Tough Love

Chapter 10: Two ends to every rainbow



"Okay, you can take a break now Spike."

"Thank God." Spike rose from the floor panting from finishing his push-up's.

"Where are you going?" Hank asked seeing him leave in a hurry.

"Umm- I'm just going to that place you know-"

"Going to see Buffy?" Hank cut through his rambling.


"Yeah." Spike turned to leave, but Hank stood in his way.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-no…w-why would you think that?"



"You just weren’t concentrating today. Where did Buffy go?"

"Home," Spike answered without thinking.

"I see." Hank moved out of his way.


Spike moved quickly not wanting to give him anther chance to question him.


"Spike," he heard Hank calling behind him as he was about to walk trough the gym's door.

Hank gazed at him.

"I'm counting on you," he said calmly and added "don't let me down."



"Yeah." Spike glanced at him and left.

With Hank's words in his mind Spike realized, somewhere along the way that things had changed. It wasn't about the fight anymore, it wasn't about the title or the trophy.

For both of them, it all became about Buffy.

***

Bugger! Spike stood on the street outside of Hank's apartment. "Where could she be?" he thought. He looked down the deserted street. She wasn't home, and he had no clue where else to look. His mind started racing, thinking of possible scenarios given her state of mind. Where she could be and who she could be with…no,no,no…no way…

Starting to walk aimlessly, he raised his head as a couple of kids ran past him to the park. And then he spotted her, sitting on the bench, gazing blankly at the kids playing in the sand box. He watched her and approached slowly, knowing she had seen him the minute he made his move.

Playing it tough pet?

He stood by the bench gazing at her, watching her cold expression.

"How come I always have to chase you?"


"It seems like the natural order of things I guess," she replied, still looking into space.


"So, you always ditch a guy after shagging his brains out in the storeroom?" He watched her face closely as he sat beside her.


"No actually…usually it's the other way around…" she muttered acridly.


"My, my Miss Summers, how many storeroom after-hours snogs have you had?"


Spike raised a brow playfully, but added quickly, "you better say just the one."


Buffy gazed at him and couldn't help smiling at his statement.


They stared at each other for a moment.



"Spike-" Buffy broke the silence.

"Don't-" Spike knelt before her watching her face soften.

"Don't bail on me now Summers, there are still many pages that need to be written about this steamy affair…we’re just at beginning luv," he smirked.




"Are we?" she scoffed playfully.

"Sure…and I'm not just saying it… there are rules to those fluffy romantic novels."

"What kind of rules?" she asked intrigued by his playfulness.

"Well at first, as you must know there's the introduction . " He took her hand and put his fingers between hers. "Two strangers live their separate lives, each of them miserable and alone, knowing nothing about the other…that’s of course until fate intervenes…"

Spike looked at their joined hands and continued. "Then begins the conflict, both hero and heroine trying to accept each other’s presence in their lives while fighting to achieve their individual goals..."

Buffy wanted to say something, but didn't stop him talking.

"But the conflict untangles as both of them realize they’re fighting for the same cause…losing themselves in a moment of climax which in our case I hope will be followed by many others-"

Buffy snorted in response.

"You're deranged."

"That's no news luv," he grinned.

Buffy's face turned serious. "Who's writing this story?"

"We are Buffy, we create our own destiny."

"And that destiny includes you dying fighting
Combs?"

"No…because I'm going to win…and you are going be right there with me."

"I'm not going to watch you kill yourself," she murmured gazing away.

"What are you saying Buffy?" Spike look up at her, bemused.

"Spike-" she watched his face growing hard.

"Are you saying you’re not coming to the fight?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"I can't-"

Spike rose quickly, glancing away he brushed his hair back with his hand,paused for a moment and then turned to her with a puzzled expression.She couldn't figure.

"Alright, that's fine Summers, do what you want," he said calmly and added "hey…maybe you could spend a quiet night with the doctor watching the telly."

"You're mad" she stated.

"No I'm not mad, what makes you think that?"

"You doing that clenching teeth thing and you bounce when you talk."

"I do not bounce." Spike frowned.

"Like a school girl."



"Whatever." He turned to leave.

"Hey!" She stood before him, watching his face "I'm sorry"

Spike gazed at her for a moment and moved closer.

"Don't worry about it." He cupped her cheek, gazing at her melting into his touch, but couldn't help feeling completely at her mercy. Such a fool… he thought.

"I need to go back, Hank's waiting…see you later?" He dropped his hand, taking a step back.

"O-okay" Buffy mumbled.

But before she could say a word Spike walked past her, leaving her standing alone washed by a feeling of uncertainty.


***


What was she doing? Why was she lying in her bed in the middle of the day, reflecting on the last 24 hours? Was it really so important to her? Was it so important to Spike? Did the two of them need to spend this time apart, all because of a stupid argument? Not even an argument. Had she found Spike’s soft spot or was it all about the fight?


A tiny part of her couldn't help the feeling that maybe, just maybe, she’d made a mistake. She was sick of all the hurt and pain that always seem to be around her, following her. She now realized that her misery wasn't rooted in Sunnydale, or any other place else for that matter. It was her, she was doomed, doomed to bring bad luck to every one around her, that's why she didn't want to go to the fight. If she wasn’t there, it would be better. She held that thought and got out of bed, opened her closet and looked at the bag she’d come with from Sunnydale. No. She closed the door and just as she was about to open it again she heard a knock .



"Angel" she said beyond surprised.

"Hello Buffy," he said calmly. "Can I come in?"

"No," she replied harshly. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to apologise."

"Oh yeah, about what?" she raised a brow.

"Can I come in Buffy, just for a second?"

"Fine," she sighed and opened the door to him.

"I was misled Buffy," I shouldn't have believed my sources about Spike’s condition."

"That's a little convenient now." She crossed her arms.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Is that all? 'cause I really don't feel like talking right now."

"What's wrong?" Angel got closer to her.

"Nothing that concerns you." She gave him a cold stare.

"Come on Buffy, you use to tell me everything."

"Past tense that is- "use to."

"Alright." Angel took a step back. "Anyway I just thought you should know I'm sorry it was stupid really…" he added casually, "I guess that's what happens when you rely on boxers crazy ex-girlfriends."

"What are you talking about?"

"Drusilla, Spike's ex, she's the one who told me he has a heart problem. I guess she just wanted revenge or something, but since they’ve sorted things out…"

"I see." Buffy bit her lip and gazed down.

"Yep." Angel turned to the door. "Anyway Buff, I hope you'll forgive me." He put his hand on the knob. "And you know I’m always here for you."

Buffy continued nodding unable to believe her ears as Angel walked through the door.

***


"Help me out Spikey."

"I bought you the damn thing, you can fix it yourself." Spike looked at his friend who was trying to plug in the cd-player.



"What's with the attitude?" Gunn gazed at him. "First you hang up on me to talk with Dru, then Hank tells me you’re out for the smooches with Buffy, and now you bring me a gift. And you’re mad at me?"

"I have PMS."

"Where’s Buffy?"

"That's the question of the day," Spike muttered bitterly.

"Had a quarrel already, you guys are fast."

"Had something…don't know what it was." Looking up Spike sighed. "God, Gunn she’s driving me crazy."

"More than Dru?"

"No, no she’s nothing like Dru….She…she makes me..." Spike paused, gazing blankly into space.

"Makes you what?" Gunn approached him.

Spike looked at his friend, not sure what he was
going to say.

"Forget it." Spike shook his head.

"Ho… come on, big bad." Gunn grinned. "Starting to be all sensitive are you?"

"Not bloody likely" Spike groused.

"Please…that girl’s had you wrapped around her little finger since the day you met."

Spike walked past him and took the cd-player directions in his hand.

"If you ask me, I think you guys are made for each other; have the same temper, same morbid quality.

"Well, no one asked you Charlie." Spike still looked hard at the directions. "And since when are you the man with the big words?"

"Got me a personality modification."

"Yeah great, stop it…what the bloody hell is this!" Suddenly Spike snapped.

"What? The directions" Gunn got closer to look over his shoulder.

"It's…what is that?" Spike moved it closer to his face.

"Chinese." Gunn pointed out.

"Well sorry mate, I don't know any bloody Chinese."


"That's why there's an English version on the back."

"Oh."

"Let's hope if you ever plan any kids with Buffy, they get her brains."

Spike frowned, glaring at his friend.

"Yeah you’re right, it doesn’t matter either way." Gunn smirked and walked away.

Perfect match



***



Hank sat in his office. He couldn't believe this was happening. Get a grip he told himself, the fight is in two days, can't do anything to mess that up, but Spike? As much as their relationship was solid , he know he couldn't control him, not when he set his mind to something, and who knew where his mind was these days? Who knew how he was going to react to this news.

"Someone died?" Spike stood by the door and watched Hank’s hard expression.

"Please tell me it isn't Combs." He entered the office. "I still need to put the wanker to sleep day after tomorrow."


"Spike." Hank sighed glancing at the phone he’d not so long ago hung up.


"What is it?" More bloody news , anther heart problem, Combs is gay, one of the Olsen twins got pregnant?…

"Buffy left."


"Huh?"


"Buffy, she went back to Sunnydale-"

Spike turned for the door before Hank could finish his sentence.


"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Hank got up from his chair and stopped him.

"I'm going to drag your crazy daughter back home, and make her deal with reality, Where is she? The bus station? When did she leave?"

"Spike relax, it's just for a few days she'll be at her friend Willow’s."

Spike put his fingers on his temples as if he was in agony.

"She told me she needed a break, I guessed it had something to do with the fight… I know she's a little difficult sometimes."


"Sometimes!" Spike snapped "she's been a pain in my arse since the day she arrived!"

Hank watched the vein on the young man temple grow bigger but still couldn't help but smile.



"You really like her."

"Could I be more bloody obvious?" He said in a more mellow tone, gazing down.

"She'll be back soon Spike." Hank tried to hold his gaze. "Meantime I don't want you to do anything stupid alright? Fight less then 48 hours, I need you prepared."


"Alright," Spike replied pliantly and opened the door. "I won't let you down Hank." He glanced in Hank's direction but didn't wait for his response, he just closed the door behind him, and walked out of the gym feeling the need to get as far as possible.

Did you want it to be like in those romantic novels?... where I sweep you off your feet and we sneak out because daddy doesn't approve 'cause I'm the wrong side of the track kidna guy who's gonna do all sort of nasty things to you?...Make you join me on the dark side where I think you belong, away from the sad bleak world you know? You'll leave your noble morals behind you and let me please you for eternity…



"Or you could just leave town." Spike lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply.




TBC

*A/N- I don't mean to be evil... that's just the way i am ;) thanks for the reviews guys!