Title: Chapter 2 No Answers

Disclaimer: Joss is the Boss and I'm borrowing his masterpiece people for now.

Notes: Sorry it's short and choppy but it felt right to stop here.

"Spike!"

"Argh Slayer! Don't do that! Give a bloke a heart attack!" Spike yelled at the blonde woman in his crypt who had surprised him.

"You're dead moron," Buffy snapped. "And also where have you been? It's the middle of the day. You're supposed to be here."

"At your bloody beck and call," Spike sneered, shutting the door behind him and moving across the dusty floor.

"Where were you last night? You were meant to meet me in Restfield!" Buffy glared at the vampire's back.

"I waited for your skankyship for over an hour after the time you said you were going to be there!" Spike spun around. "I'm not your whipped puppy; I've got better things to do with my time than hang around in cemeteries."

"That doesn't answer my question," Buffy continued to glare.

Spike snorted,

"Like I'm going to tell you anything about my private business 'cause it's just that, private!"

He dropped the blanket he'd been sheltering under to the floor then pulled his duster off and draped it over the green armchair before heading down the ladder into the basement section to get another T-shirt.

"Spike what on earth happened to your shirt?" Buffy stared at his naked torso.

"Why slayer?" Spike leered at her. "Enjoying the view?"

"In your dreams Spike!" Buffy wrinkled her nose.

Spike abruptly turned away. The Slayer had inadvertently hit close to home with that comment with that first dream having only been a week before. Maybe that's why he'd been so keen with Layla. Hiding from the truth wasn't a strong point but admitting he was in love with the Slayer? A shudder ran through his body and he hurried down the ladder to get away from the Slayer and her damn presence in everything he did.

Buffy was still waiting for him upstairs and Spike mentally sighed before slumping down into his chair, still tired from the previous night. He dug out cigarettes whilst he ignored Buffy talk and played with one. Despite everything people said about him and his bad habits Spike hated smoking in the crypt, made it smell and it added to the musty damp smell of the place.

A small part of what Buffy was saying got through his melancholy and drew Spike's attention.

"… demons were missing but there's no bodies or anything."

"This last night?" Spike interrupted.

"If you'd been listening ," Buffy scowled at him.

"Well you've got my attention now luv so start again," Spike put his cigarette down.

Buffy glared at him but needed his input so she began again,

"The reason we were meant to be meeting last night was because there has been no demons recently."

"No activity, nothing?" Spike frowned.

"No demons full stop," Buffy shook her head. "Nadda. What's going on?"

"What made last night so special?" Spike asked his own question to deflect hers.

"Beat up my very own snitch," Buffy grinned. "He said last night was special, that it started but that I couldn't go."

"He didn't tell you what though?" Spike tilted his head to one side. "Losing your touch Slayer."

"Said I wasn't as scary as they were," Buffy scowled. "What's going on?"

"What makes you think I know anything?" Spike tried to look innocent, something he didn't have a lot of practice in doing.

"'Cause you were out in the day," Buffy pointedly looked at the blanket at his feet.

Spike thought fast,

"I've noticed the drop in demons, saw some last night and followed 'em around but they didn't do much before they disappeared on me."

"Disappeared on you?" Buffy shook her head. "And you say I'm losing my touch."

Spike glared at the Slayer but she carried on regardless,

"So you were in Restfield when they appeared?"

Spike shook his head and lied,

"No much later than that."

If Buffy went looking around Restfield then she could stumble across the stage and Spike's deal with Jeremy could very well be blown.

"So where were you then?" Buffy folded her arms across her chest and her look said 'get this wrong and I'm kicking your butt'. Spike muttered something about impatient blondes under his breath before standing and striding over.

"You know what Slayer? Your high and mighty standing makes me very inclined to tell you to take a bloody hike!" Spike held up a warning finger when Buffy opened her mouth. "So what the demons have been slow? Ever think to count your lucky stakes and go do something that doesn't include cemeteries and annoying me?"

"If I find you're hiding something Spike…"

Spike rolled his eyes,

"When you've thought of something new and sparky to say Slayer come see me. Right now Passions is starting and you're going."

The small blonde woman narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips but left all the same. Spike sighed and slumped back into his chair. It had been a close call, too close, but it had raised one question that he had to answer. The snitch Buffy had beaten up had clearly been terrified of Raven's Knot, even more so than the impending danger of a pissed Slayer who is in the process of kicking the shit out of you. Spike knew that Jeremy in the very least gave off creepy vibes, but to be that frightening? What were they?

"I know that Spike can be very difficult Buffy but your informant did state that something special started last night and all demonic activity ceased last night," Rupert looked across the room to his Slayer. "Even Spike, himself, disappeared."

"I know Giles but he was so annoying I had to leave or we could have been looking at a real talkative pile of dust," Buffy sighed, waving a broadsword dismissively.

Rupert watched his Slayer step into her moves with a grace that showed her true strength, both in character and body and knew that Spike was always pushing his luck in aggravating Buffy. Some part of the watcher understood why Spike did what he did; it was his last bit of freedom and it must chafe at the vampire to know he was a traitor, reigned in by a piece of technology. To have the Slayer check on you and threaten you every week must be like having an annoying child poke you endlessly.

"Perhaps tonight you should follow Spike and see where he goes," he recommended.

"Awww Giles c'mon that's not fair," Buffy whined. "I'd have to be there before sunset and practically be invisible."

"Consider it training," Rupert suggested. "If Spike spots you then you can go together to where ever it is that he is heading and if he's evasive then you know he is hiding something."

"Can I beat him up if he doesn't talk?" Buffy perked up, pausing in her routine.

"Buffy I don't expect that will persuade him to be more forth coming in the future."

"Yeah but he's not gonna tell me now unless I beat him up or pay him and that'll be coming out of your pocket," the Slayer pointed out.

"Such a joyful experience," Rupert muttered. "And paying him is just ingraining the fact that we need him into his ego."

"But we do need him," Buffy sighed.

"Unfortunately."

"You did what?" Layla yelled, not caring that her voice was booming across stage.

"You would have kicked him out anyway," Jeremy shrugged.

"That's my business, not yours!"

"It's our business Layla," Jeremy pointed at her. "You are part of this family and we stand by each other."

"Jer has a point, regardless of whether you want to hear it or not," one of the other girls stepped up.

"Chrissy don't get involved please," Layla turned to the smaller woman.

"We love you Layla and we will always worry."

"Like you did for Koda?" Layla snapped, anger making her careless.

Chrissy drew back, hurt playing out on her face,

"Koda was a close friend to all of us Layla and we did all we could."

"Yet still she died," Layla wasn't backing down.

"You're just proving my point," Jeremy interrupted. "She died because she didn't let us help her. Just like you're doing."

Layla fell silent. She had known Koda briefly and had seen the way she had burned brighter than a raging fire. Her performances had been perfect but she was killing herself and one mistake led to her death, poisoned by a demon because they were incompatible. Layla wanted to perform like that but not to die. She was walking that line now and the others knew it, she knew it but the beat of the music burned her very soul, she couldn't stop, but if she didn't then she'd die.

One thing they had never been able to work out was why the music chose the person it did to channel through. It was never the men but it wasn't always the lead female singer either. It changed and with it the band altered; different drummer, different beat, music changes its host. Any women in the band were in danger of being chosen but the band didn't work without them. Each member was essential for the music to flow to the centre and without both sexes then the music stuttered and died.

Layla looked up at Jeremy and saw only worry for her. Jeremy had been in the band since its very beginning and the pain that he had to endure was incredible but never once did he fail to turn up to practice, never once did he talk about quitting. He was their rock.

Jeremy suddenly shook his head and strode away. All the other members of the band watched him walk off stage before getting on with what they had been doing. Chrissy turned back to Layla and stared at the woman.

"What?" Layla narrowed her eyes.

"He really cares you know," Chrissy said softly. "Try and see it."

With that she went back to her guitar and picked it up, hand running down the neck softly.

Layla hated hurting the friends that surrounded her and Jeremy was always the most understanding, always there for her, so he bore the brunt of her pain. Layla wondered why he stayed by her side through the roughest patches and suddenly an image hit her.

"Again Layla?"

In his eyes, under the sadness and worry, had been something else: Jealousy. Layla's eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open in shock. Jeremy was jealous of all the men in her bed? The understanding hit her like a freight train and she couldn't breathe. She'd never thought that he would want her. Was it just her or had it been every woman that had been the centre?

Layla thought back to Koda's time and what Jeremy had been like. She had seen nothing between except friendship and Layla thought she was pretty good at reading the signs other people gave off. Apparently it didn't apply when they were directed at her.