.

“Freeze!” she flung a spell at them, and they came up short. She looked surprised by her actions but her face hardened. “Oh yeah, I’m bad.”

Ka’raath smashed Catherine around the face, causing her to fly backwards. She hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. Lifting her head, her eyes returned to their usual green as she called to the demon.

“Okay, you asked for it!” Pushing herself up she ran at him, screaming, “Spike!” The blonde vampire jumped through the window as she collided with the thickset demon, throwing him to the floor. Spike ran to take over, hitting Ka’raath repeatedly in the head. Catherine pulled her stake from her belt. She turned to Willow and Tara. “Free the others!”

Willow ran towards Buffy and began tugging at her bonds.

“Hurry!” Giles said, “We have to stop Ka’raath from opening that box!” Tara grabbed the frantic Willow and pulled her back.

“Let me.” She focused hard. There was a click and the gang fell to the floor. “Ooh, sorry!” Tara ran to help up Giles. Buffy jumped to her feet.

“I need a weapon.”

“Buffy!” Catherine’s cat-like hearing had picked up her voice. “ Heads up!” She threw a sword wrestled from the vamp she was fighting. Buffy reached up and caught it neatly, swinging round to decapitate the vampire that had been sneaking up behind her. She lifted the sword and smiled. “My turn.”

*****

Xander, Willow, Giles, Tara and Anya were doing their bit to thin out the competition. Working together they managed to slay a few vamps. Buffy was like a whirlwind, fighting in a cloud of ashes. Catherine had stayed in her human form to be able to stake the vampires easier. Spike was being beaten by Ka’raath though. The larger demon was stronger and Spike was staggering as blow after blow was rained down on him. The huge demon lifted him up by the scruff of the neck and brought up another hand. He smiled and twisted. There was a sickening crack as Spike’s neck broke. The vampires body sprawled on the floor. Ka’raath picked up the axe Spike had been fighting with and levelled it at his neck.

*****

Buffy body slammed the demon, sending him sprawling on the floor just before he could destroy Spike for good. Ka’raath turned and reached out a hand towards the lid of the chest behind him. Buffy dove for him, but he kicked out, sending her flying. Catherine was too far away to reach him and Willow gripped Tara’s hand tight as the demons fleshy fingers began to raise the lid. A black mist billowed out over the sides, reaching out for them. Catherine jumped into action, changing as she ran. She soared across the floor, stretching as hard as she could, muscles rippling under her ebony fur. All eyes were fixed upon the flying form. Buffy gasped as the mist wafted towards Spike’s prone body. It moved across his out stretched hand, which shrivelled before her eyes.

Catherine landed hard on the lid of the box. It slammed shut and the mist was cut off. Buffy watched as it dissolved before her eyes. Morphing back, Catherine threw the catch. Ka’raath seized the lithe witch by the neck and lifted her off the floor. Furious he threw back his hood and Buffy could see his face for the first time. Hideous and malformed, his features were dominated by a putrid mouth, containing huge black teeth. The monster opened his mouth wide, sinking his teeth into Catherine’s neck. Her eyes went wide and she cried out in pain. Screwing up her face she jerked in his grip. Ka’raath froze, then slowly fell backwards to hit the floor, a wicked looking knife protruding from his chest. Catherine gasped before clutching her neck and dropping to her knees.

Buffy ran forward, wrapping her arms around the bleeding girl. Xander took her from Buffy, helping Catherine to her feet as Buffy lifted Spike into her arms. She smiled painfully at his broken body and they left the horrible scene behind them.

*****

Spike’s eyelids fluttered. Ow, he thought. Bloody demon broke my neck. His eyes snapped open and he tried to sit up but someone laid a restraining hand on his chest.

“Shhh, lie still.”

“Buffy?” He looked up at her. She saw him wince as his inquisitive hand encountered the horrendous bruises on his face.

“It’s ok, the world’s safe. Ka’raath is dead. Catherine killed him.”

“Catherine! Buffy I-”

“It’s ok, she’s still here. She told me everything.” She leant down and kissed him gently, careful not to hurt his swollen lips. He closed his eyes, not wanting to wake up from this wonderful dream. But she was still there when he opened them again. He smiled at her.

*****

Buffy and Spike sat together on the sofa in Xander’s apartment. Spike was talking to Giles about English football.

“Man United are definitely going to win the cup!” Buffy smiled as she listened to them arguing. Spike finally had the friends he’d wanted. The doorbell rang. Buffy frowned, confused.

“Who’s that? We’re all here.”

“Not quite…” Willow, looking guilty, moved towards the door. “I spent some time with Catherine before we rescued you and, well, I think she’s lonely.” She opened the door. Catherine stood awkwardly in the hallway. She smiled shyly and held out a bag of popcorn.

“I brought this.” She said. Willow smiled taking it from her and hurrying to fetch a bowl. Catherine stepped gingerly into the room.

“So… What are you guys watching?”

“The Craft.” Tara told her. Catherine looked confused. “You’ll love it.” She said, motioning for Catherine to join her on the floor. “It’s about these witches…” Catherine smiled as she sat beside Tara, chatting happily to the shy witch. She sighed and looked up at Spike, holding Buffy’s hand. He smiled back, grinning like an idiot. Catherine laughed, Maybe I’ll stay. Just for a little while.

The End