Spike stomped through the muddy ground on the cool summer night. The sky was overtaken by southern California smog, preventing stars, and the hot cigarette smoke burned in his lungs, leaving the cool menthol taste in his mouth. He ran his hand over his hair as he leaned against the tree and felt the empty, longing feeling fill him. Would she walk by? Was there something happening in this place tonight that would cause her to be here? He hoped so. He was filled with so much hope he could burst, but at the same time a kind of crushing realization that even if she did come, she would not want to talk to him or even see him, be near him. She hated him, and that killed him a little.

He felt the earth beneath his feet shudder, and it was then he realized he was standing on a grave. The dirt loosened as a hand shot out of it, shoving dirt and rock out of the way as the vampire beneath him forced his way out of the grave. Spike welcomed the invitation for violence and threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out, readying himself. As the vampire crawled out, Spike grabbed her by the collar and fist colliding with face, let her fall into the tombstone behind her. She recovered quickly and charged at him, brow wrinkly and all. Spike knew she wasn't going to win as she came at him. He stepped to the side and threw her on the ground. There was a little bounce in his step as he righted himself and a crooked grin widened across his chiseled face when he almost pounced to pick her up and punch her in the—she grabbed him by the jacket and head-butted him, causing him to lose his balance. She straddled his torso, punching him in the face. This was it, he'd lost.

The weight was lifted and blonde hair whipping around her face, the Slayer had grabbed the new vampire off of Spike and staked her, dust falling where the attacking vamp had stood. Buffy helped Spike to his feet but did not attempt to seem like she cared that he could have died. "Spike, what the hell are you doing out here?" Her tone was not one of concern, but annoyance.

"Just getting in a little exercise for the night. What'd you go and do that for? I had her!" The lie was not covering up anything. God, she was so damn beautiful. Why the hell did she need to wear such fitted clothing… he felt anger surge through him at his desire.

"Clearly. A 'thank you' would be in order, but since it's you, Spike, really, don't mention it. I mean that." She dusted herself off and began to walk away. He felt a tug at his core and began to walk after her, his trench coat flapping around his ankles. Stepping in line with her, he opened his mouth to talk, but she cut him off. "Why are you walking with me?"

"Well excuse me for thinking I could help you. We could fight the big bad, you and me. It'll at least give me something to do since I can't eat anyone." She stopped walking and stared at him with this look of bewilderment and disgust on her face.

"No thanks. I can do this without you getting in my way. Besides, don't you have some kittens to place in a betting pool or something?"

"I'm not exactly the favorite of the local demon crowd right now, if you must know. This bloody chip in my head makes it so I can't eat anyone and the only thing to fight is demons, so they all hate me. But fine, if you don't want my help I'll be on my way." He held up his palms, turned out, feigning exasperation and hiding the pang of rejection that weighed on him. She sighed heavily and started to walk away.

"Fine. But if I have to keep saving you, I'll stake you myself to save the trouble." He followed closely as she began to walk away, just glad to be next to her and that she let him come with. That girl was driving him crazy, making him mad with want, but he couldn't help putting himself in situations that were near her. What the hell was he doing? She'd never want him, but yet here he was, making a fool of himself by almost getting killed by a brand new vamp just to be near her.

As they meandered their way through the cemetery in silence, Buffy began to wonder. Why was he so eager to help all of a sudden? He basically was the big bad, and here he was, jumping at the chance to fight it. Xander would never approve of her letting him come along. But she couldn't refuse. Why did she let him? She wasn't sure of the relationship with Spike anymore. Was he good or bad? Or was he the grey area? If the chip was gone right then, would he keep walking with her to help her patrol? She didn't think so. It was Spike, for crying out loud. He would turn evil the minute the chip was gone and he could kill again. He'd come after her to kill her the moment he could. She couldn't be too careful with him.

But then again, he was helping her. And he had saved her on numerous occasions. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.

"You alright?" He asked, glancing over at her. His cold demeanor softened and Buffy felt a little confused that he cared.

"Why?"

"You don't look alright."

"I'm fine."

"You can lie to yourself, Slayer, but you can't lie to me. I know you're not." He stared directly ahead, not making eye contact with her, but she felt something. Did he care? Was this him showing that he cared?

"I've just… got a lot going on, that's all." She felt a chill run through her, and eyes on her. Motioning for Spike to quiet and for him to stop walking, she listened hard. Something was nearby, watching her. Where? Closing her eyes, she focused on her hearing.

Soft footsteps padding on the grass. Something big… to her left. She made a dash for the bushes and pulled out a vampire wearing leather armor. As she hoisted him out, he swung a sword at her. Ducking, she swung her leg around, knocking him down at the knees. Spike took the opportunity to dash over at her and swing at the vampire as he began to stand, missing and falling forward with the momentum.

Buffy grabbed his forearm as the vampire swung the broadsword again, twisting it behind his back and bending his arm over her knee with a snap and disarming him. His sword in her hand and stepping back to get her footing, she decapitated him in one swift move as Spike came running back to her. "That arse was bloody fast. You alright?" She nodded, breathing heavily as the fight caught up with her.

"Who the hell was that?" She asked.

"Hell if I know. Let's get that back to Giles." Spike motioned at the sword Buffy still held in her hand. The sword had a white handle and the guard on one end was the head and on the other end was the tail of a snake. The handle twisted down into a gold disk. Buffy nodded.

"Good idea." She glanced around her and down at herself and then at Spike. "Let me see your coat." She held her hand out expectantly.

"What for?!"

"I can't go walking into town with a broadsword! Give me your coat." He handed it to her and she put it on, holding the sword in the inside of the coat, blocking it from view. "Let's go."

He would have protested her wearing it, but looking at it on her, he realized he kind of liked her wearing his coat. It was too big on her, way too broad and long, but despite swamping her, it looked adorable. He felt his heart flutter and he mentally cursed at his weakness. They began walking back to town, past the tombstones and the mausoleums in the chilly night.