Title : Broken Shield
Series: Samian Wine and Pyrrhic Dances Stories 11
Author: Surnia
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Spike/Willow Buffy/Giles
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss
Whedon and is owned by 20th Century FOX. No
copyright infringement is intended
Several nights later, Willow and Spike were strolling through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries on a moonlit night. "This is so weird," Willow remarked.
"What in particular, pet?"
"Going for walks in the moonlight. In Sunnydale. In a cemetery. I can't think of any other way to describe it - weird."
"Well, I can't exactly go for walks in the sunlight, can I, pet?" He suddenly pushed her down on a gravestone and asked, nipping at her neck, "Weirder than a vampire and a mortal? Even if the mortal is a witch?"
"Well, vampire and witch is less weird than vampire and vampire slayer."
"Too right, pet. And don't forget the perks." He started nuzzling between her breasts while slowly pushing her skirt up.
Willow giggled and tried to protest, "Not in a cemetery, Spike! Buffy might come by!"
"Nah, she's too busy shagging her Watcher." Willow hit him. "What, pet? Isn't that what you wanted? Far better him than the wanker." He grinned at her as his hand continued its upward progress up her thigh.
"God, what are we doing?" she asked breathlessly before he cut her off with a passionate kiss.
"Now that's what I would like to know," said a feminine voice behind him.
Alarm bells rang in Spike's head. He knew that voice. Where from? Oh fuck. Not her. Fucking bloody Hellmouth. He looked around and stated, "Lulu."
"Looks like she's more than a meal, Spike. Or have you taken to ravishing your meals first these days?"
Glaring over his shoulder at a very leggy blond wearing a short leather skirt and low-cut red lace top, Willow asked, "Spike, who is she?"
"Someone I knew in Prague." He snarled at the newcomer, "What the Hell are you doing here?"
"What a way to welcome an old friend! I was drawn by the siren call of the Hellmouth." She examined Willow with a slight look of distaste. "So when did you start fancying mortals, Spike? And what happened to poor little dotty Drusilla? Did she finally expire of her injuries?"
With a snarl, Spike suddenly spun and tried to grab her throat, but she kicked his knee and he staggered back. "That was unfriendly, Spike," she said reproachfully. "Really not a proper way to treat an old friend."
"Did you have anything to do with that bloody mob?"
She gave him a look of mock distress. "Spike, whatever must you think of me? Would I do such a thing?"
She took a threatening step closer to Willow and Spike stepped forward again and ordered, "Leave her alone, Lulu."
She smiled an infuriating smile and remarked, "Well, at least you finally had the good sense to dump that dim-witted lunatic. But now you pair up with a mortal and don't even bother to bring her over? You're not going soft, are you, Spike?"
"I like her as she is. Makes a change."
"Oh, I see. So you're become a bit of a sybarite these days, Spike. Just looking for something new? Bored with vampires?"
"She's mine, Lulu. Leave her alone."
"But of course, my dear. I would never trifle with what's yours. Mmm, mortals, eh? The heat would make a change. Perhaps it's worth a try. One gets so bored these days, you know." She stepped up to him and kissed him lingeringly on the mouth, ending with a final lick. "See you around, Spike. The Hellmouth seems like an interesting place."
She was gone. Spike turned around to see Willow standing with her hands on her hips and a look of fury on her face. "I am *not* your property."
"Course not, pet. But I had to express it in a way that we vampires understand. We're territorial, you know."
"Who is she?" Willow was cross to notice that her voice was becoming shrill.
"A vampire I knew in Prague. The three of us used to hunt together sometimes. She had the hots for me and I'm not sure that she didn't have something to do with the mob that went after Dru."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Great. An old flame. Just how old is she?"
"Don't know how old she is. She's older than me. I think she may be quite a bit older. One thing I know. She's trouble. Serious trouble. And she has, well, some interesting tastes - even for a vampire. Artistic, but murderous."
"Murderous as in Angelus?"
"No. Angelus' obsessions are always personal. He's basically a headfuck. Lulu ... Lulu preferred artistic displays - which involved corpses - well, usually they were dead but not always - in public places."
Willow shuddered. "Nasty. We should warn Buffy about her. Before she starts."
He shrugged his agreement and then froze for a moment. He looked at Willow and said, "And the Watcher."
Willow looked at his face and was alarmed by his expression. "Why?"
"Well," he said a little evasively, "she and Drusilla have the same taste in men. And she always targets men."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh no, not another vampire ho after Giles."
Spike said, "Except this one is sane and very dangerous. She makes Dru look like a tame kitten."
"Great. You and your vamp friends."
"Well, at least she's not family." Spike grimaced and asked grimly, "So where are the Slayer and Watcher?"
"Library, I'd guess."
"Pet, do you have any idea how rum this is? I'm going to warn a Slayer and a Watcher about a vampire? It's against all the laws of vampire and nature. No wonder she thinks I'm soft. If this gets around ..."
Willow pouted, rubbing herself against him, and then purred, "But I make it all worth your while, don't I?"
"Whipped," he muttered to himself. He nipped her neck, "And you are going to make it up to me tonight."
In the library, Buffy had managed to flip Giles onto the floor and was demanding that he submit. He just smirked at her. Sitting astride him, she informed that she wasn't going to let him up until he admitted defeat. He countered that he wasn't at all bothered by that. She could sit on top of him all night for all he cared.
"Dammit, Giles, just give up."
"No way, " he replied. "Make me."
"You're so annoying! Just give up!"
He grinned at her, "I still have a few moves left." He brought his hips up and rubbed against her.
She groaned and said, "That's cheating."
"Gives a new meaning to ace in the hole," he chuckled.
"What am I going to do with you?" she asked in exasperation, letting go of his arms.
He grabbed her arms and pulled her down toward him, "How about kissing me senseless for starters? And after patrol we can do something else."
She giggled and started to do just that when her vampire alarm went off. She sat up and saw Spike smirking at them while Willow was grinning beside him. "Don't let us stop you," Spike commented. "Nice floor show."
Buffy leapt up and Giles got to his feet. "Er, we weren't expecting visitors," he said, blushing.
Willow said, "Sorry to interrupt, but we've got some really bad news."
"What?" Buffy asked, "Drusilla isn't back, is she?"
"Worse," Spike said.
"Angelus?"
"Worse."
"Okay, now I'm worried."
Willow said, "Someone they knew from Prague - Lulu."
"Lulu?" Giles said in alarm. "Could you describe her?"
Willow said, "Blonde. Skanky. Unrelated to Spike."
"Damn. Maybe it's ... what's she like?"
Willow said, "Skanky. Spike said she likes artistic displays of corpses."
Turning to Spike, Giles said, "Spike, could you be more specific without being too graphic?"
"Let's see," he said reflecting, "There was the time she added a few corpses to the statues in the Ledebour Garden - to 'enhance their realism'. She did that to a few of the statues on Charles Bridge too - really freaked the locals out, especially since the guards from the bridge towers were part of the decorations. One of her worst displays was in one of the churches. There was this statue of some saint stabbing a devil with the end of his crozier. She put the priest on top of the devil with the crozier through him - naked. Caused a small riot. Beginning of the end of our time in Prague. She was always egging Dru on as well."
"Not a nice a person, then," Buffy remarked.
"Well, not from your point of view. One of the Slayers I did was in Prague. It was her idea."
"Nice," Buffy remarked coldly.
Running through the memories, he suddenly said, "Bugger. I was so off on bagging a Slayer that I forgot."
"Forgot what?"
"Lulu wanted the Watcher. The Slayer was in the way."
"And what happened?" Buffy asked in a dangerous voice.
"Well, she eventually killed him."
"Eventually?"
"You don't want to know the details, ducks. But she could give Angelus lessons. Just look after your Watcher."
Giles went into his office and there was the sound of some ferreting around. He came back and said, "I remember the entries in the Watcher diaries from the time when you were in Prague before his ... demise. He mentioned this Lulu. I looked at other sightings he referred to - in case it had any connection with you and Drusilla."
"And?" Buffy asked.
"Well, no need to go into graphic details, but, she seems to turn up from time to time and she always targets Watchers. She often arranges for Slayers to be eliminated but it seems to be with the sole aim of getting the Watchers. I've found at least twenty cases over the past two hundred years. I haven't looked any further back."
"So what exactly does she do with them?"
He swallowed hard and looked away, "You really don't want the details. Trust me."
"That bad?" Willow asked.
"If they're all like Prague, that bad," Spike nodded.
"Does she turn them?" Buffy asked.
"Not as far as I can see," Giles replied. He looked at Spike, "Any idea why she targets Watchers?"
Spike shook his head.
"Well, I'll just have to dust her and keep an eye on you in the meantime," Buffy said.
"Maybe we can do some magic to protect you?" Willow asked.
"Perhaps we're over-reacting," Giles said without much conviction.
"Not bloody likely," Spike said.
"Come on, Giles," Buffy said, "we're all going to escort you home."
"As you like," Giles said, in fact somewhat relieved. The entries about Lulu did not make for pleasant reading, but he didn't want to alarm Buffy or Willow.
As they left the library, they didn't notice the blonde vampiress watching them from the shadows. "This is good," she thought. "Show me where he lives. Spike, you're such a help. So predictable."
Following them, she noticed Spike and Willow leaving together and Buffy and Giles go inside together.
Inside Buffy declared, "I'm staying the night."
"What about your mother?"
"You know, I've been using that window again. But this time I have an excuse to stay! A real excuse! I'll call and tell her that I'm camping on your couch because of a possible threat to your life. Which is true. She's off to San Diego tomorrow morning."
After she finished the call, he remarked, "We're going to have to tell your mother about us at some point."
"Later rather than sooner. I don't want to deal with her reaction. Do you?"
He shuddered slightly, remembering the effects of Ethan's candy. "I must admit, I'm not looking forward to it."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. 'Let's go upstairs and do some stuff."
"And just what kind of stuff did you have in mind?" he asked, suppressing a grin.
"Let's play it by ear."
"As you like," he replied, bending over to lick her ear.
She hit him lightly on the chest, "Don't be so literal!"
Outside the window, the vampiress sniffed the air and clucked, "Tsk, tsk. Now what would the Council say about this? Not in the rulebook." She smiled, her fangs gleaming the moonlight, "This could prove interesting. The Hellmouth really does throw up interesting combinations."
***
The following night Spike out on the hunt. He was just finishing his meal when Lulu came up behind him. "Now what would the Slayer say about you hunting, Spike? Or doesn't she mind?"
He spun around and snarled at her. He then snapped, "My concession to the Slayer is to hunt scum and stay away from the young and innocent. And from where she patrols. We keep our distance from each other - on a professional level."
She clucked. "Drusilla wouldn't approve. She much preferred them young and tender."
"She's with Angelus," he said neutrally. "Why don't you go look for them? Make another threesome: wanker, lunatic and artistic psychotic."
"Oh, but Spike, things seem much more interesting here. Look at you - Spike, William the Bloody, in love with a mortal girl and on speaking terms with the Slayer and the Watcher, who are on intimate terms. Fascinating. The Hellmouth is such an interesting place."
"Why the Hell don't you leave this Watcher alone? And why do you always go after Watchers anyway? You're as bleeding fixated as Dru."
She looked at him coldly, "You told them about me."
"I told them about Prague. And the Watcher already knew about you."
"How?"
"By researching me and Dru. He's not stupid."
"And he's screwing his Slayer. That's stupid."
"Well, he did resist. Took a lot of effort to get him to give in."
She looked surprised. "The Slayer wanted him? How long as he been her Watcher?"
"Couple of years. Her first Watcher got killed. Technically he's not her Watcher anymore. Sacked by the Council for being too emotionally attached." He looked at her with amusement, noticing her surprise. "He's different, this one. Likes to have a go himself."
"That is different."
"And even Angelus couldn't break him under torture."
"Impressive. Of course, Angelus might have gone soft as well if you're anything to go by." She gave him a smirk as she ran her hand down his chest, "Look at you - and you haven't even tried to add this Slayer to your tally of Slayers?"
"I gave it a go. I actually like this Slayer. She's got bottle, even if she did fall in love with my ensouled wanker of a sire."
"She fell in love with Angelus? And the Watcher allowed it?"
"Angelus is now Angel, a whipped puppy with a soul. Time to revise your expectations, luv. This Watcher's not tradition-bound. Quite happy to change the rules when it suits him. She's also got a group of friends helping her - including my little witch."
She blinked in surprise and said, "Well, well. I really must meet this Watcher."
"Leave him alone, Lulu. Haven't you killed enough Watchers?"
"I can never kill enough Watchers," she replied in a cold tone.
"What is this? A feud? Vendetta?"
"You might say that."
"Dead boring. Get your jollies elsewhere."
"Spike, this really is a new you. Why don't you just turn your little girlfriend and we can hunt together? Have some fun?"
"I like her alive," he mumbled, "and I don't want to hunt with you. Been there. Done that."
She shook her head in amusement and asked, "Does this have something to do with the Hellmouth?"
He glared at her, "You hurt them, you hurt her. If you hurt her, I'll hurt you."
She laughed, "This just gets more and more intriguing. I love it."
***
Lulu spent the following week observing her target from a distance, bemused by the comings and goings in the library, and waiting for her opportunity to catch the Watcher alone. Just to annoy Spike, she left her dead victims outside his door or near his apartment, enjoying his colourful curses as he was forced to dispose of the bodies.
Her chance finally came one night when Joyce had insisted that Buffy attend a showing at the art gallery. In spite of his promise to get home before dark, Giles was held up by some work at the library and it was well after dark by the time he went to the parking lot. He got in his car, but as he went to start the car he felt a knife at his throat.
"Watcher."
He swallowed hard and replied with an even tone. "Lulu, I presume?"
"Very clever. I heard that you were clever. Just drive where I tell you to go."
"Why should I? If you're going to kill me, you might as well do it here. I prefer a quick death. I'm not really all that keen on torture."
"I take it that you've been reading up on me?"
"And the fact that you have a penchant for torturing and killing Watchers. Unusual for a vampire. I shouldn't think that Watchers really offer much of a challenge."
"I haven't actually decided what to do with you. After all, if you've been sacked, you may not even qualify as a Watcher. I might kill you or I might let you go. So drive." He didn't move. "Would you prefer I eliminate your Slayer first?"
He put the key in the ignition. "All right then. Let's see where this goes, shall we?"
She smiled. This was a much less flappable Watcher than she'd ever encountered before. Interesting. He followed her directions and ended up at house just outside of Sunnydale, set back from the road. He put the parking brake on and looked at the house. "Well, you certainly have better taste than most vampires around here."
"Thank you. Warehouses are so dismal," she said, reaching around the seat to feel in his pockets for stakes. She removed one and drew her hand back with a hiss as it touched a cross. She pressed the knife harder against his throat. "Take out the cross and put it on the seat." Sighing in resignation, he did so. She said, "We're getting out together. Behave and I won't have to knock you out."
"That would be a first," he muttered, getting out, closely followed by the vampiress.
When they reached the front door, she handed him a key and he unlocked the door. Once they were inside, she closed it behind her, pocketing the key. She directed him down some stairs to a room in the basement. Opening the door and glancing around the room before he went in, he felt his alarm increase. There was a bed with iron bedposts. Manacles were attached to the wall. A tall weapons cabinet stood nearby. No windows. Things didn't look at all promising.
"I'll take your jacket," she said. He took it off and handed it to her. "Just sit on the bed for the moment." He obeyed, still examining the room looking for some way out of this. She checked the jacket for crosses, stakes or bottles of holy water and then put it on the back of a chair. She pulled out his wallet and glanced at it, "Rupert Giles. Ah, a Watcher family."
He watched her carefully while she sized him up. "I'll take your tie as well," she remarked.
He untied it and tossed it to her, "I trust you're not into cross dressing."
"Humour! Not the timid sort, are you?"
"What do you want?"
"I already told you. I haven't decided," she said, sitting on the chair and allowing her short skirt to ride up her thighs. "Don't you have any questions for me?"
"Well," he said, "on a personal level, I could ask if you intend to kill me and if so, now or later? On a more general note, why do you target Watchers?"
"To weaken Slayers?"
"Doesn't explain the methods employed, unless you're a psychotic sadist. Nor why you kill the Watcher after the Slayer is dead."
She reached down to her boot and pulled out a thin dagger, which she started to play with. She looked at him, "I have all sorts of toys."
"So I've read."
"Aren't you frightened?"
"Yes."
"But you're still looking for a way to fight me." He didn't reply, realising that he was in dangerous territory. "Perhaps I could let you go in exchange for the Slayer."
"That doesn't even merit a reply."
"Why not? There's always another Slayer."
Giles was weighing his chances. She didn't know about the small cross in his trouser pockets. When she came closer, he suddenly jumped up and pushed it in her face. Hissing, she jerked her head back and then suddenly backhanded him, knocking him back down to the bed. Snarling, she vamped and jumped on top of him, holding down his arms with her legs. She growled and ripped open his shirt, and ran the knife down the chest, drawing blood. She bent forward and licked it, never taking her eyes from his face. She was surprised when he didn't flinch. Noticing her quizzical look, he observed, "Vampiresses seem to be keen on drawing my blood of late."
She raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Who would that be?"
"Drusilla."
"My, my. Why on earth would the lunatic want you?"
"To replace Spike."
"Poor you." She noticed his scars and said, tracing them lightly with her knife, remarked, "You've been tortured before."
"Angelus," he replied.
Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Spike mentioned that. I wasn't sure whether it was true or just vampire talk. I must say, I am impressed. Angelus can be quite persuasive. You're not like other Watchers I've met. I haven't decided whether or not to kill you. Or torture you. So you'll be my guest for awhile. Until I decide what to do with you."
She moved her legs off his arms and sat on the edge of his bed and let her hand run down his chest and then down his trousers. "We could amuse ourselves," she said seductively.
He grabbed her hand and stopped its explorations. "I'm spoken for," he said.
"By your Slayer." He didn't reply. "This is stranger and stranger. What must the Council think of you? But of course, they've fired you, haven't they?"
Giles simply glared at her in silence. She pulled out a pair of handcuffs and put one on his wrist and the other on the bedframe. "Just to keep you from wandering. I'll bring you some food and water." She headed for the door. "If you try to escape, I'll just have to use the manacles. It will be much more uncomfortable."
She closed the door and he heard the lock and bolts being shot. Damn, he thought. Does Spike know any sane female vampires? Ones that simply look for meals? Well, at least this one seemed saner than Drusilla, but, of course, she was meant to torture, mutilate and murder dozens of Watchers, sometimes in rather spectacular style. Wonderful. At least Spike wouldn't go after Buffy this time to accommodate her.
Meanwhile, Buffy had telephoned from the library to make sure that Giles had arrived home safely. No reply. She tried the library. No reply. Which was when she started to be seriously worried. She dialled the mobile phone which Spike had bought for Willow. After several rings, a giggling Willow answered. "Willow, I need you and Spike to check on Giles. He's not answering. I'm still stuck at the gallery. Could you check on him?"
After a muffled conversation, Willow agreed. When she put the phone down, Buffy went into serious pace mode. Joyce came in the office, "Sweetheart, can you mingle a little?"
"At the moment mingling might lead to pouring drinks on heads."
"Is there a problem?"
"Giles might be missing."
"Oh dear! When did you see him last?"
"This afternoon."
"Well, it's a little early to call him missing. Perhaps he's got a date or something."
"He doesn't have a date."
"How do you know?"
"I know. I'm waiting for a call from Willow."
Joyce sighed, "I'm sure it's okay, dear."
Willow phoned later. No Giles. No sign of Giles. She still had a key to his apartment and had checked. It didn't look like he'd even been home. There was no sign of his car anywhere. Buffy could almost feel icy fingers in her heart. He wouldn't just disappear. She asked if Spike knew where Lulu was. Getting a negative reply, she told them to meet at the library and they would narrow the possibilities. Research without Giles. It didn't seem right.
Buffy grabbed a bag and started for the door. Joyce intercepted her, "Where are you going?"
"He's missing. We've got to find him."
"Can't it wait?"
"No, it can't. I've got to go NOW. There's a nasty vampire who's after him. She might be torturing him right now!"
"Be careful, dear," she said as Buffy rushed out.
Back at the library they attempted to reduce the possibilites by isolating any newly rented properties as well as the vacant ones. Spike said that she disliked factories, so they eliminated the warehouses. He went out to scout around while they tried to limit the possibilities. They finally had a list of places to check in the day. Unfortunately, the number of vacancies in Sunnydale was large which made the list a long one. Looking at the size of it, Buffy was rapidly becoming panicky. Looking at the list again, she declared, "We HAVE to do SOMETHING."
Willow tried to reassure her. "We'll have to look in the morning. We'll get everyone to help. I don't know what else we can do. What are you going to do?"
"Go look for him. Take some things over to his apartment. I'm going to stay there until we find him."
"Won't that freak your mother?"
"Tough.Willow, I'm not going to lose him."
"None of us want to lose him, Buffy."
Buffy went home and was about to go out the door with a bag when her mother came in. She noticed the bag with alarm. "Buffy? Where are you going?"
"She's got Giles. I'm staying at his place in case she tries to turn up there."
"But can't you work from here? And would Mr. Giles want you staying at his place without his permission?"
"I've gotta go. Mom. I'll be back in the day. If she's gonna turn up there, it will be at night."
"Buffy..."
"I have to go, Mom. I'm not going to lose him."
Joyce frowned after her daughter.
****
Lulu was amused by all the activity and kept out of sight. She returned to her prisoner with a Chinese meal which had belonged to her meal. She opened the door and jumped back to avoid the chair that came crashing down. She was around the door in a flash and her hand closed around Giles' throat as she lifted him in the air, cutting off his oxygen supply until he fainted. Then she put him back on the bed. A Watcher with fight in him. Who didn't make feeble threats about what the Slayer would do to her. Different. She found herself admiring his fight.
She locked the door behind her and sat herself astride his hips and started to slap him lightly. He recovered and glared at her. "Feisty," she remarked. "I like that in a man." She rubbed herself against him, looking seductive.
He shook his head and said, "What is about female vampires these days? All they want to do is shag." He snarled at her, "Can't you find anyone your own age?"
She looked at him in amazement. Banter from a Watcher? Death wish? She smiled and remarked with a smirk, "I suppose you prefer your Slayer."
He glared at her and said, "Stay away from her."
"You are telling me to stay away from the Slayer? What happened to Slayers are expendable because there's always another?"
"People are not expendable. I imagine that a difficult concept for you to grasp since you treat them as meals."
She gave him a curious look and changed tack. "Spike says that you've been sacked by the Council."
"True."
"Why?"
"Why all this interest in me?"
"Perhaps I'll tell you at some point. So why did they sack you?"
"The cruciamentum."
"Go on. I'm all ears and I have all night. Or several nights if necessary. You don't sound very keen on it."
"It's an archaic exercise in cruelty. Senseless and useless."
"Go on."
He noticed that she had obviously heard of it. "It went wrong. The vampire got lose and turned one of his minders. When it went wrong, I told Buf - the Slayer - about it, and sent her home. I told the man in charge that I didn't give a rat's ass about them and that there would be no test."
She chuckled. "Well, that must have been well received."
"Unfortunately, the vampire in question had already kidnapped her mother and she went after him, so the test started anyway. I went to help and took out the second vampire. The Council didn't approve: said I was too emotionally attached. Hence the sacking."
"Shagging will do that."
"We weren't." Just thinking about the test was making him angry and he snapped, The cruciamentum is one of the most ridiculous things ever devised by ..."
"But tradition."
"Sod tradition. It's bloody stupid."
She chuckled. "So they sacked you." She got off him. "I'd like to hear the story in more detail - while you have supper." She moved the chair over and placed the bag on it and sat down again on the bed.
"Why are you so interested in the cruciamentum?"
"I'm more interested in someone bucking the system. And it's always interesting when the cruciamentum goes wrong and the Slayer still manages to survive."
He gave her a curious look and looked in the bag. "If I tell you the whole story, perhaps you'd tell me why you have a vendetta against Watchers."
"Perhaps. Aren't you worried that your dear sweet Council will decide to eliminate you?"
He shrugged. "I'll deal with that when it comes up. It's a possibility. On the other hand, they may be too inefficient to do anything."
"Why haven't you ordered her to stake Spike?"
"If he hurts Willow, I'll do it myself."
"Don't you mean the Slayer will?"
"Her or me. Whatever."
She sat down behind him with her legs on her either side of his and whispered, "Are you sure you wouldn't like dessert?"
"Absolutely," he said, pulling away from her stroking hands.
"As you like. I'll leave you to your own devices until tomorrow."
Giles muttered various curses to himself as he heard the door lock again.
****
Lulu smiled as she made her way up the stairs. She had deliberately not used the manacles and had a second house ready. She was curious to see whether the Watcher would escape on his own or would be rescued by his Slayer and his friends or by Spike. This game could be interesting. There was always time for sport when you had plenty of time to play.
Early in the morning the forces had been rallied and they went out in quest of Giles. They divided up Sunnydale and checked all the places on their list - without luck. Joyce even relented and let Buffy drive her car in the futile search.
Sunset found them all sitting despondently in the library. Buffy was becoming frantic. Cordelia was surprised at the extent of her desperation and remarked, "You haven't been this wigged since that time Angel disappeared."
Willow and Buffy looked at one another and Cordelia gave them an odd look. Buffy said, "This is Giles who is missing and possibly being tortured as we speak. Of course I'M WIGGED!!"
Spike said cheerfully, "She usually tortures them for a couple of weeks at least, so you'll have lots of time to find him."
Buffy glared at him, "That is so NOT comforting."
"Sorry. But no corpse means he's still alive. Of course, if she used a chainsaw like Angelus was going to ..."
"CHAINSAW!" Buffy screeched.
"No worries. I convinced him it would mess up the carpet."
Cordelia said, "I can't believe I associate myself with you people."
"There will be no chainsaws!" Buffy stated.
"Don't worry, pet. It would be days until she got around to the chainsaw. She may prefer traditional techniques. I mean, I still use spikes. A chainsaw seems ... too quick."
They all stared at him and he added, "I would still use spikes."
Xander shook his head and said, "I almost think I preferred the original Deadboy."
"Willow, how do you put up with him?" Buffy said, glaring at Spike.
"Buffy," she said, "you should get some rest."
"No, I'm gonna look for him again or for this Lulu. I can't rest while he's missing."
Willow said, "I think Spike should go with you."
Xander looked amazed, "You want Deadboy II to go with Buffy?"
Willow nodded, "If they run into Lulu, Spike can identify her. And you look like you could use some back-up, Buffy."
Too tired to argue, Buffy nodded.
They drudged through various cemeteries and places Spike thought might be likely places to locate her. The little presents she had been leaving gave him an indication as to where she was hunting. When they failed to find even a single vampire, Buffy went home and then back to Giles' apartment, not knowing what else to do. She made a cup of tea and sat there for a while sniffing at it, before going upstairs. Collapsing on the bed, she grabbed a pillow, clutched it to herself and then curled up in a ball, weeping.
**
Meanwhile Giles had managed to free himself while wondering why it was so easy and what Lulu was up to. He had the definite suspicion that this was some sort of game on her part. Like a cat with a mouse. He cautiously made his way up the stairs, expecting to be stopped. He looked around, listening intently. The house appeared to be empty. He broke a chair so that he would have a stake.
Games, he thought. I hate it when vampires play games. Too bloody complicated by half. He opened the door. Still no vampiress. He looked out and saw that his car was still where he had left it. He had the strange feeling that the key would still be in the ignition. This is too easy. Far too easy. Where's the hook?
He glanced through the side window of the car. The key was still there. He looked under the car. No suspicious wires. No one in the back seat. Fine, he thought to himself in annoyance. It's a bloody game. Let's play then.
He opened the door and got in. He turned the key and the engine started. He carefully reversed and drove off. Only then did the vampiress leave the shadows. She smiled and lit a cigarette, "Let's let you simmer a bit first. Tenderise the meat." She chuckled and decided to leave Spike another present - just to keep them guessing.
**
Giles parked the car and made his way to his apartment. The light was on and he opened the door carefully, stake at the ready. He was still expecting some unpleasant surprise. Empty. Well, downstairs at least. He silently closed the door behind him and took off his shoes so that he could move quietly up the stairs. He looked in the bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief. "Buffy."
Her eyes flew open and she looked up. "Giles!" she exclaimed, leaping up to embrace him. He staggered backwards from the force. "You're alive!" She started to pat and examine him, "And you've got all your parts. No chainsaw then."
"No chainsaw," he agreed, a little puzzled.
She saw the cut on his chest and said, "You're hurt!"
"Just a scratch."
She looked at him, "And you look terrible!"
"Thanks very much. I need a shower and a shave and a cup of tea - or maybe a shot of Scotch." Noticing the look she gave him, he said, "Tea then."
"Was it Lulu?" Buffy asked.
He nodded, "And I haven't a clue as to why she let me escape. I suspect that we haven't seen the last of her. This is just another move in some elaborate game she's playing. I have some serious research to do ... tomorrow. It would help to have some idea of what she's doing." Noticing that Buffy was still clinging to him, he said, "Now, I have to shower."
She reluctantly let him go and he made his way into the bathroom, dropping his clothes on the way. Turning the shower on, he stepped in under the spray. He felt a breeze and then Buffy joined him. "I thought you might need some help," she said innocently, "having been kidnapped and all."
He chuckled softly and let her soap his body with shower gel. "You're too tall for me to do your hair properly," she complained. "But I can do the other bits," she added, as he felt a very smooth and soapy pair of hands grasp his penis and start to rub up and down.
He swallowed hard and said in agreement, "I'm sure you can do that properly."
"What?"
"You can do other bits properly."
She giggled and said more seriously, "I was going crazy trying to find you. Spike even went with me to look for you."
He snorted in amusement, "God, that would give that lot back in England fits. Slayer and vampire looking for ex-Watcher."
"Too bad," she said.
"I'm surprised Willow let him out of her sight."
"It was her idea."
He turned around and, pressing her back against the wall, lifted her legs up around his hips and remarked, "You moved in."
"In case she turned up here."
"She's not invited in."
"Good, but you are definitely invited in." She grinned at him.
He smiled and kissed her as he slowly slipped inside. She moaned in frustration at the deliberate slowness of his movements. "Come on, Rupert!" she insisted.
"Hasty creature," he muttered, nuzzling her neck and then blowing in her ear.
She snarled in frustration. Taking pity, he increased the tempo and she pushed back against him, locking her feet together. He looked at her face. Eyes closed, she was biting her tongue in concentration which he found extremely erotic. He slipped his fingers between them to bring her over the edge. She collapsed limply, panting against him. Kissing the top of her head, he murmured, "I really am glad you were here. I've been expecting Lulu to leap out with some unpleasant surprise ever since I got loose. Let me finish in here and you can tell the others I'm safe - for the moment. I don't know what Lulu's game is, but it isn't over yet. Not by a long shot."
She hugged him as if she was afraid that he might disappear. Sensing her anxiety, he bent over and, lifting her chin, kissed her again. "I promise not to disappear from the bathroom. All right?"
She gave him a little smile and nodded. Wrapping a towel around herself she went to telephone, vowing to rid the world of a certain skanky vampiress at the first opportunity.