And Make a Lost World Thy Home: Chapter Eleven

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Eleven

Veronica lay on the floor of the hotel lobby. Clouds rolled across the ceiling above her head and she idly looked for the shapes within them.

“Hey, that one looks like me murdered by the pool,” said Lilly beside her.

Suddenly it did.

“I feel like I’m becoming more self-aware in these dreams,” said Veronica. “I’m not just following someone else’s pictures.”

“Well, this was always you. Their agenda is finished, isn’t it?”

Red lines appeared in the clouds and brimstone danced along their edges.

“What are the Senior Partners like?” she asked, turning her head, but Lilly was gone.

She saw a vast cloud of something approaching the doors. Behind her Spike screamed.

***

Veronica rubbed her neck, willing her eyes to stay open. She’d been going through what seemed like the same files for fifty years now…or maybe it was a day. Either way, it was too long.

“There has to be a better way of narrowing the search down,” she told Mac.

Mac took another gulp of her energy drink and Veronica wondered just how many Mac had consumed that day. She was a trifle worried about her.

“Hacking is usually about finesse,” said Mac, “but not always. Sometimes it’s about wandering around in a maze until you find that one right turn.”

“How many corn mazes were you lost in as a child?” asked Veronica, narrowing her eyes.

“Would you like a go?” asked Mac, shoving her laptop in Veronica’s direction.

Veronica held her hands up in surrender and went back to piecing through the printed pages of documents Mac had printed out from Lilah’s hard drive.

“Anything from security footage?” she asked, a minute later.

“Just the same thing,” said Mac. “There are a lot of deliveries being made at their loading dock and why a law firm has a loading dock, I’ll never know.”

“Most evil rituals involve an alarming amount of animal sacrifice,” said Cordelia, bringing over some fresh coffee.

“Thank you,” said Veronica.

“Thank you,” said Cordelia. “I’ve had my fill at looking in musty books for three lifetimes. It’s bad enough I have to see demons in my head.”

Veronica wasn’t really listening at this point, because there was something about the numbers she was reading that didn’t sit well with her. She shook her head.

“There’s something here,” she muttered.

She grabbed a calculator and began tallying up what she was seeing.

“What’s the big find?” asked Logan, appearing beside her.

“There’s no big find,” said Mac.

“No, I know my girl. She’s got the bloodhound look.”

“You might regret that little speech,” said Veronica and broke into a huge smile. “Well, at least I know why they’re doing this. Aside from prerequisite evil.”

“Well, why?” asked Logan.

“Cordelia, on a scale of one to ten, how evil would you say Wolfram and Hart has been in the last five years, compared to the five before?”

Cordelia stopped and thought for a second.

“Aside from the fact I’ve only been actively opposing them for nine years, I’d say a full on ten the first four and about a five and a half for this last five. Actually Angel and I joke that they’re on vacation or something because they haven’t been as busy and we’ll have to close the business because neither are we.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” said Veronica, ignoring the revelation that Angel sometimes made jokes. More people gathered around, drawn in by her excitement. “Wolfram and Hart’s numbers are down, way down; their revenue stream has been sliced at least in half, very possibly more.”

“What does that mean?” asked Tara.

“It means that they need more business. I’m guessing their close proximity to the Sunnydale Hellmouth brought them a lot of clients. With it gone, they’re not raking in the evil dough. If they got a hold of an amulet that could reverse that…”

“They could raise their profit again,” said Cordelia. “Gotta hand it to them, it’s a nice plan. Evil, but nice.”

“They’re banking on this move, too,” said Veronica, scanning the sheet again. “They’ve moved a huge amount of their assets here, that’s probably what some of the deliveries are.”

She felt alive again for a second; this is what she was good at, gathering clues and piecing together information. This was the adrenaline rush she felt right when she was about to crack a case wide open and it was a good feeling.

Logan was watching her with a proud smirk on his face and she smirked right back at him.

“We still need to know how they’re planning on doing all this,” Wesley pointed out. “I might add that until I know more information, I won’t really know where to look. I’m fishing blindly.”

“I might be able to help you out there,” said Mac slowly, rapidly typing. “I, my friend, have just broken through the last firewall around some seriously mystically encrypted data. I should be able to decrypt it shortly, but looks like it might be some more details about the ritual.”

“Perfect,” said Tara. “Then we can plan a counter attack.”

“Gotta love those,” said Spike, who Veronica was pretty sure must be aching to be attacked again by this point.

“I think it’s time we did that planning,” said Veronica. “Spike, Buffy, Angel, care to lend me some muscle?”

Spike leaned forward, eyes gleaming with sudden interest.

***

Logan leaned against the counter, continuing to watch everyone around him plan. It wasn’t a bad situation to be in. He could think of worse things to do with his time. It was nice to be able to sit back and let everyone else have an opinion sometimes.

“I hate this plan,” said Buffy. “There’s no safeguard in place.”

“Sometimes you’ve got to roll the die and pray it lands on your number,” said Veronica.

“Oh, say we roll you around and see what number ends up on top?” asked Buffy. “I have trusted you every single step of the way so far, but you aren’t giving me any assurances that you know what this will do.”

“I’m not super thrilled myself,” said Veronica. “I need more information.”

“I could knock you out so you can dream,” said Buffy.

“Okay, let’s calm down here,” said Tara, stepping between them. “The plan isn’t finished yet, Buffy. We don’t have everything decided,” she finished, looking at Veronica.

Buffy took a deep breath and nodded.

“As touching as all of this is,” said Spike, “I’m the one with the bloody bullseye on my chest. The rest of you can defer to me for once. I’m sodding tired of other people up and deciding my life for me.”

“Then what’s your decision?” asked Tara.

“Eureka!” said Wesley from somewhere behind them.

Logan almost did a double take.

“Yes, he does actually say that,” said Cordelia nonchalantly. “You get used to it.”

“I have it,” said Wesley, waving some paper around. “The whole ritual, I know what they’re going to do and where and how and everything.”

“Okay, lay it on me,” said Veronica.

Wesley proceeded to talk and talk and talk. Logan got bored a little bit in the middle. It appeared to involve a lot of chanting, several goats dying, the destruction of many people, and a brand new Hellmouth opening up underneath the Wolfram and Hart building.

“That exact position?” asked Tara.

Wesley nodded.

“The Codex is quite clear. They are adapting the ritual obviously, since the amulet is something new, but the location of the ritual should not be affected by that. The results are always the same in that instance.”

“Living in LA is going to get a whole lot nastier,” said Cordelia. “Think of the traffic.”

“They’re affecting the weather,” said Tara, “drawing in that much energy. It’s got to travel somehow and there’s so much space between here and Sunnydale.”

“Everyone and everything in its path will get flattened,” said Veronica musingly.

“So it has to never start or get stopped before it gets to that point,” said Buffy. “Your plan just developed brand new elements of risk. We’re talking Risk-o-rama here.”

“I know,” said Veronica. “You’re right, it’s too dangerous.”

“Thank you,” said Buffy.

“Oi, stop deciding things,” said Spike.

Veronica was looking off into the distance again and Logan watched her make some decisions.

“This can go several ways,” she said. “I can’t predict which way is the safest or what the outcomes will concretely be.” She turned to Cordelia. “I don’t suppose you had a vision that would help?”

Cordelia shook her head.

“I think this one’s on you, honey. The Powers have had their say. They point me at a bad guy, but we’re the ones who decide what to do once we get there. That’s where my specialty ends.”

“And mine begins,” said Veronica, sounding frustrated. “I just don’t know. I mean, I’m so new at this, I don’t really understand the whole thing yet and there’s so much going on in my head right now!”

“Why don’t we take a break?” said Tara wisely. “Veronica, just relax and try not to think about it. Mac, Wesley, and I will keep looking and then we can all,” she said pointedly, looking at Spike, “make a decision.”

He shook his head at her, but didn’t say anything.

Veronica nodded.

“You’re right, I’m overdoing it.”

Veronica walked away and stood looking out the window.

“Sure, she listens to you,” Logan said to Tara as she came toward him.

Tara patted his shoulder.

“You’re always one of the things on her mind,” she said. “But you knew that.”

“I did,” said Logan and tried to make up his own mind about if he should go over and talk to her or not.

He decided against it when he saw Spike approach her.

“That’s about time,” said Tara, following his eye line.

“You said it,” said Logan. “I was going to lock them in a room together.”

“You’ve such a way with people,” she said, grabbing books to take back to the desk.

Logan grinned and turned back to watch Spike and Veronica talk. He did have a way with people. Sometimes it was about pushing their buttons, but it was much less self-destructive than it had been before. He was calmer now, more caring, domesticated if you will. He wouldn’t really have it any other way.

***

Spike cautiously approached Veronica, not really sure of how to go about this. He knew how he would have done it once upon a time, but then he didn’t know himself so well anymore and Veronica herself had aged five years.

“You’ve been avoiding me, Private Eye,” he said finally, deciding blunter was always better.

She smiled and kicked her leg out a little to bump his.

“You noticed that, did you?”

“Pretty hard not to,” he said, leaning against the wall. “Care to let me in on the why?”

“Oh, this and that,” said Veronica. “Been a little preoccupied with the old noggin,” she said, gesturing to her head.

“There is that,” he said, watching her closely. “Still, a bit of time for your old pal Spike wouldn’t have hurt. I mean, I was dead.”

“You were dead,” she said, looking at him. “That hurt a lot actually.”

“Sorry, luv,” he said. “Didn’t really plan it that way.”

“People rarely do,” she said. “But I get it.”

“So the brush off was because you forgave me for dying?” he asked.

“I was first in line on the ‘bring Spike back’ train,” said Veronica, giving him an incredulous look. “I brought you back, in a way.”

“Been meaning to thank you for that,” said Spike.

“But you were…different,” said Veronica.

“Can’t help having the soul, pet,” he said. “William’s clamoring for attention.”

“But you’re not different,” she said.

“Noticed that part myself,” he said.

“So what are you?” she asked.

“Dunno,” he said and shrugged. “Figure I can suss that out after I don’t die again.”

“Smart,” said Veronica.

“The brains, that’s me,” he said, smirking.

She smiled but then she turned solemn again.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It wasn’t really that at all. I don’t know what it was except for when it was really you and then you were all…”

“Raving mentalist,” he suggested.

She smiled again.

“That. It hurt to see you like that.”

“I got better,” he said, gently probing.

“You did indeed,” she said. “You’re practically 100% annoying and better.”

“Cheers and bloody huzzahs,” he said. “Then what happened?”

“It’s never stopped for me,” she said, looking rueful. “All of my dreams, they always involve you being in pain.” That was all it took for him to understand, but she kept going. “All of the roads I see now, that’s how it ends, as far down them as I can see. I feel responsible, this weight of the future, it’s on me now. Your life is on me now and even seeing you reminds me… It’s too much and there are some parts I like. It’s actually…exciting and useful and fun. But when it hinges on me suddenly knowing how to do something I never knew I could do… When it comes down to one of my best friend’s life again, that part I just want to throw away and not deal with.”

She huffed a sigh and met his eyes for the first time since he’d been back and he smiled at her.

“A bit of advice for you,” he said. “From someone who spent rather a long time, hundred years or so, with someone who had the sight.”

“Someone certifiably insane is not going to help me right now,” said Veronica. “No offense.”

Spike shook his head.

“Dru had visions before she was crazy and she didn’t know what to do with them either. I had a long time putting all her history together, weeding out the crazy bits and deciphering all the metaphor, but there’s no one understands Drusilla like me. Angelus may think he does, but he only knew the wicked heart he instilled in her. The child lurking inside, the woman with a destiny, now that he blundered right on by.”

“I know you were with her,” said Veronica. “But how could you really know her?”

“Time and patience, my pet,” said Spike. “Which is what I want to tell you. Time and patience. Some people might not think that’s my forte and it really isn’t, but when it comes to people, there I’ve got all the time in the world. I devoured every bit of her I could. In learning that, I knew what made her tick and I could complement the crazy, compensate for it when she couldn’t.”

“I don’t get it,” said Veronica.

“It’s the people in anyone’s life that keep them from being mad,” said Spike. “You’ve got the one thing Dru never got, time to sort out your thoughts, what you’re seeing, and the people to support you. Scottie over there is your anchor to this world, don’t ever let him go.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” she said, gazing at her husband with very real fondness.

“Good, it’s all you need,” he said. “Dru had me and you have Logan, but you also have you, whereas Dru herself was lost. She was very good at seeing things, but not the best at understanding them, just enough coherent thought to wrap the picture in fancy and blood. You’re the smartest woman I know, Private Eye. You’ve got the perfect brain for this gig. Don’t be afraid to take the time, though, or to find the support.”

“What about now when I have no time because Wolfram and Hart is trying to destroy everything?” she asked. “Do I ask them to politely wait until I get the hang of visions that will defeat them?”

“You could try,” he said. “Don’t second guess what you’ve already done, luv. What you see is what will be, but you treat it like it doesn’t have to be, that’s the ticket.”

“Like it doesn’t have to be,” she said musingly.

“That’s it, yeah?” he said.

She laughed a little and bumped his shoulder with hers.

“I really really missed you.”

“Can’t say the same except for this past week,” he said. “We back to trading friendship beads then?”

“We were always friends,” she said. “I’m sorry I ignored you. I really just felt…it was hard.”

“But I was the one with the key to the whole thing all along,” he said.

“I don’t know if I’d say that,” she said. “But you did have some good advice and I really did forget that out of all of us you probably have the most experience with what I’m going through. So from now on, you’re my go-to guy.”

“Do I get a badge?” he asked.

“I may promise to not tell Buffy anything I might see about you,” she said.

“Oh, tell her those things,” said Spike.

Veronica hugged him and Spike relaxed fully. It was very good to have this friendship again.

“Are you going to be okay?” asked Veronica. “I mean, with being back and everything?”

Spike cocked his head.

“Think so. Buffy and I are still dancing around each other a bit, but that’s always our way.”

“She loves you so much,” said Veronica. “Losing you was horrible for all of us, but she had lost so much already.”

“I know,” said Spike. “We talked a bit.”

“Keep talking,” said Veronica. “If Logan is my anchor, then she’s yours. We should double date more often.”

Spike laughed heartily, something that felt incredibly good to do.

“I’ll get right on that,” said Spike.

“She’s mad at me for putting you in danger,” said Veronica. “That says an awful lot, don’t you think?”

“She’s not mad at you,” said Spike. “If anything she’s mad at me for putting myself in danger again.”

“You’re awfully good at that,” said Veronica.

“Maybe I should start a school,” said Spike.

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t sign up.”

“I’d make you teacher’s pet,” he said.

“I’ll still pass,” she said. “I’m happy you’re back.”

Spike looked around, his friends, his real family, spread out. Not everyone, no, but the vast majority of people he truly cared about. Buffy herself, the glorious everything of his existence. It didn’t really matter what part of him was William and what part wasn’t. He was here, he was himself, and he was going to love that woman forever, the best way he knew how.

“Me too, Private Eye.”

There was more planning after that. After all, apocalypses waited for no man and Spike was ready to get this over with. He was ready to do his part, no matter what it took. He was never leaving again if he could help it, but he couldn’t spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder waiting for some evil lawyer to pull a burlap sack over his head. He needed to face this. They all did.

Veronica stepped up, listening to Wesley, Mac, and Tara as they gave their advice. Buffy and Angel had their say as well. Spike himself had plenty to say on the matter. It wasn’t perfect and it was dangerous, but after all, wasn’t that when things were interesting? Spike liked a good plan that could go disastrously awry.

He thought they were almost done when Veronica stiffened and turned to look at him in horror.

“They’re coming,” she said.

“What?” he asked.

The doors slammed open and a tide of vampires entered the room. A large cloud swarmed before them, something tangible, like millions of small forms coalescing together. Spike made to defend himself, but he was soon lost in the dark. Even his vampire eyes weren’t doing him any good. He was seized and dragged. There was shouting and sounds of thuds and flesh being hit, stakes being slid home. He couldn’t see anything until a brilliant flash of light hit his eyes and he could see a solid wall of light bright enough to make him fear for his safety emanating from Cordelia and somehow being directed by Tara.

It was the last thing he saw before he was dragged back into the darkness, wordless shouts ringing in his ears.