New York, New York

SUMMARY: In order to stop a magical sect from ending all form of human life with the classic signs of Apocalypse, Buffy and Spike have to get to New York. Are they gonna be strong enough to survive New York and come back unbroken?

DISCLAIMER: The characters in this fiction are from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon. I do not own any of them. I simply borrow my favorite Slayer and my favorite vampire and make them do whatever I want. Which is a lot of fun.

SPOILER: Season 5... kinda

RATING: PG-13

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Buffy's mind drifted away again and she found herself staring at is back. Spike was crouching in front of Giles' old records collection, looking at a limited edition of a Sex Pistol album.

"Buffy? What do you think?"

"Uh?.. Oh, Whatever you say Giles. I totally agree."

Spike winked at her, and she quickly turned away, realizing with embarrassment that she had still been looking at him.

"Ok then. So Willow, you're gonna look on the internet. I do believe the airlines put their schedules on it nowadays. Try to find a night flight leaving after 8pm if it is possible so Spike won't have too much trouble getting to the airport. Having him run to the airport door with a blanket over his head might--huh--shock people standing by."

Buffy's eyes grew wider.

"Airlines? Why airlines, what?"

"Well, unless you intended on getting to New York by car, alone with me pet, but I do believe it's faster by plane." Spike said with a mischievous grin. "Though I must say I would fancy a long ride alone with you luv." He added in a low, sexy voice. "Whatever you decide."

"No! No ride with you."

"There is no choosing the mean of transport anyway. Since the ritual of Kaalan will start in two days. The car will not be an option." Giles added, adjusting his glasses. "If you arrive too late, there is no word to describe what will happen. Plague, rivers of blood..."

"Got it Giles. We're going. But would somebody tell me why me and Spike. Could it be me and Willow, or me and Giles, or.."

"Who could watch you back as well as me luv?"

"Would you stop calling me that already!"

"Spike as a point unfortunately. You need someone of equal strength. Besides, I have to stay here and do the research with Willow. And Xander and Anya are leaving for L.A. tomorrow morning."

Buffy sighed heavily, and took another sip of her cold tea.

"Fine. If I have to. What wouldn't I do for the sake of the stupid world" She pouted.

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A week in New York with Buffy.

"Bloody great" Spike mumbled darkly. He was on his way to the airport, and already late.

Not that he'd never fantasized about spending a week alone with the Slayer, but in his fantasy, the feelings between him and Buffy were mutual. Which was obviously not the case now, and probably never would be. And his fantasies rarely involved some tosser on an agenda to destroy the world. Not that Spike cared that much about the bleedin world, but without a world, there would be no Buffy and that's a thought he really couldn't stand.

"Bloody stupid Slayer." Spike parked his car in a no parking area right in front of the airport's main entrance, almost causing an accident while doing so.

"Sorry mate," he said to himself. "there is a Slayer waiting for me and I'm late. And everybody knows a pissed off slayer is a.. *sigh* gorgeous slayer. Bloody hell! I'm turning into a nancy boy." He shook his head in disbelief, and got out of the car.

Spike took his bag out of the trunk, and walked into the airport.

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Willow looked at Buffy who was pacing next to the ticket counter.

"I'm sure he'll be here any minute now, Buffy."

"Yeah, and I'm sure he's late on purpose, just to piss me off." Buffy answered angrily.

She stopped pacing and looked at Willow with hope filled eyes.

"You sure you don't want to come instead? It would be fun. You and I in New York, shopping, doing girlie stuff... I'm sure you can watch my back just as well as he can."

"Buffy, it can't be that bad. You'll see, you'll have fun. Besides, it'll be over in no time. Before you even know, you'll be back in Sunnydale."

Buffy closed her eyes briefly, trying not to think about the annoying blonde vampire.

When did she become so obsessed with the evil blood sucker anyway.

**Spike. A week alone with Spike. Buffy! Stop it!**

"Buff, it's not too late. I mean--if you really want me to go with you, we could go back to my place and.."

"No!" She said a little too loudly. "I mean, no. It's alright. Don't worry about us, we'll find a way to get along. Besides, there he is."

She watched as Spikes made his way in their direction.

"Where the hell were you? You're late, we're about to miss the plane!"

"Hello to you too Slayer." Spike said with his usual smirk.

"Sorry. Hi. Here's your ticket. Let's go now."

Buffy turned to hug Willow.

"Bye Buffy, take care. And don't do anything stupid, I want you back in one piece."

Willow turned to face the blonde vampire. She shook a finger at him.

"And you. Don't let anything happen to her. And please don't kill each other. I'll see you BOTH back here in a week."

She waved at the two blondes as they walked away.

They were going through security when Spike suddenly chuckled.

"What?"

"You only have that one bag, pet? I was expecting you to have three suitcases at least!"

Buffy bit her lower lip, a little embarrassed. She did in fact have two more suitcases besides that bag.

"I checked my bags in already. And before you say anything, they're small bags--that's why I have two! And it's none of your business anyway. And don't have that look on you face that say you know me so well, cause you don't!"

"Sure luv, whatever you say."

He started walking toward the gate before she had the chance to think of a good come back. Annoyed, she followed him.

He had almost reached the gate when Buffy finally caught up with him.

"Spike! Wait up!"

She grabbed his arm to make him face her.

"Before we get on that plane, I just wanted to say... This week, it's gonna be hard if we keep fighting all the time. Giles was right, we should make an effort to get along." Seeing the satisfied look on his face, she quickly added:

"Just this once. I enjoy fighting with you way too much to give it up."

She pushed passed him and gave her ticket to the ground agent.

"Come on, let's get on that plane and get it over with."

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"What the hell is wrong with you now?"

Spike was twisting and tossing in his seat, taping is fingers nervously on the armrest.

"Nothing. It's just... I've never been on a plane before, is all."

"You scared?!" Buffy asked, an amused smile forming on her lips.

"No!" He pouted sulkily. "Of course not."

"Maybe you should. A crash would kill you just as dead as it would kill me you know. Explosion... fire.."

Spike growled at her "Stop it would you. I am not amused."

As the pilots turn the engines full power to take off, he grabbed Buffy's hand firmly. She let him do it, trying to push away the thoughts invading her mind.

When the plane reached cruising altitude, he let go of her hand and relaxed a little.

"Well that was a thrill. Can we do it again?"

She laughed at this, trying to ignore the smile on his face when he looked at her.

"So, what do we do now? Is it gonna take long?"

"I think they said 5 hours 20 minutes. A little long but.."

"You think that's long? It took Drusilla and I four days in the cargo of a boat, eating rats, to come to America. Five hours is nothing pet."

"Yeah, I guess it's nothing compared to that. Anyway, they are showing that movie I wanted to see for a long time. But sacred duties don't give me much time to go at the movie theater. I guess I'll watch it and then have a nap before we arrive."

Spike took his CD player out of his bag.

"So you're just gonna put that on your ears and ignore me?" Buffy asked, insulted.

"Well yeah. Unless you really want me to annoy you with my talking. But I figured that since you don't want us to fight, that would be the best thing to do. And I got that really good CD that I just bought..."

"Fine. Ignore me then." She turned to look out the window. Spike shrugged and put the headphones on his hear, trying to relax.

Twenty minutes later, the flight attendant turned the movie on. When he noticed Buffy was not watching it, Spike took his headphones off.

"You're not watching the movie luv? I thought you really wanted to see it."

"I don't have earphones." Buffy answered, still looking out the window.

"I thought the flight attendants were giving them out earlier."

"They were selling them and--I kinda forgot my wallet in my suitcase, which is in the cargo hold. It doesn't matter."

Spike's earphones ended up on her lap.

"Here, have mine."

Buffy looked at him with surprise.

"But you were using them."

"s ok luv, I'll take a nap instead." On these words, he relaxed in his seat, and closed his eyes, even though he was not tired at all.

Buffy hesitated for a moment, looking at him. For a second there, all she could focus on what that tasty lower lip, those cheek bones...

"Buffy, stop that!" she mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say?" Spike asked, his eyes opened again.

"Uh? I didn't say anything."

"Yes, you said Buffy, stop that. Stop what?" He asked looking at her with his piercing blue eyes.

"Nothing! Go back to sleep" She put the headphones on to put an end to the conversation.

She tried to get into the movie. It was some chick flick with Keanu Reaves. Sweet November. But the movie was not good enough to capture her attention, though the ending made her cry plenty, startling Spike.

"What's wrong with you, luv? Are you alright?" He asked with concern.

"Yeah, I know I look like an idiot, but it's just so sad." Buffy answered in a shaky voice.

"What's sad? The movie?"

"Yeah. See, he loves her, but they can't be together because she's dying. To make it easier on him, she doesn't want to say goodbye. They meet in the middle of Central park, she ask him to close his eye, kisses him, and when he opens his eyes again, she's gone. And there you go, stupid end to a stupid movie. I hate sad movies. When I watch a movie, it's for entertainment. If I wanted to cry, I'd just have to think about my own pathetic life."

He watched her as she wiped at her eyes, frustrated by the end of the movie. She finally turned and smiled at him.

"So, wanna do something fun? I have cards... I always wanted to learn how to play poker. Want to teach me?"

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Even though the proud blonde Slayer would never admit it, they ended up having a really good time for the rest of the flight. Such a good time in fact, that she was disappointed when they touched the ground.

"Time to go to work, fangface." she said playfully as she took her bag out of the overhead bin.

"Hey! Don't call me that. It's bad enough that Xander won't quite it, if you start it too, I'll stake myself and you can face the sect alone, blondie."

"Ok then Deadboy Jr. What does he call you again? Captain peroxide?"

"Sod off!"

"Yeah, after you help me with my... suitcases." They had walked through the terminal and reached the baggage belt. Buffy pointed at two huge suitcases.

Spike looked at the suitcases in question and shook his head in despair.

"Bloody Hell. Were we supposed to be gone for a month? Cause then, I won't have enough supplies."

"Shut up and help me... Please."

They hopped in a cab and gave the address of the hotel Giles reserved for them with the councils credit card. Just to annoy the council, and because he knew they could afford it, he had made sure to pick the most expensive hotel in New York. The Plaza.

By the time they got there, it was almost 5h30 am.

"It's about bloody time! I could have fried in that cab!"

Buffy laughed and pushed him inside before he really did fry.

When they got to the counter, a bad surprise awaited them. The reservation was made, but someone had made a mistake and only saved one room. Of course, there had to be a convention in town on that very weekend. There were no more rooms available, and the sun was up.

Buffy looked quickly at Spike.

"Fine. We'll take it. But make sure to find another room as soon as possible."

"Of course miss. To apologize, you are more then welcome to order anything you want from the room service--complimentary. I hope you'll have a good stay."

Seeing her angry face, Spike answered for her.

"We'll try. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome sir."

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They got in the room, Buffy still upset for some reason. She walked directly to the windows to shut the drapes tightly, then took a look at her surroundings. She was shocked into silence by the luxury of the room.

They were in a two levels suite with windows going all the way up to the cathedral ceiling. Spike seemed just as impressed as she was.

"There is a Playstation!... And a giant screen TV that almost looks like those at those screens at movie theater! This is just neat!"

He sounded like a little boy, which made Buffy smile. He was walking around the room, touching everything, opening drawers, looking inside the mini bar. He stopped in front of her.

"Could we just quickly kill those wankers so we have the rest of the week to relax?"

He was even more delighted when he heard Buffy laugh.

"Sounds like a plan. We'll try to do just that. But not before tonight because I don't think piles of dust are very good at the Playstation. I'll go for a shower, then a nap."

she walked away, then turned back with a menacing expression on her face.

"If you walk in on me while I'm in the shower, I'll stake you. Understand?"

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Buffy woke up from a much needed rest around 2 in the afternoon. She joined Spike who's watching a movie in the living room part of the suite.

"Morning luv. Did you sleep well? Had plenty of naughty dreams about me?"

"Murderous, yes. Naughty, no."

Lies, lies, big fat lies Buffy thought, ashamed of herself and hoping he didn't notice how red her face got at the mention of naughty dreams.

"I'll call for food and drinks, then I'll call Giles and we'll get to work."

"You don't suppose they have blood on the menu, do you." Spike asked, with an evil grin.

Buffy lifted her head to look at him with surprise--and what looked like worry.

"... You didn't bring anything? What are you gonna eat?"

"You, pet."

She scolded at him and Spike chuckled.

"I brought a little something to last ‘til tonight, then I'll find a butcher kind enough to sell me a couple of bags of blood without asking too much questions. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"I'm not worried. Give me the phone."

She took the phone from his hands and called to order food. She then composed Giles phone number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Giles, it's Buffy. How's Sunnyhell?"

Giles let out a sighed of relief when he recognizes Buffy's voice.

"Everything is alright? Did you have a good flight?"

"Surprisingly enough, yes."

"Well I'm certainly glad to see you didn't kill each other yet. I wasn't so sure it was such a good idea to send you two on a trip, but as I can see, you'll probably get along just..."

That's when all Hell broke loose. Or, if you prefer, extremely loud music came pouring out of the speakers.

right next door to hell
why don't you write a letter to me yeah
I said I'm right next door to hell
and so many eyes are on me
right next door to hell
I got nowhere else to be
right next door to hell
feels like the walls are closing in on me...

"SPIKE!" Buffy yelled. "What the fuck are you doing!!! I swear to God, it you don't turn that off, I'll make you eat the CD, then I'll stake you!"

"Hey! No need to yell at me! What's the matter with you, you don't like music?"

"I AM ON THE PHONE! Are you blind? Can't you see?!"

"Bloody hell woman, you're a pain in the arse, you know that?" He kept mumbling but turned the volume down.

Buffy went back to Giles.

"Sorry, you were saying?"

"..."

"Giles?"

"Well, whatever it is I was saying, is completely irrelevant. What is Spike doing in your room anyway?"

Buffy sighed heavily.

"There was a problem with the reservation. There was only one room available. I think we're stuck with each other."

"Dear lord, the chances are we're only going to pick up one of you at the airport at the end of the week. The other one will be dead or dust."

"Nah, we'll get along just fine. Don't worry. A little yelling and bitching never killed anybody. Do you know anything about the big bad we're supposed to fight?"

My mamma never really said much to me
she was much too young and scared ta be
Hell *Freud* might say that's what I need
but all I really ever get is greed ...

Spike was singing and drumming on the table, causing Buffy to roll her eyes, and smile.

"Buffy?.. Buffy!"

"Uh? Yes, yes, I'm here."

"Were you even listening to me?" Giles asked angrily.

"Sure... Huh--Sorry. What were you saying?" Buffy asked shamefully.

"There is a Watcher who lives in New York. He gave me all the information we need. I will give you a number to contact him. He said he knew where the sect of Kaalan's head quarters are located. He as been watching them for a while."

"That's good. And did you figure out when the ritual starts?"

"According to my calculations, tonight at midnight."

"That's not so good."

She looked at Spike. "Spike? As soon as the sun sets, we'll play seek and destroy. What do you think?"

He smiled hugely.

"Sounds like fun. Count me in Slayer!"

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They spent the rest of the afternoon trying to rest before the big fight. They feasted on all the free food they had ordered, talked, listened to the music Spike had brought with him, played some video games. Making it all the most difficult for the Slayer to stop musing about the sexy blonde vampire she was having such a great time with.

Spike was laughing his head off.

"What?" Buffy asked, outraged that he'd dare make fun of her.

"You had a rebel phase?" He laughed even more, trying to picture Buffy in Doc Marteens, cargo pants and ripped Metallica t-shirt.

"Well yeah... what's so funny about that?"

He held his painful ribs and tried to sit up.

"Don't know. Maybe the fact that you are way too girlie to walk around in Doc Marteens. That's my thing, not yours!"

He snorted at the mental picture.

"You're an ass!"

"I know pet, you told me already. So, how long did it last?"

"About two month. It was after my Calling as a Slayer. I didn't want to, you know--be a slayer. I wanted a normal life like any other girl my age. School, clothes, boyfriends, cheerleading. I didn't even believe in vampires before! And to be honest, I didn't want to know they really existed. Too scary. Plus, my parents were getting a divorce. My whole world, everything that I believed in, was falling apart around me. So that's when I started wearing weird clothes, putting too much makeup on my face, hanging with the wrong people, and listening to Guns, Metallica, Black Sabbath... But then, my mother and I had a long talk where she threatened me to leave me with my father if I didn't get a grip. So I went back to being good old Buffy. End of the story. And it's not funny."

"You're right luv. It's not funny. It's actually pretty sad. You had no idea vampires existed? I can easily imagine the shock. It's like, all of a sudden, you learn that nasties are out there and bad things could happen to the ones you love. You have super powers, you're fine. But now, on top of normal worries like what if mum gets into a car accident, or dad gets a cancer, you have to think: what if my best friend gets eaten by a demon?" He frowned and added seriously: "That just proves my point that you're the strongest girl this world has seen. Because most people would have just run away screaming."

Completely amazed at what he said, Buffy could only stare at him, wondering how he could understand so well. But they got interrupted by a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" Spike got up. "It's probably that guy.. the Watcher guy. What's his name again?"

"James Hart, or some poncy name like that."

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"So... some kind of an electronic chip keeps you in check?" Mr. Hart asked for the third time, still staring at spike in amazement. "You, William the Bloody. Cannot kill anymore.."

"Yes mate, I could always try to use different words to explain it, but the result is still the same: can't hurt, can't kill. End of the story. And could we please..."

"I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be impolite. It is only very hard for me to grasp the idea."

"Yeah well, same here, but I deal with it. You can see it that way. It's like a bad puppy dog that you punish very harshly every time he does that one thing. Well after a while, if the puppy dog is not too stupid, he'll give up on that bloody thing he liked so much doing. As simple as that mate. Now, can we move on?" Spike said with a menacing look.

"Well of course. I understand." James said, looking uncomfortable. "I believe there is more urgent matters at hand."

Buffy smiled at Spike, very amused by the annoyed expression on the blonde vampire's face.

"So, Giles told me you have an idea where we could find those guys? You've been researching on them, right?" Buffy tried to bring the subject back to the big bad evil of the day.

"Um? Oh, yes. I did indeed. Kaalan is a sect worshipping the Apocalypse. Their intention is to make it happen. Which is not uncommon. But we are not only talking end of the world, which I believe you are familiar with having stopped quite a few from happening already. The followers of the sect are more interested in the classic signs of Apocalypse, as depicted in the bible."

"Scholars, how swell." Spike mumbled under his breath.

"So we're talking the Three Horse riders, plague, river of blood, etc. Wow! Interesting." The petite blonde slayer commented with feign excitement.

"This is not a matter that can be taken lightly!" The watcher frowned, looking and sounding every bit like Giles. "It is rather serious actually. If we don't stop that ritual from even starting, it cannot be stopped. You must succeed or it will be the end of everything."

"Yeah, sure. Been there, done that. But my question is: are those guys human? Cause if they are, we are in big trouble. One slayer who can't kill humans, and one neutered vampire you can't even as much as scratch them"

"Hey! Watch it Slayer!"

"Sorry Mr. Big Bad. I'll chose my words more carefully next time."

"Fortunately, they are not humans. They do look humans, but they are actually Gatashes. Not unlike vampires, Gatashes are hybrid demons. They are dead humans brought back to life, or unlife if you prefer, by the blood of their demon master. They eat human hearts to stay alive." Mr. Hart explained, pleased to show the extend of his knowledge.

"Ew. But good. That means I can kill them. I like things I can kill." She paused for a moment. "That sounded less violent in my head"

"How many are we talking, mate? Not that I'm not confident, but we have to be realistic... there is two of us against.. more of them." He lit a cigarette.

"Spike! No smoking in my room!"

"Since when is this you're room? Could be my room, no one said which one it is. Don't see Slayer written all over the bloody walls!"

"Wanna go outside for a walk and come back all crispy and dusty?"

"Sod off! I need a cigarette and I'm having a ci..."

They both stopped, noticing the stunned expression on the British watcher's face, and started giggling.

"I'm sorry Mr. Hart, Spike and I have an history of bickering a lot. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Go on please." Buffy gave him her sweetest smile to encourage him.

"Huh.. Yes, of course. According to my calculations, there should be around forty of them. But only eighteen are needed for the ritual. The addition of the famous 666. The rest of the Gatashes will most likely be guarding the building. If you kill the master, they will all die."

Buffy turned to Spike.

"What do you say, we sneak past those Gashes thingy guarding the castle, we chop off a couple of demon's heads, we kill the Apocalypse Now's biggest fan and come back to play video games?"

"I couldn't have said it better pet. Let's do this. If we come back early enough, we might be able to catch Terminator II. It's on at 2am. That movie was brilliant!"

James Hart's face was a mix of horror and amazement as he looked at those two, let say, unconventional warriors.

**How can Giles still have his sanity after being around those two for so long?** He wondered. That was completely beyond his comprehension.

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