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Tough Love	By : noaluvjames Category: > Buffy/Spike(William) > Buffy/Spike(William) Views: 2450 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 5 : Just Friends

The diner was nothing like Buffy remembered, but then they�d only been there together once and that now seemed like a life time ago. Angel had been very interested in the apartment for rent across the street and had told her it looked like a nice place to live. Three months later, after their visit to L.A, he�d moved in there. He�d never told her how it got burned down, but from what she knew about his recent activities it wouldn't surprise her if it was an insurance scam.

God we use to know everything about each other�or at least I thought so. Buffy walked into the dark, smoky diner wondering if it had new owners. Just as she was about to walk into the back room Angel appeared in front of her, holding the door. He faced her as he closed it behind him slowly.
"Hi Buff."

There was a glint in his eyes, like he knew something the rest of the world didn�t.

"Angel" Buffy said simply, her face set.

He pointed to the table next to them and they sat in front of each other. Two months since the funeral, but Buffy felt like the man she was seeing wasn't the same, The way he was dressed, his cocky smile and even his cologne made her feel he was a complete stranger.

"How have you been Buffy?"

"Angel this isn't a social call" She said.

"It's not?" He raised a brow.

"Look I appreciate your support� what you did for me after mom died, that meant a lot, but you chose your path and I chose mine."

"Okay Buffy�what this is about?" Suddenly he looked impatient.

"I want to know what you talked about, with my dad�about Spike," Buffy muttered afraid of what she might hear.

"Why won't you ask him?"

"I want to hear it from you."

Angel sighed and sat back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head.

"Had a little misunderstanding your dad and I�he heard me talking to some guy and misinterpreted, that�s all."

"Is it true you been spreading rumors about Spike?"

"Rumors�Buffy please" He mocked.

"Your getting paid for this aren�t you? If Spike loses you benefit"

"Buffy I'm just doing my job"

"Some job you got Angel" she said incredulously.

"Never lied to you and I'm not now, I have sources"

"Who's your source?"

"I can't say"

"Fine�then what is it Angel? Just tell me what this so-called source told you."

Angel sighed and looked away, his expression one of annoyance at her request.

"At least tell me that," Buffy said, calmly.

"He has a condition-"

"Condition?"

"Medical condition�it�s his heart, he's not fit for boxing, Buffy. It could kill him."

Buffy gave Angel a pensive look, her mind was racing , she couldn't believe what she'd heard. Trying to push his words aside she got up quickly from her chair, infuriated.

"You know Angel� I never thought you�d stoop this low."

"Well Buff �sorry to disappoint you�.again" He shrugged.

"I really thought you would come to your senses...not for me no�for your self
For the man I thought knew."

"Maybe you didn't know that man as well as you thought�again, I'm sorry."

"Good bye Angel" She turned to leave without looking back.

"Take care Buffy" Angel said quietly looking at her disappearing through the smoke and crowd of people coming their way.

"Oh daddy� Who was that ball of sunshine?"

Angel turned around to the voice that came from behind him.

"What are you doing here Dru? Thought I told you to wait out back"

The dark-haired woman sat next to him and petted his head playfully.

"Was it Betty?...Naughty Angel, You should know not to break little girls heart."

"It's Buffy, Dru"

"Sweet like a lolli- pop, but you know what happens to you after you eat them don't you�All you�re left with is a shiny piece of wrapping paper"

Dru stroked her hand down Angel's thigh and started to caress him eagerly.

"But you like your hard candy don't you daddy?" She whispered, her breath hot against his ear.

"You're crazy Dru" He answered huskily, watching the brunette's amused face.

"Yes, yes I am" She laughed and gave him a wicked grin.

"Now�" He moved her hand away from him.

"Stop fooling around and tell me more about your precious William."

***

Buffy entered the training room and saw Hank observing Spike fighting in the ring. Buffy stood beside him and did the same, Spike looked just fine. Really fine, in fact. She let her gaze run over his semi naked body. He was so muscular you really could bounce a coin off those abs or better yet�

"Buffy!" Hank waved a hand in front of her face.

Buffy blinked and looked at her dad.

"Hi pumpkin, where have you been?"

"Oh hi! Hey! Me? I was shopping" She mumbled.

"What did you buy?" Hank looked at her empty hands and raised a brow.

"Window shopping" She corrected herself.

Hank nodded at that.

"Bloody hell!"

The two heard Spike shouting and turned around to find him lying on the floor. Quickly they got inside the ring.

Gunn helped his friend up.

"I'm fine" Spike muttered as he took his hand.

"What happened?" Hank asked looking at Spike, who was limping.

"Just twisted my ankle, think there was something on the floor."

"Or you just lost your concentration." Gunn gazed at Buffy, who gave him a puzzled look.

"Take a break Spike" Hank mumbled and turned for his office.

The three were left alone in an awkward silence, Buffy stared at Spike, looking down and trying to stand primly. Gunn sending sideways glances at them.

Spike raised his head and broke the silence.

"Buffy this is Gunn, Gunn- Buffy" He mumbled wearily.

"Hi." The two exchanged brief looks.

"Spike� Can I talk to you?" Buffy felt a chill run down her spine. What am I doing!? What I'm going to tell him?

"Sure pet," He replied.

"Alone?" Buffy looked at Gunn who was still looking at the two in a strange manner. what's up with that guy? She wondered.

"I need to go anyway�see you at Wally's later?" He said to his friend.

"Sure thing Charlie."

Spike waved him off and returned his gaze to Buffy who looked rather nervous. What's with the lip- quiver�not that I mind�so adorable.

"What's up luv?"

"I don't think you should fight Combs" straight to the point huh Buff

"Oh" Spike froze for a moment then narrowed his eyes.

"Why not?"

"I-I think he's dangerous and-"

"You talked to your ex?"

"Yeah" Buffy sighed at Spike expression. He was clenching his teeth, his blue eyes darkened and he wasn't even blinking. Oh that's not a good face she thought.

"What did the ponce say?"

What could she tell him? That Angel had told her he was risking his life every time he went into the ring? Was it honestly any of her business?

"That Combs is crazy, he uses what ever means necessary, he could kill you."

It was true after all.

"I don't think he said that." Spike turned from her and started to take off his gloves.

"Why not?!" what are you hiding?

"Because pet, your Angel's job isn't to worry about my well being� on the contrary."

"He's a friend of mine, I don't think he's lying."

"Just a friend?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Why? What do you care?"

"I don't" He threw his gloves aside.

"Good" Buffy muttered.

"And you shouldn't care about me fighting Combs"

"Fine! I won't!" She frowned.

"Good" he said firmly and stooped to get out of the ring.

"Glad we had this conversation pet"

"Jerk�" Buffy mumbled and walked past him quickly.

Spike was left at the side of the ring. leaning on the rail, a peevish look on his face.
He watched her retreating back.

What's her problem?

***

When she went to her father's office later that day, all full of flames and accusations, the last thing she expected was for him to bring her a letter from Willow and her friends.

Seems like they haven�t forgotten about you after all hun. Buffy took the letter remembering her earlier statement about cutting herself off from everyone. She'd said that in a moment of frustration and knew that she wasn�t going to be able to live with her dad without giving stuff away, and he was her dad whether she liked it or not, with all the confusion that went with that, One minute all she could remember was the lying bastard who�d left her and her mom and the next she don't know what to think, She couldn�t help remembering the good stuff - the man who�d taken her ice skating and who�d brought home pine trees for Christmas. She�d hated the smell of pine trees since he�d gone because they�d reminded her of him. Christmas was just one of the things he�d spoiled in her life.

Now she was sitting at her desk, looking at her dad's trophies lined neatly on the shelf on the wall.

"Hank did a great job," Spike said standing beside her. She hadn't heard him coming in because she was too caught up in her thoughts.

"Hasn't he just?" she muttered looking at the shelf and realising that her childhood had been replaced by a collection of shiny objects.

"It helped him recover, do something good for a change."

Somehow it didn't surprise her that he understood what she meant.

"Good? For himself, maybe. That's hardly a change! That's Hank being selfish. No thought about someone getting hurt!" And he's doing it again.

"Bad stuff happens Buffy" Spike said calmly. "You can't blame daddy forever for all the nasties in this world."

"You�re just like him," She muttered shaking her head.

"If that's suppose to be an insult, I don't get it."

"No ties to this world" She repeated his own words. "I can believe you�d abandon your family for a shelf full of shiny trophies, given the chance."

"I don't know about that pet." He gave her a harsh look. "Never had one, remember?"

Buffy turned herself away. "Forget it" She muttered.

"No�" He stood in front of her " Tell me what you mean," He demanded.

She got up from the desk and started pacing, giving him sidelong glances.

"Tell you what? That you�re an idiot who�s going to get himself killed for a trophy?"

Spike didn't know where that had come from, but before he could say a word Buffy was reaching for the cups on the shelf.

"Here," she said pushing them off, one by one. "There are plenty here, pick one!" She panted as she tried to reach the ones the high shelf.

"Buff-"

"Take it" She grabbed one and threw it at him. It hit the floor with a dull clatter.

"What are you doing?" Spike said, stunned.

"This is what you want right?! So here take them all"
And with that she ran her hand along the shelf, knocking the remainder to the floor.

Spike looked at her completely shocked, but obviously not as much as she was. Buffy turned to him, her face frozen. He could see tears forming in her eyes as she processed what she'd done.

"Buffy-" He approached her, but she took a step back, shivering.

She dropped her gazed and headed quickly towards the door, but Spike wasn't about to let her go. He stopped her and swung her around to face him.

"Wait!" He searched her face not knowing quite what to say, but noticing the single tear that lingered on her cheek. It made him loosen his grip.

As soon as he did that Buffy ran off, leaving him frozen behind her. Spike felt completely numb, like the empty room he was in. Suddenly, nothing felt real any more.

Nothing,

Except the horrible weight crushing his heart.

tbc
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Tough Love