bTitle: William the Ripper Author: S_Star Set: Nowhere, timeline-wise, but in location 's set in London, England despite the fact that, even though I was born there, I don't know London. I actually know NYC better than I know London, which is scary! But yeah, Buffy's still American, Spike's still British. Summary: AU fic - Buffy is a police reporter, sent out on an assignment, which she becomes a little too involved with. As for , wait and see! Rating: R at worst. We'll see Disclaimer: SPIKE IS MINE! MINE I TELL YOU! Mine in the sense that I don't on a hair on his gorgeous blond head. Joss Whedon has this thing that owning a vampire makes it like his property! NO FAIR! Feedback: Praise to s_star , insults to your Recycle Bin. Kidding, but no hate mail or death threats, 'kay? Dedication: To Jack the Ripper - everything I know, I learnt from you! Mwa ha ha! Just kidding, really, but still, my knowledge of his crimes gave me the inspiration for this in the first place. Thanks to: Everyone who's ever sent me feedback! You're all angels! You can join the Angelic Tribe in Angelsville with everyone else whom I have called an Angel! But the poofter himself isn't there, of course. If I call you an Angel and send you there, I like you, and I don't want to condemn you to that hell/b

It was almost midnight as the girl walked along the road. She shivered in the cold night air, wrapping her arms around herself in order to keep warm. As she neared her home, she began to walk faster, nearly running.

From the shadows of a nearby alleyway, he watched her every move, his eyes two ice-blue points, appearing to glow with anticipation as she drew closer.

Finally, he struck, grabbing her arm before she could think and dragging her back into the darkness. A flurry of blond hair, silver blades, and deep red blood, and the only thing remaining was the girl's mutilated body, her vital organs strewn over the pavement around her.

And he was nowhere to be seen.

**************************************************************************** ***********************************************

'Have you seen this?' demanded James, throwing a dirty newspaper down on the desk.

The petite bond in the chair behind it jumped, before eyeing the paper with distaste. 'Have you seen a trash can?' she replied dryly, her brow wrinkling.

'Look, Summers, I haven't got time for your stupid remarks. Just read it.'

She opened out the paper, and saw the headline glaring out at her: 'The Ripper Strikes Again,' she read. 'Fun for all the family.'

'Well?'

' ?' she wasn't impressed by this at all: she was trying to access her e-mail, and, once again, the stupid system wouldn't recognise her password. Sighing exasperatedly, she threw down the mouse and turned to face him. 'Spill.'

'Buffy, you're part of the police force, remember?'

'Yeah, but not a very active part. All I've gotta do is take some photos and write some reports. And I really don't see what The Times scooping me has really gotta do with the crime-fighting forces.

Shaking his head, James pointed down at the paper. 'You're going on assignment.'

**************************************************************************** ***********************************************

Buffy winced as she picked her way through the piles of littler that were strewn over the pavement in front of her. Dead bodies she didn't mind; she could photograph victims forever without flinching, but this was .

She winced again as her brand new shoe hit something old and smelly, almost turning and storming away before remembering that she wanted to actually have a job in the morning.

Glancing at what little of the sky she could see, she could tell that it was getting dark.

'Way to go with the observiness,' she muttered to herself, taking another step. 'Ew!'

Just then, as she was about to turn back, she behind her. .whatever it was was coming towards her.

Images of the Ripper's murders came to her unbidden as she steeled herself for what was to come.

bWhich is soon to be discovered if you REVIEW!/b