Aftermath and College
by Bwriter
Chapter nineteen
[reviews]
Part nineteen
Everyone was already there when the four arrived.
Tom and Jonny were talking to Giles in a corner while Xander and Anya were cuddled together on the couch.
Buffy, Willow and Angel drew Giles attention, and when he saw who was behind them, just outside his door, his worried gaze shot to his Slayer.
"It's okay Giles. It's a funny story really, invite him in."
Spike growled at Buffy, who turned to glare at him before she bounced over and sat beside Anya, taking Willow with her.
Giles, after taking three deep breaths, invited yet another Vampire into his home.
He was getting tired of having to do that.
If he could have, Spike would have swaggered in, as it was, he could only just about walk without Angel helping him.
"So, who is going to tell this 'funny story' then
Giles looked at the four newcomers as Tom and Jonny moved over to sit on the table in front of the couch, close to Buffy.
Angel looked over to Spike, who nodded his head and pulled out the desk chair before easing himself into it.
"Okay, first off, not that much of a 'funny story', more or a survival thing, only not quite as adventurous."
For the next half hour, Spike told them of how he was caught on his first night back to Sunnydale, how the commandoes beat him and locked him in a cage before moving him to a lab.
The crowd listened as he told of the beatings he was given, the weapons they used.
Finally, he reached the part about his chip, and Xander couldn't hold in a laugh.
Turning to Buffy, he winked at her and waggled his eyebrows when she smirked at him.
Spike ignored the exchange and went on to tell the group about his escape from the drugged blood and the army boys with stun guns.
When he reached the part about Angel finding him, the vamp in question began to pace, throwing looks over to his childe every so often.
"-and here were are." He finished his tale and spread his arms wide to indicate the entire room, grimacing as he did so.
Giles hadn't heard anything about any commandoes operating in town.
"Buffy, head down to Willies and see what the locals are saying about this organisation, see if they know anything."
Buffy stood up to go, Angel, Tom and Jonny standing with her.
"No, if I go in there with you three, a fight is bound to break out. Me and Angel go, you two stay here."
Buffy met Tom's eyes and nodded once before leaning down to give Willow a kiss goodbye before she and Angel left.
Tom sat down in Buffy's vacated seat and threw his arm along the back of the couch.
"So, while those two are off playing good cop bad cop, what are we going to do?"
Giles gave him a look, which resulted in Tom rolling his eyes.
"Right, when in doubt... research."
Xander groaned and hot Tom on the head with his pillow.
"You had to ask."
-----
Buffy and Angel walked along in silence, each one keeping their eyes and ears trained on their surroundings.
Just before they entered the bar, Buffy turned to Angel.
"So, just so we're clear, are you Mr. Nice Guy or am I?"
Angel just looked at her before flashing his game face.
"Right. I never get to have fun."
All conversation stopped when the pair entered the bar, with many of the demons trying to escape out the back.
"Aw come on, we haven't come here to fight, we just want some information."
Angel took a step forward and growled at a few of the demons who were still trying to leave.
"Just because we didn't come to fight, doesn't mean he wont rip you to shreds just for kicks. So, information. We want it and some of you might have it."
Buffy paused for effects and let her gaze sweep the room, taking in the few new faces she saw there.
"Commandoes. Running around taking demons, which shouldn't bother me, except it does when they interfere with me and mine. So, who here knows what I'm talking about?"
-----
"You think they got any leads yet?"
Xander shrugged his shoulders at Willow and turned his attention back to Anya, who was dozing with her head in a book, her face turned towards him and a little drool escaping.
Gently, he lifted her head and removed the book, placing his sweater underneath her instead.
When he stood up he met Giles eyes. The watcher gave him such a look of gratitude, he had to chuckle.
The door opened and in walked Buffy and Angel, neither looking worse for wear.
"I take it things went well?" Giles studied the two, happy when he saw no appearances of a fight.
Buffy sat down close to Willow and accepted the coke Tom handed her.
"Seems the demons don't know much. Spike here was the only one to escape."
Spike sat up straighter at that.
"What they do know, is that these commandoes are doing more than just torturing demons."
Buffy paused and made sure she had Giles full attention.
"They're making one."
Giles mouth dropped open and her tore his glasses off, polishing them to the point of breaking the fine glass lenses.
"Making one? How on earth..."
"They didn't know much, just whisperings among the underground."
Giles swore and pulled out his scotch, pouring one for himself before knocking it back and pouring another. Looking up, he offered the other males, bar Xander, in the room a drink.
Willow rested her had on Buffy's shoulder, sighing when her girlfriends arm reached around to hold her tight.
"So, how do we find out what's going on then?"
Buffy had no clue, and from the look on her face, that answered Anya's question.
Jonny looked around the room before raising his hand.
"I have a really bad idea that just might work."
-----
"I don't like this plan."
Buffy chuckled and wrapped her arms around Willow from behind.
"I don't like it either, but it's a good plan. We just have to see if they fall for it."
Willow turned around in Buffy's arms and pressed a kiss to her lips.
"What if they don't and they take you and do experiments on you and then-"
Buffy cut off Willow's babbling with a kiss, one that progressed from a gentle caress to a major grope fest.
When Buffy's control finally asserted itself, she realised she had Willow pinned to the bed, the redheads top was off and her own pants were unbuttoned.
"Will...?"
Willow looked up at Buffy's lustful eyes and couldn't help lowering her own.
Her body was screaming for release, but her heart wasn't ready for it yet.
Buffy closed her eyes and counted to ten, trying to reign in her lust.
Opening her eyes, she gave Willow a small smile before rolling off her and standing up to fix her pants, giving Willow the chance to grab her shirt and put it back on.
Neither knew what to say to the other, so Willow held out her hand, glad when Buffy took it and lay down beside her on the bed.
"Do you have to go tonight?"
Buffy rolled over and wrapped her arm around Willow, pulling her body close.
"No, I'm good here."
Buffy listened as Willow's breathing changed to indicate that she was sleeping and let her mind wander.
She was still awake when Willow's alarm clock went off at eight in the morning.
Willow groaned and stretched an arm out to shut it off. Sighing, she relaxed into the strong arms that held her, thinking Buffy was sleeping.
She had missed this. The feel of the Slayer's strong arms wrapped around her.
She realised Buffy was awake when the hand that was resting on her stomach began rubbing small circles around her belly button, through her clothes.
"Morning."
Buffy placed a small kiss to Willow's neck and whispered her reply against it.
"We never even got changed."
"I think that in this case, that was a wise thing."
Buffy chuckled and pulled an unresisting Willow closer to her.
Looking over at the clock, Willow groaned.
"Tara will be here soon, we have the same schedule on Fridays."
Willow sighed and pulled at Buffy's arms.
Buffy only loosened them enough for Willow to turn, then tightened them again when she had.
"I'm sorry about last night."
Buffy shook her head and kissed Willow's forehead.
"We got a little carried away, but stopping is nothing to be sorry for."
Willow raised her head and gave Buffy a small smile.
"Guess I just have to get used to the idea that your back and that we're together again."
Buffy closed her own eyes against the pain in Willow's.
Opening them, she rolled Willow onto her back and braced herself above the redhead.
"I promise you, I will never leave you again."
They both knew it was a lie, but both wanted to believe it so much.
No matter how good Buffy was now, a day would come when she faced something that she couldn't walk away from.
Willow pulled Buffy down for a kiss and tried to keep her tears in.
Buffy pulled away and Willow frowned and pouted at the same time when she stood up.
"What?"
Willow stood up as Buffy grabbed her coat.
"That was my goodbye kiss?"
Buffy reached up and grabbed the back of Willow's head before pulling her into a kiss that never even got the chance to begin as a gentle exploration.
Grasping the back of Willow's neck, the Slayer shoved her tongue into her mouth, growling low in her throat when Willow's own tongue met and duelled with hers.
Just as Buffy's hand was making it's way to Willow's ass, there was a knock on the door.
Willow pulled back and smiled at Buffy's growl.
She opened the door and let Tara in, who frowned when she noticed Buffy.
Willow didn't notice, but the Slayer did.
"Hey Tara. I'm running a little late. Why don't you wait with Buffy while I shower, we still have half an hour."
Willow had gathered her shower things while she spoke and was out the door before Tara could utter a word.
Buffy, knowing that this girl was close to Willow, smiled and sat up.
"You want a drink or something?"
Tara shook her head no and sat down at the desk.
Buffy looked at Tara, who was looking anywhere but at her.
Sighing, she picked up the phone and dialled her own house.
"Hey T... I so did tell you... oh come on, just as we were leaving Giles I said and I quote "don't wait up"... yeah yeah... anyway, the reason I'm calling, any chance of a lift home? Thanks... she's in classes all day. Right see you soon. Bye."
Buffy hung up and turned to see Tara staring at her.
"What?"
Tara blushed and lowered her head.
Buffy looked up as Willow entered the room and groaned aloud at the way she looked.
A towel was wrapped around her body, creamy pale flesh showing drops of water cascading down.
Willow flashed her a grin before heading over to her walk in closet.
Buffy noticed Tara was blushing even more than she had been and frowned.
"So Buff, what are you up to today?"
Buffy shook her head to clear it and looked over in Willow's direction in time to see the towel drop to the floor.
Jealously and anger rose up sharply in Buffy and she had to restrain the urge to jump up and cover her Willow, who was clothed only in underwear.
Jealously that Tara could see Willow like this, and anger because it seemed Willow didn't care about that.
Flashing a look over at Tara, who Buffy saw quickly avert her eyes, she jumped up and stepped into the other Blondes line of sight before heading over to her girlfriend.
"Tom is on his way." Her words came out in sharp clipped tones and Willow turned to see what the problem was.
Willow actually took a step back at what she saw in Buffy's eyes.
She frowned before looking over to Tara.
"Change of plans, how about I meet you outside English?"
Tara stood up and nodded her head before grabbing her bag and leaving the room.
Willow turned her attention back to her girlfriend, who hadn't diverted her attention during the short exchange.
Bravely, Willow thought, she took a step forward, only to stop at the look that hadn't left Buffy's eyes. She could honestly say that had she had never seen that anger in Buffy's eyes ever directed at her before, and that scared her.
Worst thing was, she knew that Buffy knew that.
"What is it?"
"Do you do that often?" Buffy's tone hadn't changed yet, it still sounded angry.
Willow was beyond confused.
"Do what?"
"Walk around half naked in front of other people."
"No!" The indignation in her voice was good news for Buffy.
Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply five times before opening them again, ignoring the car horn she could hear from outside.
When she met Willow's eyes this time, all the anger was gone from her own, though the jealously remained.
"Sorry, its just... you dressed like that... Tara being able to see..."
Buffy's words were jumbled, but Willow got the idea and huffed before pushing her back and pulling on the jeans she had in her hands.
Grabbing a top, she pulled it on and headed for the door. She stopped and spun around to face Buffy, who was still standing in the spot Willow had pushed her to.
"You need to learn to control that you know."
With those parting words, Willow left the Slayer standing there alone in the room and headed off to meet Tara, bumping into Tom on the way down the hall.
"Hey Will, where's Buffy?"
Willow snorted before telling him she was back at hers and after telling him to knock some sense into the Slayer, she continued on to class.
Tom looked up the hall and took a deep breath before heading over to Willow's dorm door and knocking once.
The door opened and Buffy walked out.
"Hey."
Well, she sounds okay, was the first thought to enter his head.
"So, you ready to go or what?"
Buffy retreated into the room to grab her coat and then followed Tom back to the car.
After five minutes of silence, he couldn't take it anymore.
"What happened?"
Buffy sighed and rested her head against the window.
"I have no clue."
-----
Tara looked up as Willow came into view.
"W...Willow."
Willow smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes and Tara noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Sighing, she took Tara's arm and led her into class.
"Tell you at breakfast."
Willow wasn't paying attention to what the teacher was saying, which was bad considering he caught her.
"Perhaps Miss Rosenberg would know the answer."
Willow jerked out of her thoughts to see the entire class looking at her.
"Em... what was the question?"
The teacher sighed but repeated his question for her.
"Macbeth."
He gave her a stern look, but let a scolding slide considering she was one of his best students.
For the rest of the class, Willow paid attention.
When class was over, both Tara and her had an hour before their next one.
Making their way down to breakfast, Willow filled her in on what had happened that morning.
Tara listened and made no comment until she was sure Willow had finished.
"W...Willow, I d...don't mean to j...judge, but are you s...sure that being back with Buffy is a g...good idea?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation in Willow's voice at all.
-----
Buffy opened the door to see Xander on the other side.
"Hey Buffy, I figured that since Will had classes all day that I'd come by and see how my bestest bud was doing."
Buffy opened the door wider to let him in and followed him into the living room.
"You don't have classes today?"
"I did. They finished at eleven."
Buffy sat down and leaned her head back against the couch.
"Where's Anya?"
Xander copied her moved and threw his arm around her shoulders.
"She's still in class. Who would have thought it? An ex demon worried about higher education."
Buffy laughed, but Xander heard the strain in her voice.
"How are things between you and Wills then?"
Buffy closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Tense right now I think."
Xander frowned and tightened his grip on Buffy.
After Buffy had left, he was the one to comfort Willow, but because Buffy was an ocean away, he had never gotten to give her the same treatment.
"Really? But with the kissing, I thought things were fine." Xander was as confused as he sounded.
"We were doing great, but this morning I messed up, big style."
Xander wanted to ask how, but Joyce entered the room and Tom and Jonny followed behind her.
Buffy sat up straight and turned to Xander, giving him a small smile.
"Later."
He nodded his head and turned to listen to something Jonny was saying about the patrol that night.
-----
Willow made her way to the phone box before dialling Giles house.
No point walking over to his if Buffy was at home.
"Hey Giles its me... is Buffy there? No... okay I'll try her at home then... what time are we meeting later?... right, see you then."
Willow walked out of the phone box, and walked straight into a hard male body.
"God, Riley, I'm sorry."
Riley reached out to steady her and straightened out her books for her.
"Willow hey, I was hoping I'd run into you, only not literally."
Willow gave him a small laugh, but all she wanted to do was go talk to Buffy.
"Yeah? Why?"
He seemed to pull himself together and stand up tall.
"I was wondering if your friend Buffy was seeing anyone? It's just, I was going to ask her out and I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be stepping on anyone's toes."
Willow's mouth dropped open.
"You want to date Buffy?"
"Yeah." Riley was confused as to why that shocked the redhead.
"Sorry Riley, but your out of luck. Buffy's involved with someone."
Riley nodded his head.
"I figured, a girl that pretty had to be involved with someone."
They talked for a few minutes more before Willow made her excuses and left.
The entire way back to Buffy's house, an idea grew in her head. She didn't like it, but it would be the perfect cover for Buffy.
tbc