Shaken

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Setting: Buffy has been returned from the Great Beyond for a few
months. Spike, who had been working with the scoobies and was just starting
to get accepted, finds himself an outcast again when his chip suddenly
stops working. (How or why the chip malfunctioned is not important for
the purposes of this story - just go with me to find out what happens
next!)

INT. SPIKE'S CRYPT - NIGHT

Spike is slouched in his chair, staring at nothing, when he hears a
faint knock at the door.

Spike: (loudly) Oh, don't get all polite on me now, Slayer!

A moment passes, then the door opens slowly and Buffy steps in, looking
sad.

Buffy: Spike.

Spike: (without looking at her) So, I'm to be kicked out of Sunnydale
then?

Buffy: (softly) We all agreed that you've done a lot for us. And it's
probably not fair to think you'd go right back to your old ways. But
without the chip, the others... all but Dawn... they just don't feel
safe.

Spike sighs and puts his head down. He expected this, but it still
hurts. Buffy looks away, not wanting to see his disappointment. After a
moment of uncomfortable silence, Spike stands and starts to walk toward
her, slowly.

Spike: So, all of a sudden I'm the boogey man again. What about you?
Are you afraid of me, too?

Buffy backs up unconsciously.

Buffy: Of course not.

Spike: Because you know I'd never hurt you or because you're the
slayer?

Buffy: (honestly) A little bit of both.

Spike: (heavy sigh) I wish you would just bloody tell me what it's
going to take to convince you.

Buffy: There's nothing. I'm sorry, Spike, I really am. I do realize
that you've changed a lot. I see that. But I don't know if... I'm not
sure if that was you or the chip. And I can't stake my life and the
lives of the people I love on a promise from someone who has, in the
past, tried several times to kill us all. Don't you understand? It's not
that I don't believe you, it's just that...

Spike: ...you don't believe me.

Buffy shrugs an apology.

Spike: All right, then. Guess I can't really blame you.
(his voice trembles) Goodbye, Slayer. It was fun while it lasted.

Spike turns and starts to walk away. Buffy is caught off guard.

Buffy: You... you're leaving right now? What about... your stuff?

Spike: (turning back) Well, as you might have noticed from one of your
many visits here, I'm not exactly burdened with "stuff." So, I travel
light. Everything I need I put in the car before you got here. (off
Buffy's look) What can I say, you're a predictable lot. Say goodbye to
the Niblet for me.

He moves to turn around again.

Buffy: Wait!

Spike: (hopeful) What?

Buffy: I... I just want you to know that we took a vote and it was
really close. So that means some people voted for you to stay.

Spike: Did you?

Buffy: (ashamed) No.

Spike: Well, thanks for that. A little slice if Sunnyhell to take with
me on the road.

Buffy: No, wait. Just wait. (long beat) I didn't vote for you to stay
because... if you stayed, and if you ended up hurting someone... I would
have to stake you. You know that I would have to. But--

Spike tries to interrupt.

Buffy: But, after all that's happened, I don't know if... I'll be able
to. And I really don't ever want to have to find out. So it's just
better this way. Okay?

Spike is floored. He can only nod in response. Understanding passes
between them and Buffy nods back. Spike turns and walks out the door.

When he is gone, Buffy looks around the crypt which seems even more
empty than usual. She slumps sadly into Spike's chair and begins to cry
softly.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT - SEVEN MONTHS LATER

The scooby gang is out patrolling with Buffy. They are out-numbered at
least three to one. They're doing okay, getting in some lucky shots,
but they're all getting very tired.

Willow: It's times like this that I wish we had Spike back.

Buffy gives Willow a look.

Willow: Sorry. I just... you know.

Buffy: I know, but you can't do that. We're doing fine without him.
Ow!

Buffy gets punched in the face by a skinny vampire. She retaliates.

Xander: And even if he was here, he's not the chipped wonder anymore.
He wouldn't be helping us dust his pals. He'd be helping his pals dust
us.

Willow: Except, we don't dust. But I see where you're going with this.
He's probably already back playing for the other team as we speak. I
mean, it's not like he has much of a choice, since we rode him out of
town on a rail and all.

Buffy dusts her vampire and looks over at Xander. They share a twinge
of guilt.

Xander: Hey, it was a preemptive move! If we hadn't sent him packing
he'd be here right now, laughing at us as we got our collective asses
kicked and waiting to move in for the kill.

Buffy: (unconvincing) Right. Absolutely. Oof!

Buffy is suddenly rammed by a large vampire and they both go careening
into the wall of a crypt.

Buffy: (struggling) See, like this, for instance! He would so think
this was funny.

The large vampire seems to be getting the best of Buffy until he
suddenly turns to dust in front of her. She takes a moment to brush dust from
her clothes and looks up, seeing Xander nearby, his head whipping
around looking for more vampires.

Buffy: Thanks, Xand.

Xander: What?

Behind him, Willow is just getting up from the ground, shaking out the
vamp dust from her own clothes.

Willow: Thanks, Xander. I was in trouble there. But, I guess that's
it. Looks like the rest of them ran off.

Buffy: That's... weird.

Xander: But good. Very good, as they are not the only ones sucking
tonight.

Buffy: What are you talking about? You guys were great!

Xander: We were?

Buffy: Xander! You saved my butt like three times. And Will dusted
like two whole vamps on her own!

Willow: I did?

Buffy laughs.

Buffy: You guys really need to start keeping score. We'll make it like
a little game. Whoever gets to fifty first gets a steak dinner.

Willow: Can I have pancakes instead?

Buffy: Pancakes it is. But how about a big yummy muffin to tide you
over till then? The walnutty kind, from The Bronze.

Xander: Are we Bronzing?

Buffy: I think we deserve it for all our hard work tonight.

Xander and Willow exchange a look and shrug.

Willow: Xander once told me never to refuse free food, so I'm in.

Xander: That's the best advice you'll ever get, missy. Save your life
someday.

Buffy: Or maybe not... 'cause... with the strangers and the candy.

Xander: Oh, right. So maybe I'll add an amendment...

As the three friends leave the graveyard talking, Spike steps around
from behind a crypt with a stake in his hand. He's breathing heavily and
has a cut on his forehead. He looks like he came through a hell of a
fight. He watches Buffy and the others leave, then looks down at the
stake. After a moment, he drops it and sadly walks away.

INT. MAGIC BOX - THE NEXT DAY

Buffy is training with Giles. Throughout the scene, Giles is wincing
with every blow Buffy delivers. She is getting stronger and he is
getting older.

Buffy: So, they're doing pretty well. I think we should think about
really training them. You know. Like me.

Giles: Yes, I agree it's a good idea to train Xander and Willow, but
you have to understand that they will never match your level of skill and
agility.

Buffy: Well, shucks.

Giles: (exasperated) You know what I mean. They're not slayers, Buffy.
Or vampires.

They exchange a very subtle look.

Giles: You can't expect an ordinary human being to be able to take the
same kind of abuse you do. Or to become as strong as you are.

Buffy: I know, but training can't hurt, right? And, I mean, humans can
be trained to do amazing things. You're good. You can be all
grasshopper and train them to run up walls and fight with ladders and stuff...
like Jackie Chan. He's just a human, and he's all old and everything.
Time.

Buffy pauses to tie her shoe, giving Giles a much needed break.

Giles: Who is Jackie Chan?

Buffy rolls her eyes, stands and punches hard at one of Giles' padded
hands. Giles yelps in pain.

Buffy: Someone who doesn't yipe like a sissy when you hit him.

Giles frowns at her and slowly pulls off his padding.

Giles: Training is over. Please go away now.

Buffy bows.

Buffy: As you wish, Grasshopper.

She giggles at the mildly annoyed look on his face, then bounds out of
the room. Giles is about to leave as well, until he notices a
cinderblock sitting on two saw horses in the corner of the room. It is meant
for Buffy's training. Giles goes to it and strikes a pose like he's
going to karate chop the block. After a moment, he drops that stance and
reels his head back, keeping his eyes on the block. He takes a deep
breath and then... lets it out again.

Giles: Yes, the appropriate thing to do is to smash your face into a
block of concrete.

He turns and walks out of the room, chuckling softly and dabbing his
sweaty forehead with a towel.

Giles: Anyway, Xander is a much bigger sissy than I am.

WILLOW AND TARA'S - SAME DAY

Willow: I don't know. When we're just straight patrolling and no magic
is involved, I feel like I'm less of a help and more of a... huge,
heavy, burdening albatross around their necks. I mean, at least Xander has
his Army training. All I do is get in a few good kicks to the shin and
then someone else usually has to do the staking. Well, except for last
night when I apparently dusted two vamps by accident without even
knowing. It's so embarrassing.

Tara puts a comforting hand on Willow's shoulder.

Tara: Oh, sweetie. It's not true that you don't pull your weight. I've
seen you. You're really in there, fighting the fight. Staking the
stakes. Buffy wouldn't ask for your help if she didn't think you could do
it. I almost couldn't believe it the first time I saw you fight. I was
really impressed.

Willow: Really?

Tara: Yeah. It was pretty sexy.

Willow: (devilish grin) Really?

Tara: Yeah.

Willow: (shrugs proudly) I'm tough.

Tara: You are.

Tara beams at Willow and Willow leans in. It looks like she's about to
give Tara a soft kiss. Instead, she grabs Tara by the shoulders and
pushes her roughly down on the bed.

Tara: (pleased) Oooh! Willow.

A newly confident Willow covers Tara's mouth with a deep, passionate
kiss.

THE BRONZE - THAT NIGHT

Buffy is unwinding after her training session. Just as she's about to
walk toward the dance floor, she notices Spike, moping at the bar. Her
eyes bug out. She is astonished! For a tiny moment she actually seems
glad to see him. But then a scowl replaces her fraction of a smile and
she moves up behind him, waiting for him to turn around.

When he does, his facial expression changes three times in an instant.
First, he's elated to see her, then he's worried what she'll do to him,
then, he puts on his usual mask of cockiness.

Spike: What?

Buffy: I can not BELIEVE YOU! What do you think you're doing here?!

Spike: Having a bloody pint. What's it look like, Slayer?

Buffy: I am not playing with you, Spike.

Spike can't hide a small grin. Even with her scowling at him, he
realizes how much he'd missed her. Buffy doesn't seem to notice.

Buffy: You promised never to come back to Sunnydale and here you are.
So, since you're back to breaking promises, I guess I can assume you've
taken up the rest of your old habits, too.

Spike's grin fades.

Spike: Look, I'm not up to "no good," Sheriff. So if you could just
holster your attitude for five seconds, I'll explain.

Buffy: (folding her arms) Please do.

Spike: Aren't you gonna sit down?

Buffy: No.

Spike sighs.

Spike: Nothing changes, I see. Okay, I'll just get to the point...
something's up. I don't know exactly what, but I've heard things. Bad
things. Something very nasty is on it's way. There are demons... I'm
talking big, fear-no-evil-'cause-I'm-the-biggest-evil-out-there type
demons... even they are scared of whatever this is. And it's coming here.
To Sunnydale.

Buffy: Naturally.

Spike: So, I just thought you could use a hand when whatever it is gets
here, and why are you looking at me like you don't believe me?

Buffy: Could be because I don't believe you.

Spike has no response to that.

Buffy: Is there any reason why I should? You're back in town after
promising to never--

Spike: (talking over her) I never promised anything. I never said the
word "promise!"

Buffy: --come back here. And now you're telling me you've got friends
in low places who are scared of some big, conveniently non-specific
nasty and I'm supposed to go, "Welcome back, Spike. Thanks for the info.
Let me turn my back on you now so you can sink your fangs into me and
then go kill all my friends."

Spike: Is that really what you think?

The wounded look on Spike's face softens Buffy a little.

Buffy: Well, what exactly did you expect me to think?

Spike: Look. I know the fact that I broke the deal and showed up here
doesn't paint me in an altogether trustworthy light. And I realize the
story I've brought with me is a bit hard to swallow. I knew I'd have a
hard time convincing you or even getting you to listen. But I still
had to come, because you're gonna to need my help.

Buffy: (lying) Well, you wasted your time, because, to tell you the
truth, Spike, we've been doing just fine without you.

Spike: Right. Yeah. I saw that last night when you could barely keep
the witch and the whelp from getting chewed on.

Buffy: They did perfectly fine without my help. We were a little
outnumbered at first, so I was... wait...

Spike looks caught.

Buffy: You were there?

Spike: (stammering) I... was out walking... and I saw you... and there
were a lot of vampires so I... I didn't get in the way! And I saved
your bloody life, so just stop looking at me already.

Buffy: You dusted that big vamp on top of me by the crypt wall. That's
why Xander looked so confused. How did you...

Spike: (shyly) Had a lot of time on my hands lately. Been working on
my speed. Trying out some cool vampire tricks I haven't used in a
while.

Buffy: (suspicious) So you were testing them out on us? That's why you
were sneaking around?

Spike: Sneaking around? You're bloody mad! I helped you, Slayer.
Without being invited to the Bronze afterward for my hard work. Without
being promised a bloody walnut muffin. And without that sodding chip that
you're all so sure is responsible for every decent thing I've ever
done. God Dammit! Why the hell did I come back here?!

Buffy: I don't know, Spike. Why did you, really?

Spike: Because I'm a daft git, that's why. I thought after all these
months, you might have softened just a little bit. Might have realized
that you don't have to keep shoving me away all the time. But you're
head is as thick as ever and I just remembered I don't have to deal with
it anymore. So, I'm leaving...

Buffy: Good.

Spike: ...forever this time.

Buffy: Great.

Spike: Good luck with the big nasty, Slayer. At least try not to die
again!

Buffy: Yeah, well why don't you try remembering that when you say
you're leaving "forever" it means like... a really loooonng time... longer
than like... seven months, even.

Spike turns to face her, staggered by her harshness.

Spike: You unbelievable Bi--

Spike's venomous insult is cut off by no less than an earthquake. All
around them, the Bronze is a-shakin'. Glass smashes, chairs topple over,
people scream, and in the middle of it are Buffy and Spike. He
instinctively runs to her to protect her from falling and she does not reject
his help. The earthquake dies out after a minute or so, leaving
everyone... em... shaken. Spike and Buffy both know what the earthquake could
mean - the big nasty may have just arrived. They lock eyes, but do not
let go of each other. There is the briefest flash of heat between them
and then:

Spike: See? What did I tell you?

Buffy: Don't even start.

She pushes Spike off of her and starts to leave the Bronze. Spike
follows close behind.

Spike: I just hope you're satisfied now.

Buffy: I'm not listening to you!

They exit, leaving a few dazed Bronzians curious about their strange
reaction to the quake.

Part 2