Chapter 6: Surprises
Buffy winced as Dawn’s banded fist crashed on the dummy. She said nothing however, and watched as Giles corrected her sister’s position and gave her advice. She kept repeating herself that she had agreed to this, but she still couldn’t believe it. She had agreed. She had agreed to her sister learning how to fight. She had even agreed that, eventually, she would take Dawn on patrol.
She had done more than agree. She had given her word.
“Ready for patrol, Buffster?”
She glanced at Xander, noticing the forced smile on his lips, and forced a matching one on hers. Nodding, she followed him out of the shop’s back room.
He had insisted about patrolling with her that night, and she had accepted, hiding her reluctance. God, couldn’t she say ‘no’ to any of them anymore? First Dawn, then Xander, what would Willow be asking from her next?
She frowned at the thought. Willow asking for something would be great. Willow wanting anything at all would be wonderful. She was worried for her friend, and she didn’t know what to do to help her.
Wanting to break the uneasy silence, Buffy asked the brunette about his job, and tried to listen as he detailed his latest project, absently making the appropriate nods at all the good times. However, her mind was drifting.
She had been at Spike’s crypt in the afternoon, to tell him he was off-duty for the night. She had found him crouched in his one and only armchair, eyes closed but not sleeping. For the first time since his return, she had noticed the shadows under his eyes, and almost asked him since when he had not slept. She didn’t know why she hadn’t voiced the question.
Probably because she already knew the answer.
He had barely nodded when she told him, not even asking why she didn’t need him that night. It had slightly angered her that he cared so little. No. Not slightly. A lot.
Xander had finished talking, and asked her about her job. She told him about her ‘promotion’. She was now officially in charge of training the new recruits at the Double Meat Palace. Joy.
“Do you have any proof that he has a soul now?”
The question took her by surprise, as well as the calm tone of Xander’s voice. She knew Giles had told him, but her friend had not said a word about Spike since the other night.
“No, not really. But I believe him. He hates it too much to make it up.”
Strangely, Xander seemed to accept that. “You know, I’ll never understand what it is with you and vampires.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when he raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, an apologetic smile on his lips. “Don’t sweat it, Buffster. I’ve realized something. It’s absolutely, completely and totally none of my business who you decide to date. Or boink. Or be friend with.”
They took a few steps in silence, Buffy barely believing her own ears.
“You never said anything about me dating and marrying an ex-demon,” he said very softly, “so I figure I don’t have much to say about your choices. The only reason I get upset is that I care about you. You know that, right?”
“Yes Xander, I know.”
Impulsively, she hugged him, as much by gratitude as to reassure herself that he was indeed right there and that it was not just a dream. Xander, vamp-hating Xander, was actually accepting that there was something between her and Spike. Wow.
“Just be careful, OK? And if you need a friend to talk to, just remember I’m there for you.”
Again, wow.
Flicking her bedside light on, Buffy stared at the alarm clock. 3.15 am. She was tired, but she couldn’t sleep. Deciding that a quick late patrol could not hurt, she slipped on sweat pants and a pull-over, picked up her favorite stake, and climbed out the window. She was not sneaking out, she told herself. She was just using her alternate exit so as not to wake up Giles, who was sleeping on the sofa. Just as she was not going to Spike’s cemetery to see him. It just happened that it was a good place for patrol, since she hadn’t gone there with Xander earlier. And since she was there, she might as well drop by and say hi.
Yeah, right.
The door was half open, and she just pushed it. Stepping in the completely dark crypt, she let her eyes get used to the obscurity for a minute, surprised that not even a candle was lit. Even more surprised when she saw that the crypt was empty. His furniture was gone. It wasn’t much of it, of course, but what little he possessed simply wasn’t there any more.
He had left.
Again.
Without a word.
Again.
And this time he had taken all his possessions with him.