Chapter 43 – Hell Hath No Fury

January 20, 2008 9:10 AM

Buffy’s arm fell across Spike’s chest and woke him from his slumber. He turned sleepy eyes to his wife who was turning this way and that way as she roused herself from the night. He was surprised when she grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach. A delighted smile lit up his face as he felt his baby move.

“Your daughter is definitely Slayer material as much as she is kicking,” Buffy said, still holding his hand. “Oh, sorry, need to interrupt this moment because she just bounced on my bladder.”

Spike settled back against the pillows as he watched Buffy leave the room. She was dressed in the new pajamas that Raven had given her for her birthday; a pink tank top and long pink bottoms with white kittens splashed all over them. The clothing along with her mussed up hair, Buffy looked about twelve until she turned around and he could see the clear evidences of her womanhood. He continued to lie in bed as he listened to Buffy moving around the upstairs. As soon as she returned he needed to tell her about Elijah. It wasn’t going to be easy but it was the best choice he could have made and he hoped that Buffy would understand.

Suddenly the door flung back and slammed against the wall. Spike closed his eyes knowing that his chance of explaining calmly was gone.

“Where is Elijah? I went in his room and most of his clothes are gone. Books and toys are missing. Where is he?”

Standing up, Spike grabbed his jeans and pulled them on before going to her. He took her hand and tried to lead her back to the bed so they could talk. She yanked her arm away from him and he sighed in frustration knowing he should have said something last night instead of letting himself be seduced by roses made of frosting.

“Baby, let’s talk,” Spike said trying to stay composed. “Elijah is going to stay with Xander and Anya for a little while.”

“Why?”

Buffy sounded so hurt with that one word and Spike wondered if he had made the right decision.

“I think with the new changes and everything that he would be less confused with them.”

“Confused by what?” Buffy asked. “I take good care of him.”

Spike brushed her hair back and cupped her face. “I know you do, Pet, but with the games that he’s played…”

“I stopped playing with him just like you told me to,” Buffy pleaded, her hands clutching at his forearms. “I’ve been a good girl; please don’t take my son from me.”

“I know you did,” Spike said, looking over her head and searched for the words to explain. “He’s confused. He thinks he’s the only one protecting the baby. That’s too much of a burden for a little boy.”

Tears had started to fill her eyes and a part of him wanted to give in to her requests but he knew he couldn’t.

“You don’t understand, Spike. There are things that you don’t know. I need him home with me.”

“Explain so that I do understand. I can protect you if you’d just tell me what’s going on. These secrets of yours are scaring me, Baby.”

Everything in him silently begged her to open up and tell him. Most likely it would be nothing more than the ravings of her insanity but at least he’d know how to handle things. She seemed to be struggling with herself and she closed her eyes before leaning against him.

“Please, tell me. You know I’ll take care of you.”

Her hands clutched at his chest and he could feel his chest getting wet from her tears. He relaxed as he pulled her closer and his hands ran along her back.

“Give me back my son,” Buffy screamed and pushed at him with everything she had.

Spike flew across the room hitting the wall before slumping to the floor. Shaking his head he looked up to see her advancing toward him. He told himself to move but his body wouldn’t cooperate.

“These are things that you cannot understand.” Buffy hissed, pushing the dresser over. She stepped carelessly over the mess she had made. “Everything is almost ready for the day when it will all come right again. You have been a very bad boy and now you will lose your chance to play.” Reaching down she tore apart a drawer. She took the front part of it and swung at him. Spike just managed to roll before it crashed against his head. The wood slammed into his back and a screw from the handle tore into his flesh. He groaned and arched his back as the pain registered with his brain. “Now you stay here while I’ll go and make things all better.”

Her voice was calm as she turned to leave the bedroom. In the doorway was Raven and Max. Sean hung back in the hallway.

“Do you think that you can stop me?” Buffy asked with a smirk.

Taking advantage of the situation, Spike grabbed her from behind and pulled her toward the bed. Startled by his movements, she didn’t fight him as he pushed her down and straddled her thighs. He held her hands above her head.

“Buffy, stop this. It’s not good for the baby.”

She laughed. “You should have thought of that before you stole my child.”

“I didn’t steal him,” Spike said, trying to maintain his hold as she struggled to be free. “He’s a little boy and deserves to be a little boy. I’m trying to do what’s best for him.”

“Help me, please help me,” Buffy pleaded and started to sob. “Spike, don’t do this. I’ll do whatever you want just let me go.”

It was his Buffy again and he loosened his grip on her. As soon as he did her face twisted in a mask of pure evil as she took advantage of his sympathy and threw him off. Spike fell backwards and rolled off the bed. He looked up to find her peering at him over the edge of the bed. Her laughter was a haunting melody that resounded of darkness and death.

“Silly boy never did understand, did you?” Buffy taunted. “There are things you don’t know. Things that were set in motion that very night when you died. The stars whispered of your fate, of this child, and you can’t change the way it will be.”

“Bloody hell I can’t,” Spike said, pushing off the floor and looking at Raven and Max. “Help me.”

Buffy started to back crawl along the bed but Spike came around the one side and grabbed her arm.

“Raven, hold her arm down. Max get her feet. Be careful.”

His instructions were carried out while Buffy fought them with everything she had. Max was trying to hold down his wife and Spike decided that her feet would be first. Still clutching her hand he knelt and reached under the bed and pulled out a restraint attached to a chain.

“Put it on her ankle now,” Spike said, glancing up to see his daughter sobbing. “Its okay, Raven, it’s only until she’s quieted down.” He reached under and grabbed the one for her wrist.”

“Please, Spike, I’ll be good. I promise,” Buffy cried. “Don’t do this to me, please, please, don’t, I can’t stand it. Not after the coffin. No.”

The restraint was snapped around her wrist. Spike hurried down to help Max and went to grasp Buffy’s free leg when she pulled it back and kicked Max in the face. He flew back into the pile that was the dresser. Spike fastened the restraints on her ankles ignoring his friend for the moment. Finally he reached under the bed for the last chain and handed it to Raven.

“Daddy, I can’t,” Raven pleaded. “She’s my mother.”

Nodding he brushed her aside and did it himself. Like always. It was him that had to make the tough choices even if it did tear him to pieces.

“Raven, take Max downstairs. Call Kate if he needs it,” Spike instructed. He waited until they were out the door before turning back to his wife. “These chains are fastened to concrete that was poured beneath the floorboards. You can probably tear the bed apart but you won’t be able to break the chains.”

Buffy spit in his face and he wiped it away.

“Do you really think that this will hold me?” Buffy said, pulling on the chains.

“The only way to break the chains free would be to bring the bed down on top of you and I’m hoping that your love for our child will prevent you from doing it.”

“You’re pathetic and weak having to resort to chaining your wife.”

Her face was moist with perspiration and Spike pushed her hair back from her forehead. She glared at him with rage simmering in her eyes. Needing an excuse to get away from her a moment, he hurried to the bathroom. He filled a basin with warm water and a dash of bath oil with lavender. Grabbing a washcloth he threw it in the water and as he prepared to leave the room, Spike caught a glimpse of his face in the mirror. It seemed to him that he had aged since the night before. His eyes closed as he gathered his resolve to do what had to be done.

Buffy’s eyes were closed when he entered the room. He sat the basin on the nightstand before lighting candles that were meant to encourage relaxation. The curtains were shut and the room was bathed in the warm glow of the candles. Spike sat on the edge of the bed. He wrung the washcloth out and starting with her face, he bathed the sweat from her. Each stroke was rhythmic and soothing in its motion. She watched him from under her lids and he could feel the cold stare all the way through his soul.

“Oh, my Sweet, you try so hard but it always ends the same,” Buffy whispered. “You have become so domesticated. A pathetic lapdog for the Slayer is such a sad fate for a creature such as you. You scorned Daddy when he was in caught in her flame and now you wallow in his leavings.”

He faltered as her words. They twisted into his soul but he forced them away. He pushed her shirt up and her pajamas down. He ran the cloth in small circular strokes over her stomach.

“She grows bored with you. Did you know? There is no monster left in you. Only a wretched shell of the evil she once adored and clung to. You have grown fat and lazy in your obsession for the girl.”

Spike straightened her clothes and dropped the cloth in the water. Her words were peeling away the security that he clung to. He blinked his eyes and looked up at her.

“You try so hard not to believe me. It takes no pixie dust to know the truth that shines as bright as the sun. If she loves you so much why did she want to be with Daddy? Why does she turn to him to save her?”

“What do you mean?”

Buffy laughed. At first it was a giggle like she knew a secret he didn’t.

“Buffy, what are you talking about?”

The laughter turned to a taunting cackle. Spike chose to ignore it. Buffy loved him. It was clear that she was trying to provoke him. It was the why that confused him. Did she think that if she hurt him enough that he would release her? Would take her life? Shaking his head, he stood and reached for the bowl.

“I’m not going to play this game,” Spike said. “When you have calmed down I’ll let you go.”

“Do you think that I will ever forgive you for taking my child from me?” Buffy asked. “Do you think that I will bend to your will? I won’t. Not now and not ever. As soon as I am free you will pay for what you have done.”

Spike laughed and exited the room. Of course she wouldn’t bend to him. She never had. He left the bowl in the bathroom and sat on the top step. He listened as Buffy cried. Every once in a while she would call for him and he wrapped his arms around his knees rocking back and forth. He fought everything in him that wanted to let her go but he knew that if he did she would attack him again. Raven came to him and cleaned the cut on his back. She held his hand for awhile but when Buffy returned to cursing him Raven retreated downstairs where she couldn’t hear.

Since the incident with Angel, the personality switches were becoming clearer. Almost as if once her secret had been found it didn’t matter anymore. Listening to his wife he knew when she was Buffy and when she was ‘Drusilla’. Eventually the cries and curses slipped into mad ramblings and he found himself shaking.

“Spike, drink this,” Max said, sitting next to him.

Trying to focus, Spike took the glass from Max. It was blood and he took a sip but found that he only gagged on it. The glass was set on the floor next to him.

“What time is it?” Spike croaked out.

“It’s almost one,” Max said. “Why don’t you go down and talk to your children? Raven is pretty shook up.”

In the hours he had been listening for her it was as if he had forgotten the rest of the world even existed. Spike looked at Max. His friend turned from him but Spike put his fingers on his chin and forced Max to look at him. The left side of his face was bruised leading up to an almost swollen shut black eye. Spike let his fingers drift from the chin over the bruising to corner of the eye. The touch was almost a caress that was broken when Max winced from pain.

“I’m sorry,” Spike said. “I am asking too much of my friends.”

“No,” Max said. “That is what friends are for. A lot of the things she says are true.” He laughed, low and humorlessly. “We’ve all been on the receiving end of her mouth. But when you think about it most of it is nothing more than brutal honesty. Like me. She said I was weak. I am. I’ve let you down twice. Since Bri I’ve run. Lost myself in my work and didn’t let myself get close enough to anyone to have to be responsible for them. You…this family have destroyed my solitary oath. I won’t let you down again.”

It was comfort because it was the truth. Max was one of them now. In another lifetime he would have been made a favored Childe but now he was a friend. A brother. He would never be the same as Xander but the feelings were almost as strong because Max knew his secrets and weaknesses. Spike leaned against him for a moment. Shoulder to shoulder.

“I know,” Spike said. “I’m going to check on my children. You’ll be all right?”

“Yeah.”

Spike made his way downstairs. Raven and Sean were in his study playing on the computer.

“Hey,” Spike said.

Raven ran to him and he crushed her to him. He opened one arm and held it out to Sean who followed more slowly but came to him nonetheless.

“Is she all right?”

“I think she’s going to sleep,” Spike said. “Hopefully when she wakens she’ll be…I’ll be able to free her.”

The phone rang and Raven slipped away to answer. After saying hello, she handed the phone to him.

“Hello,” Spike said.

“Spike, its Xander. We have a problem.”

January 20, 2008 12:54 PM

Max was startled to see Willow and Tara step through the front door. If they had knocked he hadn’t heard them. His mind was occupied by the changes in his life and by the woman chained to a bed. The life he had carefully constructed had been shattered when he had met Buffy that day at the motel. He wasn’t sure if he liked the fact that his heart was healing and he wanted to belong somewhere again. That he wanted to be more than Agent Maxim Rochester of the California branch of The Guardians.

He watched in amusement as Candy ran to the witches and sniffed playfully at their feet.

“Hello, pretty baby,” Tara said, reaching down to scoop the small dog up in her arms.

When she straightened she saw him and her eyes flew open then filled with pity. She and Willow made their way up the stairs.

“Max, what happened?” Willow asked sitting next to him while her companion sat on the other side of him. Again fingers were run over his face and he basked in the care that was shown to him.

It wasn’t his place to explain so Max shrugged and said, “I got in the way.”

“Must have been something pretty big,” Tara said.

“Tara, Willow is that you?” Buffy called.

“Yes, it’s us,” Willow replied.

“Don’t go in there,” Max said. “It’s been a bad day.”

The two women glanced at each other and ignoring his words went into the bedroom. Max followed them knowing that one good yell would bring the vampire so watching out for the women seemed like the better idea. Willow pulled the curtains open and she gasped when she saw Buffy chained to the bed. Tara was calmer and sat on the edge of the bed next to Buffy letting the dog loose to curl next to her mistress.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Buffy said.

“I’ll let him know,” Max said, slipping from the room but didn’t have to go far because Spike was already on his way up the stairs.

Max returned to leaning against the doorjamb as Spike entered the bedroom. He sat on the other side of Buffy and searched her face.

“I’m…please…” Buffy said.

Nodding, Spike undid each restraint before picking her up in his arms and taking her to the bathroom.

“Did Buffy do that to you?” Tara asked.

“Probably when he was helping to chain her down,” Willow said, her eyes flashing and as Spike’s turned gold when teetering on great emotion, the witch’s eyes were flickering black.

“You don’t understand, Will,” Max explained. “She was trying to hurt Spike.”

“Honey, you need to let Spike tell us what happened before we judge,” Tara said, taking her lover’s hand. “Why don’t we wait downstairs for them?”

The two women made their way downstairs before the bathroom door opened. Buffy supported by Spike made her back into the bedroom. After a dismissing glance from Spike, Max joined them in the living room. Raven and Sean were sitting close to each other on the couch while Willow and Tara were seated in Buffy’s chair.

“Was she that bad?” Tara asked.

Max leaned forward, his fingers smoothing the frown lines on his forehead. There wasn’t really any easy way to answer her. To someone who hadn’t been here the truth would only look like Buffy had been provoked into defending what she considered hers. Her right to have access to her child and that had been taken away. With the child not talking about what was going on between his mother and him, Spike really hadn’t had a choice. Either way both were right and both were wrong and it was only a small boy whose safety mattered in the end.

“Yes, she was violent and at the moment we chained her she was dangerous,” Max said.

“Don’t even judge me,” Spike snarled. He stepped into the room and towered over the women. “You humiliated Buffy yesterday and hurt me. This whole bloody mess is your fault for not leaving her alone. All of you had to have Buffy to complete your damn world. Without her to center around none of your miserable lives were worth living. And when she didn’t perform as expected you disappeared like you have now. Only around when the pickings are good and the rest of the time leave her to the vampire to clean up your mistakes.”

Grabbing his arm Max turned Spike to him.

“Don’t,” Max implored. “You are going to say things that you regret.”

“Especially since you were the one who said if we brought her back as not quite human that you wouldn’t let us destroy whatever it was as long as part of it was her.”

Everyone turned to look at Xander in the doorway. In his arms was cradled Elijah.

Spike nodded.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t have and I still wouldn’t,” Spike said. He turned back to Willow. His eyes were scathing in their perusal. “Willow stay here for one day and not just for a few short hours and see the reality. Don’t think that we are making it up or exaggerating. Everyone in this house is living in the world that exists only in Buffy’s head. So, don’t judge the decisions we make to protect her or us.”

Dismissing them, Spike took his son from Xander’s arms and made his way upstairs.

“I just don’t understand the need for chains,” Willow said. “I didn’t mean to be all judgey and superior but…”

“You were, sweetie,” Tara said. “Look at Max’s face. Look at Raven and Sean. They didn’t do it to be cruel but to protect themselves.”

When Xander perched on the other side of the red head, Max felt left out of a group of people that had been through so much together. He knew Spike and Buffy welcomed him but there was so much history he wasn’t a part of. He glanced back at the two teenagers who were not only feeling as out of place as he was but still shaken from the morning’s events. Standing he reached for Raven’s hand.

”Let’s go pick up some lunch and get you two out of the house for awhile.” Max said. “I think things have calmed down enough.”

Raven and Sean smiled gratefully and he felt a rush of love for them that amazed him with its intensity. Whatever reservations he had about leaving his heart open again was gone as he led the two from the house. However things were resolved this afternoon he knew Spike would let him on it later. For now the kids were taking precedence.

January 20, 2008 1:15 PM

The door clicked shut and Xander moved to occupy the spot where Max had been sitting. He took a moment to study his best friend. Willow meant well but in the last few months she had been changing in ways he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. And it was because he saw those changes in himself. It was like Sunnydale was casting its spell over their adult selves making them forget the forces that they once fought so hard against. They were letting the fight pass from their hands into the younger generation and blinding themselves to the truth.

“Spike had a reason to do what he did,” Xander said. “I was so arrogant when I took Elijah. I would be the one fix everything for that little boy. And in a few short hours he made me remember everything and see what is happening to Buffy so much clearer.”

“What happened, Xan?” Willow asked.

“Elijah tore my house apart,” Xander said, passing a hand over his face. “I was standing there in my living room trying to explain to this child why he couldn’t be with his mommy and the next thing I knew the lamp had hit the wall.”

“I’m sorry, Xander,” Tara said, giggling. ”But I could’ve told you what might happen.”

“Well, it wasn’t funny as everything in my living room ended up in a pile on one side before I got Spike on the phone,” Xander groused. “Anya didn’t seem to mind much because Spike said he’d replace everything. Now, she gets to spend someone else’s money on a new living room set and I get dragged from store to store while she decides.”

“He didn’t hurt anyone, did he?” Willow asked.

“No, he wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Tara interrupted. “He has too much control for someone to be in the way and too much empathy to injure anyone without hurting himself.”

“Yeah,” Xander said. “He actually had Aidan and Jessy behind him when he started it. Every time he’d say take me home and when I tried to explain why he couldn’t something else would go flying.”

“Did he say why he had to be home?” Tara asked, settling back against Willow. Her fingers interlaced with her lovers.

“That was the thing that got to me,” Xander said, sitting up again. “He said that he couldn’t miss it. And that the baby was going to change everything.”

“I’ve heard Buffy say that before,” Willow said. “At least the part about the baby changing everything.”

“It was the way that Elijah said it that got to me,” Xander said. “It was like he had to be in a certain spot at certain time in order for something to happen.”

“Like Dawn with Glory?” Tara asked.

“Exactly,” Xander said. “Exactly.”

January 20, 2008 1:05 PM

His son was in his arms again. Spike hated to admit it but it felt right to have the boy home. Without Elijah a piece of their home was gone. Maybe Buffy was right and he was the essential Ace that held their fragile house of cards together. He opened the door, peering into their room to see what Buffy was doing before putting Elijah down. She was pulling her hair through a scrunchy and he set the child on his feet. Leaning against the spot Max had earlier; Spike watched as his wife held out her arms and caught their son.

“I’ve missed you, my little prince,” Buffy crowed, wrapping her arms around him.

“I missed you too, Mummy. They didn’t want me to come home.”

“I know but you’re here now,” Buffy said. “Everything is right again and we can celebrate your return.”

“Celebrate?”

“Yes,” Buffy replied, shaking her head for a moment. She clasped his small body to her again. “I’m glad that you’re home.”

Spike watched as she stood and took Eli’s hand. She passed by him and he could have sworn that when she did he could see a look of utter defeat in her eyes.

To be continued in Chapter 44 – Love is All We Have

Main Page*Chapter 44*Feedback