|
|
Part 3
Angel called Buffy the following evening and told her about his short visit with Spike the night before. He told her of Spike's threat if he didn't get Dru back. Buffy told Angel not to worry about it too much, that between the two of them they could handle Spike. Angel agreed with her and asked what time she wanted to meet him at the cemetery for patrol. She said that he should give her about 3 hours then meet her in the cemetery. She explained that her mom wanted to spend some quality time with her and apologized for being so late. Angel said that he didn't mind and liked the idea of her spending time with her mom. He agreed to meet her there and let her go. He hung up and tried to figure out what to with the spare time that he had till patrol.
Angel decided to go start his search for answers as to why Dru left. He still thought that the room she stayed in held the answers he was looking for. Angel walked into her room and looked around. The first place he looked was over by the dolls. He noticed that Dru had set them up similar to the way they sat in her sister's room the night that he had killed her uncle and his family. The gags and blindfolds that each doll had worn for so long was removed. The dolls were also in clean dresses. Angel was saddened by the memories the dolls brought to the surface. He remembered the night that Dru said she had forgiven him. He realized that she had meant it, why else would she have left her sister's dolls behind. He walked over towards the closet and checked for any letters on the shelf above the hangers. It too was bare of any sign that she had even been there recently. He was upset that she didn't leave behind any clues that would be easily located.
Angel turned to leave the room. He was going to give up when he glanced at the book. It looked out of place and was going to put it back in the library where Dru had borrowed it from. He decided against that plan and went to look on her dresser instead. He saw her brush along with a few other basic items for taking care of hair. There was a necklace laying there as well. Angel didn't move them. Dru had left them there, and it looked as though she was still staying in that room. He couldn't stand messing it up. Angel walked over and sat down on the bed. He knew that she had changed a lot since the night that he tried to waken Acathla. It was odd that he should miss her. He remembered the tears that were in her eyes the night that Willow did that spell. Dru had been weak once it was done. She didn't even have the strength to stand with. Angel wondered where she had found the strength to read. The book had been here everynight he came in to leave her some food. He looked over at it. He had placed it on the nightstand the night she fell asleep reading, and dropped some food off once he covered her up. Angel thought that it looked out of place, but he just couldn't find a reason to remove it from it's location.
He slowly got up from the bed and knew that he would have to meet Buffy for patrol soon. He headed to the cemetery thinking about the changes in Buffy's life since the Acathla incident. Her mom had agreed to let her patrol of an evening as long as she got to spend some time with her before hand. Buffy agreed to that. She was glad that her mom had finally started understanding that it was just something that she had to do. Joyce had even accepted the fact that Angel was not the same person he was the night that he had gone to her house to tell her of Buffy's activities with him. She seemed to be dealing rather well with all of the new information. Giles had sat down with her and explained it all while Buffy was out of town. He still felt uneasy around her mom, but he knew that she was at least trying to accept the fact that he wouldn't harm Buffy. Joyce had even invited him in once to just talk. She told him to just be careful, and not to let Buffy get hurt out there. She also asked that if anything should happen to her, that he brings her back home no matter what. Angel had agreed to it, and silently promised himself that he wouldn't allow her to die as long as they were together.
He walked into the cemetery and saw that she had beaten him there. Buffy was leaning back against a headstone and seemed lost in thought. He looked around and noticed that there was no sign of vampires or demons nearby, so he approached her. He stepped on a dry twig, just to get her attention. He remembered that she wasn't very fond of him just sneaking up on her. She turned quickly and smiled when she saw who it was. "Mom let me head out a bit early, since it was a school night and all. Thanks for the warning. I kinda thought that you would be here before me though, any problems?" Buffy watched Angel shake his head. "No, none here. I was checking out a few things at home, trying to get some answers. I didn't have any luck though. Sorry, now I'm the one that's late." He smiled at her. Buffy returned it, and told him that she understood. After a few seconds, she spun around and looked towards some trees at the far end of the cemetery. "We have company, Angel. I'm not sure who, but I can sense them."
Dru was standing in the shadows that the trees produced. She had put on one of the new outfits she had bought for slaying and was watching. She noticed that Buffy had turned and was looking her direction. Dru silently yelled at herself for getting close enough for the slayer to sense her. She wanted to keep an eye on both of them in secret, but it appeared that it might not be as easy as that plan sounded. Dru didn't move, but knew that if one of them started towards her that she would have to leave or let them find out that she was around.
Buffy had seen the shadowed figure that was watching them and pointed it out to Angel. They were planning on going over to it when they were attacked by a few of Spike's men. Buffy had quickly gotten rid of the first one and was trying to get rid of a second as Angel took his two on together. He was trading blows at a fast pace without glancing over at Buffy. He knew that she was ok by the sounds of the hits that landed on the vamp she was facing.
The fight only lasted a few minutes, but that was all that was needed for Spike to sneak up behind the shadowed figure. He had watched it from the minute that it showed up. When Buffy had turned to face it, he knew that it was a vampire. He just hoped that it was the one he was looking for. He had sent his men to attack Buffy and Angel to distract them while he made his move. He slipped in behind the person and spun them around to meet him. He was shocked by the sight. It was Dru and she wasn't wearing one of her pretty dresses. "Dru, how are you, baby? Did you come to get the slayer finally? You know that it isn't wise to attack her alone, especially when she is with Angel. Now why don't you just come on over here and give your Spike a big hug. I've been looking for you since Angel and the slayer stole you from me at the factory that night." He spoke softly to her.
Dru looked back at Buffy and Angel, they were fighting with the last two vampires still and hadn't noticed that Spike was here. She turned back to Spike, and looked at him. She didn't want to see him, at least not at this point in time. There were still a lot of things that she had to work out. She did know that she would have to face him eventually though, and now seemed as good a time as any to tell him she wanted to be left alone to deal with her new changes. "Spike, I didn't come here to attack them. I'm different now, I have been for a while. I need some time to sort things through, alone. I don't want to be near you, not till I do. I have to think about what is going on. I came here for that reason. I tried dealing with this in Brazil and couldn't. There were too many questions that needed answered. I came here and now I have them. Buffy and her friends gave them to me. I will tell you about them but not this close to them. I want to go to neutral grounds. There we will talk." Dru turned and seen Angel help Buffy with the last of the attacking vamps, and start heading her way. "We need to go, and quickly." She headed out the commentary and towards the old warehouse that she had seen near her apartment with Spike right behind her.
Buffy and Angel had started towards the trees intent on confronting the person that was watching them when they seen two different shadows leave. Buffy didn't get a good glimpse of them, but Angel did. He had seen the duster that indicated that one of them belonged to Spike. He wasn't to sure about the other one though. They were in jeans and a t-shirt with their hair pulled back. He thought for a second it looked like Dru, but he had never seen her dress that way. If it was her, why was she hanging around with Spike. He looked at Buffy to see if she noticed it too. Buffy looked confused, but didn't persue them. She turned to Angel. "Spike?" He nodded. "OK, but who was the other one? I've never seen a vampire in jeans and a t-shirt, or with their hair back. That was certainly odd, but it looks like whoever it was, knew him. They appeared to go with him willingly, so got any ideas? Or should I ask Giles to start researching for new prophesies that involve the uniting of two evils?" Angel shook his head. "I think I know the other one, and if I'm right, then she's on our side. I'm just not sure about the reasons for the changes though. I wish that I had gotten a better look at both of them so that I could be sure. I just hope she is strong enough to avoid the temptations that Spike throws her way."
They started towards Buffy's house as Angel was talking. Once his words sunk in, Buffy stopped. "She? You think that the other vampire was a she? Angel, was it Dru? How can you be certain? Did she contact you recently?" Angel turned and looked at her. "No, Buffy, Dru hasn't been in touch with me. Come on, I'll tell you on the way to your house." They start walking again. "When you first said that it was a vampire watching us, I hoped that it was her, and that she had decided to return to tell us what she was going to do. When the shadow stayed there as we fought, I knew that I was wrong. I caught a quick glimpse of both shadows, the same as you did, but my eyes can see in the dark a bit better than yours. I saw Spike, that is a definite. The other shadow was dressed like a teenager, and had a stake in hand. It was hidden from Spike, but I saw it. I'm not sure why she went with him, but I would guess that it was either to talk to him or to lure him away from us. She just watched Buffy, she didn't attack. I don't know why, but I think she is still in Sunnydale, and close by. I'll call around tomorrow and see if she registered anywhere to get food. I did tell her how I got mine. I'll let you know what I find out. We're here, and I'll wait till you go in. Night Buffy." She looked at him for a few seconds, and then said, "night Angel, and you're right. That could have been Dru, I just wish I knew for certain who's side she's on. I don't like surprises that I'm not expecting." She gave him a quick kiss and started towards the house. She went through the front door this time since here mom knew what she was doing and had given her a key to lock and unlock the door after a night of patrolling. She had thought that it would be safer for Buffy that way.
Angel turned and went back to the mansion. He was glad that Dru was still alive and close by, but he was also afraid of losing her to the demon now more than ever. With Spike being so close to her now, that was definitely a possibility. He unlocked the door and went in. The walk home was quiet, and he had time to think. He silently wished Dru good luck in dealing with Spike. He went to his room and laid down. He knew that he would need some rest in order to be able to try to locate Dru the following day.
Dru and Spike arrived at the warehouse near her apartment. She went in and waited on Spike. He entered shortly after her and leaned back against the wall. He was watching her again. He didn't understand the change in attitude and clothing that she was showing. He wanted answers and it appeared that he would finally get them. Dru faced him and didn't show any of the fear that she felt. She asked him what he wanted now. "Well, Dru. I want answers. I saw you fighting as a team with the slayer and soul boy. I don't like that, we're vampires Dru. We are supposed to kill slayers, not join them. I want my Dru back! Not some slayer helping vampire. I don't even see why you are with them, it's not like you have a soul. I just want to know why you are acting this way, I can help you baby if you would just let me."
Dru looked away from him for a few seconds when he mentioned her having a soul. When she looked back, he had finished speaking. Dru decided that it was time to tell him everything. "Spike, I left Brazil for a reason. I needed to get some questions answered and the ones who could help me were here. I returned and gained the help of Buffy's friends. They gave me the answers to my changing condition. I won't be going anywhere with you. I agreed to come here, but that is it. I am not going back to Brazil. I don't know where I'm going, but I need time. I want you to give me that. This is my choice, I know that you probably don't like it, but tough. I want to be left alone. If I chose to return to the side of evil, then I will let you know. But if I chose to follow my original calling as a slayer, you are just going to have to live with it. Now I'm going to go back to my place, alone. I'll see you later Spike."
Dru turned to leave, and Spike stopped her. "If you chose to be a slayer? Dru what are you saying? You were never a slayer. I never heard Angel say that he had converted a slayer. A converted slayer never lasts very long. I guess something really scrambled your brains. Dru you need some help, let me get it for you." Spike's eyes show his concern for her.
Dru looks at him and tells him that she will tell him everything the
following evening at the park. He agrees and lets her leave. She heads back
to her room and sits down. She knew that she would have to explain
everything to Spike, but she didn't think it would be this soon. She laid
down on her bed for some rest. She would deal with everything the following
night. Sleep came easily and it was peaceful.