FIC (sort of): Where there's fire?

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Okay, so I was answering Jason's questions and it sort of turned into a
snippet. So I guess I better add a proper header?

Title: Where There's Fire?
Author: Dan Spector
Pairing: Buffy/Spike (alas! But in a negative way, and with
Buffy/Willow/Xander friendship and implied B/W feelings)
Rating: PG (for some implicitly sexy talk)
Spoilers: The general Season 6 plotline, but no actual details.
Refers to events from "Becoming, Part 2" and "Amends". Also steals a
line of dialogue from "The Wish".
Summary: The Three Musketeers and an unwanted undead fourth have a chat
in Buffy and Willow's kitchen.
Archiving: Oh, come now! Well, if you really want to, let me know, and
I'll boggle at the concept of preserving this trifle.
Feedback: Sure, why not? On list or at danspector@xxxxxxxxx
Author's Note: Just dialogue and stage directions--this wasn't meant
for evocative brilliance, just to answer some questions.


Xander: So, you're saying vampire hair does grow after death, that's
how Angel grew that mustache you saw when you shared that vision at
Christmas that time?

Buffy: And may I say, that was the ugliest thing I ever saw? Forget
about him killing the maid and all that, the real reason sharing that
dream wigged me like that was that thing on his lip!

Willow: Easy, Buffy, it was just a dream. But that does make sense.
After all, human hair continues to grow after death--

Buffy: I remember that; I told Giles that right before Kendra came to
town.

Willow: Poor Kendra.

Buffy: Yeah, Kendra for Faith. Not the best trade the PTB ever made.

Spike: Oh, come now, surely you're not going to begrudge Dru the only
slayer she ever bagged? (gets looks, naturally)

Buffy: You're disgusting.

Spike: If you say so, pet. 'Sides, slayers are born to die in
battle--you're warriors, it's why you don't fit in with the common
herd, here. (gives others a look)

Xander: Do you mind?

Spike: Just a little bare-bones truth, all. None of you will ever know
what Slayer's about, like I do. Right, Summers?

Buffy (weakening): Spike, not now?

Xander: Hey, Spike-cicle, could you for once stop boring us with the
hitting on Buffy? You may have eternity to waste, but some of us prefer
to spend our time talking about the not-entirely-hugely-impossible
things in life.

Spike: I'm chastised, I well and truly am.

Buffy (small): please?

Willow (trying to defuse the situation): Speaking of kind of impossible
things, how do you smoke, anyway, Spike?

Spike: I put the fag in my mouth--

Xander: I am NOT a--

Willow (quickly): Cigarette! It means cigarette!

Xander (covering): --a smoker. Complete non-smoker here.

Spike (ignoring): --and I take a nice long drag. Just because I don't
have to breathe, that doesn't mean I can't. (Looks at Buffy) We do a
lot of things we don't have to just because we like them, right, luv?
Almost an addiction they are; a raw, consuming need? 

Xander: Okay, that's it! I need to put some wood in you, right now!
(off Willow's look) A stake, Will, I was talking about a stake! Geez!

Buffy: I, uh, I need to pick up Dawn at school?

Willow: But, Buffy, it's Sunday.

Buffy: Sunday school?

Willow: You're agnostic.

Buffy: Oh, yeah. Darn.

Spike: C'mon, Slayer, stay a bit. Don't you have anything you'd like
to say to me? Anything at all?

Buffy (looks troubled, but then makes up her mind): Y-you're right. I
should have said this a long time ago. (looks at him tenderly) 

Spike (serious): Go ahead, luv, say it. It's time.

Buffy: Spike, do you remember when we first teamed up, to stop Angel?

Spike: Like it was bleeding yesterday, pet.

Buffy: You'd knocked out that cop (Spike nods), and you stopped for a
smoke, remember? (Spike nods again) I watched you, and there's been
something I've been meaning to ask you ever since?

Spike: Say it now, Buffy, say it now.

Buffy (suddenly flippant): Is it me, or was the smoke coming out of
your neck? What's up with that? Do you have gills? (smirks) 'Cause
that's just really, really weird.

Spike: Bloody hell! Bitch! (stomps out, still muttering)

Xander: Good one, Buffster, you really had His Yellowness going there.

Willow (embarassed): I was actually kind of worried for a moment; I
thought--and it was a stupid thought, I know--I thought you might be
falling for his line.

Buffy (ashamed): I'd never?I mean, I would never want to hurt you
like that.

Xander: Nah, our little Buff Daddy can see right through Cold, Pale
and Icky. (Pause) Although, I really don't know how you put up with his
crap.

Buffy (smiles): I have you guys. (she hugs them both, an arm for each
of them)

Willow (tipping Buffy's head onto her shoulder): Always, Buffy, any
time. As long as you want us.

Xander: Amen to that.