The Rest of My Life

Chapter 37  – Glasgow 23 July 2004

There’s a stunned silence at my words, followed by a babble as everyone in the room tries to make sense of what I’ve just said. I get that sick feeling in my stomach because I just know that Spike’s going to be hurt, but that’s quickly replaced by a white hot fury. It takes Dawn’s face moving directly into my line of vision to bring me back.

“Buffy? What is it? You said Angelus had Spike, but Angel’s right here. Are you ok?”

I take a deep breath which comes out again shuddering as I try to regain control.

“I meant what I said. I don’t know how or why, but the voice on the other end of that call belonged to Angelus. The call was from Spike’s phone.”

There’s another crescendo of noise as everyone tries to speak at once, but this time it’s Giles who interrupts.

“Buffy, Spike told us that Angelus wanted to buy you. That was the reason they made a special trip to take you. Perhaps, this Angelus has decided to take steps to ensure that he gets you anyway.”

I take my eyes from Giles’ face, and this time they land on Angel’s. I’d know that look anywhere – it’s a cross between guilt and disappointment that I’d think him capable of such a thing. It doesn’t matter right now.

“You’re right,” I manage to say back to Giles. “He said he was looking forward to seeing me. It’s a plan to get me to go to him. He’s just not going to like the result when I do go. Right – where’s Moira? Do you think she could do a location spell?”

“I’m sure she could, Buffy. But by doing such a thing, going after Spike, you’d be playing right into his hands. We need a different plan – something he won’t be expecting.”

“What we need, Giles, is to get Spike back and then to deliver some serious pain to this other-worldly Angelus – immediately before I stake him.”

“Buffy, I really don’t think that’s wise. Let me call London and I’ll get some other Slayers to fly up – they should be here by tomorrow at the latest. In the meantime, I’ll get a location spell done and we can do some surveillance. Then we’ll know what we’re up against and have a better idea of how to proceed.”

“Giles, you call as many other Slayers as you like – I’m the one who’s going to dust Angelus. And we’re not waiting for days – he’s hurting Spike, and I won’t leave him there for a second longer than I have to.”

With that, I get up and walk out of the door. I hear the volume go up again – Giles calling me to come back and Dawn rounding on him for not caring enough about Spike. To be honest, I don’t care. I’m going to find Moira, tell her what’s happened and get her to find Spike for me. Then, I’m going to go and get him.

When I get downstairs, she’s once again in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a large book propped up in front of her.

“I’m sorry, Buffy. I had to pop out to get a turnip for the soup. I thought I had some but ...”

I glance at the title of the book, and it’s got nothing to do with cooking.

“You know, don’t you?”

“A side-effect of listening in upstairs. Sometimes, when I’ve got into someone’s mind intentionally, it can ... call out to me involuntarily – especially when there’s a strong emotion involved. I knew something was going on with Spike, so I made my way back here as quickly as I could.”

“You mean you can reach him? Where is he?”

“No, it’s not that simple. What I’m getting is like a single cry for help. It’s not exactly coherent, and I doubt Spike knows where he is even if he could give me the information. It won’t help us to find him, but a location spell will, so I was just checking out what I’ll need.”

“You’ll help me then?”

“Of course I will.”

“I thought maybe you’d side with Giles – tell me that I’m being foolhardy or some such thing.”

“Would it make any difference if I did?”

“No, it wouldn’t.”

“And you’d get the location spell some other way anyway. And besides, you care very deeply about Spike.”

“I do.”

“Well, there’s no more to be said. I know what I need, but I’m going to have to go to my supplier – I’ve got most of it, but a lot of it isn’t as fresh as I’d like.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, Buffy. I don’t think you should. I’ll tell you what, why don’t I take the new arrival with me – Angel. I’m sure you’d prefer to have him out of the way while you prepare yourself, and I’d like to get to know him better – having heard so much about him. Anyway, being able to chat will stop me from thinking too much about poor Spike. Not that he doesn’t deserve us to be thinking about him, but I need to keep my mind clear to perform the spell.”

“But Angel doesn’t have a car. How ...”

“And why would I need a car? It’s just a short walk to the underground and then a few stops away.”

“But Gus ...”

“Would drive me if I asked him, but it might get him into trouble with Rupert, so I’d rather not do it, especially when it won’t actually speed things along at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“I know, my dear, you’re frantic. I do understand. Now, if you’d do me a favour and go up and ask Angel if he’s willing to accompany an old lady, I’d be very grateful.”

I stand up, but before going upstairs, I give her a hug. The contact is unbelievably welcome and I can feel a healing power coming from her. It’s almost like being a small child again, when your mom really could make everything right with a hug.