Part 7

A few nights later, feeling good enough to leave the crypt, Spike was out making the usual rounds. First order of business, badger Clem about introducing him to Doc. Their money situation had not improved. Second order of business, make sure he didn't get into any scraps or brawls. He had promised Djoser, who was out doing a patrol for the Slayer, that he would stay out of trouble. And for once in his existence, the vampire was determined to keep his promise. His brother didn't need any more worries because of him.

Whistling a tune, Spike was happy to be out. In his estimation, being cooped up was worse than having hot pokers skewered through him. Passing by a fast food restaurant named the Double Meat Palace, he glanced inside, and the sight of the Slayer, complete with outfit and hat, stopped him in his tracks.

"What the bloody hell?" Muttering to himself, Spike took another good look, just to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. "What the fuck is Buffy doing? She can't be working here?"

Buffy was finding her new job to be as unrewarding as it was humiliating. And what was harder still was the little voice in her head that kept whispering to her. 'You don't have to do this. Go find Djoser and Spike. Kill a couple of murdering drug dealers, and you'd never have to degrade yourself like this again.'

Sighing, she pushed down that tempting thought while walking over to a fellow employee. "Gina." She tugged at the woman's sleeve to get her attention. "Since it's slow, do you think they'll mind if I take another break?"

Turning to look at Buffy, Gina's expression was blank. "We're not allowed. Downtime robs us all."

"Mm, thus quoth Manny. But there's no one here."

"Sure there is." Gina pointed to the counter. "Look."

Frowning, Buffy turned to see Spike, studying the menu board intently. "This'll make my day complete." She mumbled softly. "What?" Her greeting came out bad mannered and abrupt.

Spike ignored her rudeness. "What's in the DoubleMeat nuggets?" He asked with an innocent tone.

"I'm working. Go away." She snapped at him. "And why are you here? You're supposed to be helping your brother."

Spike squared his shoulders and stood a little straighter. "I am helping Djoser."

"Spike." Quietly counting to ten, Buffy blew out her breath. "Djoser is patrolling for me, and you. . .you're suppose to be assisting him."

"Still too weak. I'd just be a handicap in a fight. . .do fries come with all the combination meals?"

"Spike!" Buffy resisted the urge to punch the idiotic vampire. "So how exactly do you think you're helping Djoser by bothering me?"

"Not getting in any trouble, am I?" Giving her a triumphant grin, Spike was pleased with himself. "What flavors do your shakes come in?"

Closing her eyes for a second, Buffy counted to ten again. "Order something or go."

"Would love to, but my pockets are a little empty. Don't suppose as a valuable employee of the Double Meat Palace you could slip me a few freebies?"

"Spike!" Buffy pointed to the door. "Get. Out."

"Ok, Slayer." Spike began to obediently back up toward the door. "Going to go out into that big, bad world. Probably end up in some kind of scuffle with some naughty demons, and then Djoser will have to stop his patrol and come rescue me."

Looking away for a moment, Buffy so wished she had a wooden stake in her hand. "Alright! I'll give you a couple of free hamburgers, but then you're to go back to the crypt, stay out of trouble, and make sure you don't bother Djoser or myself for the rest of the night."

**

Making his way through the cemetery back to the crypt, Djoser was busily pulling off his clothes. They were soaked with Foetor's saliva, blood, and the ungodly foul musk oil that the demons secreted. The vampire knew that his clothing was ruined. Everything would have to be burned.

Entering the crypt, Djoser stripped himself naked, leaving everything on the floor in a pile. He couldn't clean up fast enough. The makeshift, camping shower he and Spike had rigged up was not great, but if need be, he'd stand under it for the rest of the night in order to remove the Foetor's rank emissions.

Returning home, Double Meat Palace hamburgers in hand and Clem in tow, Spike kicked the crypt door open. "Ok, so did you arrange a meeting for me with this Doctor?" He asked the loose skinned demon, as the two stepped through the door.

"Not only arranged a meeting, but found out that Doctor's expecting a big shipment real soon. Needs someone to hold his merchandise for a bit."

"Hold some merchandise? That doesn't sound hard. . .Jesus! What is that fucking smell?" Making a face, Spike looked around.

"There." Clem pointed to Djoser's pile of reeking clothes. "Smells like someone tangled with some Foetor demons."

"Bloody bad stink." Kicking the pile of clothes into a far corner, Spike threw a clean blanket over them. "Almost takes away a bloke's appetite. Almost. . . ." The vampire grabbed the bag of hamburgers and threw himself into a chair. "But not quite." Handing a wrapped up hamburger to Clem, he continued his business. "So when can I meet this Doctor?"

"What is that awful odor?" Dressed in clean pants, Djoser came into the room, pulling a shirt over his head.

Spike gave his brother a funny look while gesturing toward the pile of clothes. "You tell us, mate. It was here when we arrived."

"I don't mean that." Approaching Spike and Clem, Djoser sniffed at the hamburgers in their hands. "How can you eat something. . . something that smells like spoiled meat and bad eggs?" The warrior vampire turned and glared at Clem fiercely. "You brought these in here, didn't you? He's a bad influence on you, bringing you all kinds of rotten, human food. " He addressed this to Spike.

"I brought the hamburgers in." Spike defended Clem. "Got them from Buffy."

"The Slayer?" Surprise tinged Djoser's voice. "Since when does the Slayer buy you dinner?"

"Didn't have to buy them." Spike mumbled this out while chewing a mouthful of hamburger. "She works there now, so she was able to give me a handout without any skin off her nose."

"Works where?" Frowning, Djoser wasn't happy with what he was hearing.

"At the Double Meat Palace." Holding up the hamburger bag with the restaurant's logo, Spike couldn't believe how stupid his brother could be at times. "Where do you think?"

"At the. . . !" Not bothering to finish his thought, Djoser left in crypt in a hurry, obviously angry.

Watching him leave, Clem had to ask. "Is he always so bad tempered?"

"It's the Slayer, mate." Spike wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve. "She has the ability to make him. . . ." And my Sire, he said to himself. "Act like a cranky fruitcake. Guess it's a talent she was born with."

**

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Buffy couldn't believe that only ten minutes had passed since she had last looked at it. Here at the Double Meat Palace minutes seemed like hours. "I'm not reliving the same hour again like I did at The Magic Box, am I?" She whispered quietly to herself, while quickly taking a look around her.

The elderly woman she had waited on a short time ago was still seated at a booth, finishing her meal. "Nope." Buffy continued her muttering. "Time's not stuck, but maybe. . . ." A worrisome thought struck her. The minutes are passing like hours.

Her contemplations were interrupted by a tall figure entering through the front doors.

"Slayer." Stopping in front of the counter, Djoser gave Buffy the once over. "What is that on your head?" He couldn't help but ask, eying the Double Meat Palace cap which was adorned with a cloth cow's head .

"A hat. I'm still working, but come back. . . ." She glanced again at the clock. Only five minutes had passed. "In forty five minutes. I'm off then, and you can take me home and tell me what happened on patrol tonight."

Hands on the counter, Djoser leaned forward. "I will not return later. Come with me now. You don't belong here. This whole situation. . . ." He made a gesture toward her Double Meat Palace uniform and hat. "Is ridiculous."

"Djoser." Buffy said the vampire's name quietly. "Please don't make this harder. Just go, and I'll meet you in forty-five. . . ." Another glare at the clock. "Forty-four minutes."

"Buffy." Djoser addressed her in a tone equally as quiet. "You don't belong here. You're better than this. No superior being such as yourself should be working. . . ." He glared around himself contemptuously. "At a place like this."

"I need the money."

"I can get money. Come." The dark vampire held out his hand. "Walk with me now."

Hesitating for a split second, temptation screamed at her. Using all of her will power, Buffy fought the vampire's lure. "I. . . I need to go help Gary with the fries." She lied, turning away. "Meet me back here later. I'll talk to you then."

**

"I. . . ." Closing his eyes, Giles leaned up against the wall, phone held between his ear and shoulder. "I have no idea why he would ask for me? But yes, I agree that negotiations with him and his clan are of the utmost importance for everyone concerned. I'll make my arrangements and catch a flight to England as soon as possible. I shall see you shortly."

Hanging up the phone, he was so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed Dawn, who had come into the room and heard the last part of his conversation.

"You're going back to England again?" The teenager asked him.

"Dawn!" Giles was startled out of his thoughts. "I. . .the oddest thing has happened. Judelin, the High Master of the Ventrue Clan, has stopped discussions with the Council. It seems that he will only reopen talks. . .if I'm present."

"Oh." Not having a true understanding of the Council or its current state with the Ventrues, Dawn was not too impressed, but she was smart enough to catch that Giles being asked to help with negotiations was of some importance. "Wow. . .or should I say congratulations? You must be pretty important if this Judelin has specially asked for you."

"That's the puzzlement." Sitting down at the dining room table, Giles was mystified. "Judelin has never met me. How would he know who I am, and more importantly, why has he asked for me?"

"Maybe you're famous in vampire circles and don't even know it." Grinning at the Watcher, the solution was simple to Dawn.

"But of course." Smiling weakly back, Giles played along with the teenager. There was no need to cause her or anyone else more concern on his account. "That must be it."

**

Shoving her hat in her coat pocket, Buffy exited the Double Meat Palace with a sigh of relief. It had been a never-ending evening. A paper bag with Dawn's dinner in one hand, she spied Djoser, who was leaning up against his car waiting for her. "So what happened on patrol tonight?" She asked as she approached him.

Ignoring her question, the vampire motioned for her to get into the car.

Feeling the tension, Buffy hesitated. A part of her already knew that an argument was brewing. Too tired to cope, she took the coward's way out. "You know, I'm beat. I'll check in tomorrow with you, and you can tell me all about tonight's patrol." Turning quickly, she began to walk away, hoping that Djoser would take the hint and just leave.

"Slayer." A hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. "We'll talk tonight."

Sighing, Buffy realized that avoidance wouldn't work, so she'd try the 'all business' approach. "Alright, so what kind of demons did you come across on patrol?"

Djoser, again did not answer her, but instead had his own questions. "You're the Slayer. Why are you demeaning yourself like this? The people in this town should be bowing down to you and making you their queen for all the lives you've saved. Since they don't appreciate you like they should, perhaps you should go somewhere where they do."

"It's my duty, my calling to save lives. It doesn't make me a. . . ."

"You are superior!" Djoser snarled this out angrily. "So save the humans' worthless lives, but since they don't see fit to reward you properly, then at least take what is rightfully yours."

"Djoser!" Everything the vampire was saying had already crossed Buffy's mind. The ideas were seductive and tempting, but she knew, knew that such ideas could push her onto a dark path. A path that was destructive and harmful. A path that already had been taken by one Slayer, Faith, a few years ago. "It seems like I remember a certain conversation last Friday where I was told to keep my nose out of your affairs. Well, the reverse is also true, none of this is any of your business, so butt out!"

Turning to leave, she again was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. "Buffy, forgive me. It's just that. . . ." Removing his hand, Djoser took a step back. "I'm finding everything hard now. My whole existence has been turned completely upside down. I'm a Tremeren Bloodline vampire. Years ago, my people knelt down before me. Other demons and humans feared me, and now. . .now I am nothing. A Caitiff vampire who lives in a run down old crypt. And you, the Slayer." He eyed her intently. "The Slayer, who even Bloodline vampires respected and feared, a being equal to us is also humiliating herself by working in a place called the Double Meat Palace. What has this world come to?" He whispered softly.

"The world has moved on, Djoser." Buffy began to walk away, but her tone was softer, gentler. "And you need to move on with it."

**

Nevada, October 2001

"Well, I'm sure glad you could fucking make it." Approaching the vampire whose expression was hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses, Jack Hawkins tried to put the usual swagger in his step. He needed to hide his fear, if he wanted to have any kind of standing with his old ally.

"I got your message." Elder Snow stood up slowly, flanked by two bodyguards. "But traveling is difficult what with having to evade the Council and the Ventrues."

"Yeah, well you can add the Tremerens to that list of people to avoid."

Snow's body tensed ever so slightly at hearing the name Tremeren. "Angelus?" He whispered with hate in his voice.

"No, but just about as bad." Hawkins paced a bit, back and forth. "Damon. That son-of-a-bitch Damon. Should never have gone with the Daywalker plan. Should have just kept Chris as he was and then sent him to dust his old man. Now the motherfucker is after me." Despite his resolve to hide his fear, Jack couldn't help the trickle of sweat that ran down his face. Although not the Scourge of Europe, Damon still ran a close second to Angelus' viciousness.

"You pose a threat to his Blood-Childe." Snow couldn't help but smirk contemptuously at Hawkins. "And it's the duty of all vampire fathers to eliminate any dangers to their precious sons."

"You need to help me." Jack stopped his pacing to stand in front of the vampire. "Separately we're weak, but together we have a chance against our enemies."

"And Angelus? Where is he?" Elder Snow knew that even if he allied himself again with the human vampire hunter, it would be pure suicide to go up against both Angelus and Damon.

"Still in LA." Hawkins shrugged his shoulders. At this moment Angelus didn't concern him. "For some odd reason, Damon has not gone to see his brother in LA, and we don't know why."

"Hmm. A falling out, perhaps?" Stroking his chin, Snow was thoughtful.

"Have no fucking clue. But the big news, as you probably have already heard, is that the famous Darla is pregnant with Angelus' Pure Blood-Childe. So despite the fact that we managed to kill four Tremeren Blood-Childer, they've already managed to replace two of them, and one of them is a Pure Blood. Fucking Tremeren Bloodline vampires." Hawkins swore loudly. "They breed like fucking rabbits, even though reproducing is supposed to be a problem for you vampires."

"So Darla is in LA with Angelus, and Damon chooses to keep his distance." Snow remembered his Clan's past, its players, and all the bad blood and feuding. "My guess is that Damon still has some old grudges against Darla, and the fool is letting his emotions override good sense. He doesn't realize that apart from Angelus he's much more vulnerable. Vulnerable enough that I think you're right, human."

The vampire's smile sent chills down Hawkins' spine, reminding him that he better never turn his back on his so-called ally.

"Together, you and I can defeat our enemies."

****

Walking back to her house, Buffy was surprised to see Djoser drive past her. The crypt was in the opposite direction. Curiosity and some unknown feeling pushed her to follow him. Throwing the Double Meat Palace bag with Dawn's supper into a trashcan, she hoped that Giles, Willow, or Tara had already fed her sister dinner.

Quickening her pace to keep the car in sight, Buffy wasn't too surprised to see it stop in front of Bronze. Following the vampire into the club, she watched him dig into his pockets, searching for money to buy a drink.

"My treat." Walking up to Djoser, she slapped a five-dollar bill on the bar.

Head turning, the vampire's dark eyes glittered at her for a moment before looking away to take his drink from the bartender. "Thank you, Slayer."

"Consider it payment for patrolling for me tonight, but it's all I can afford." Sitting down on the barstool, Buffy smiled weakly. "So you might want to consider looking for a different job. One that pays more."

Still staring straight ahead, Djoser took a sip of his drink. "If I were to go and hunt some murdering low life, and take his money, would you stop me?"

Folding her hands on top of the bar, Buffy stared down at them. "Yes I would." She answered softly.

"Even if I gave you half of everything I stole?"

"I told you before, and I'm telling you again, no *humans*." Looking up, she stared at Djoser's face which he had finally turned to face her.

"Then I guess I need to find another way to make us money, without. . ." He quickly added. "Hurting any humans."

"Us?" Buffy gave the vampire a questioning look.

"Yes, us." Stepping closer to her, Djoser reached out a hand to brush some loose hairs away from her face. "You and I."

"I don't think. . . ." Standing up, Buffy began a weak protest, but quickly decided that flight was her better option. The vampire was too tempting. Heading for the exit, she never made it out of the building, but instead allowed herself to be pulled into a secluded spot under the stairway. Cool lips meet warm as Slayer and vampire stood, locked in an embrace.

****

Part 8

A week later, still working at the Double Meat Palace, Buffy was back by the grill, busily flipping hamburgers, while half listening to her co-worker, Todd.

"And that's where even your best political minds can drop the ball." The young man told her while biting into a hamburger.

"Ah huh." She courteously mumbled back, not exactly sure what he was talking about since she hadn't been paying attention.

"Zeitgeist! You're not taking the pulse of the public, the next thing you know you're LBJ handing the house keys over to Nixon."

"Yeah." Buffy muttered another polite reply, not really hearing what Todd had said as her mind was thinking over the events of the past week: an encounter with a wannabe Broadway star demon named Sweet, her confession to her friends that they hadn't saved her from a hell dimension, but had pulled her out of heaven, the discovery that Dawn had developed a bad habit of stealing, and the departure of Giles to England to aid in negotiations with the Ventrues.

Sighing, she flipped another burger, wondering to herself, why in all the commotion, there had been no sign of either Djoser or Spike. "You'd think that at least William the Annoyance would have shown his face to try and mooch more hamburgers off me." A quiet mumble to herself as she tried to pretend that her pride wasn't just a bit wounded by the fact that Djoser hadn't come to seek her out again after 'the incident' at the Bronze.

"Did you say something?" Having finished his hamburger, Todd had returned to work, checking out supplies.

"No." Looking over her shoulder at her coworker, Buffy quickly answered him. "Just thinking out loud."

"Al-right. . .oh man, we're out of special sauce." The young man said with exasperation.

"I'll get it." Turning off the grill, Buffy was happy to do something else.

"No, no. Your turn up front. I'll deal back here. You take the customers."

Inwardly making a face, Buffy was less than thrilled. Walking up to the front, her mouth automatically began to recite the speech. "Welcome to the Double Meat Palace, how may I help. . . ?" Stopping abruptly as she realized just who was standing in front of her. "Riley!"

A harder and tougher looking Riley stared back at her. "Sorry to just drop in on you like this, Buffy, but I've been up for 48 hours straight tracking something bad. A Suvolte demon, rare, lethal, and now it's come to Sunnydale."

**

"Hey!" Using a squirt gun, Spike sprayed a stream of water in Djoser's face. "Wake up, already. It's way past sundown. You planning to sleep the day *and* the night away?"

"Goddamn it!" Raising his arm, Djoser protected his face from the flow of water. "Stop it now, or you're getting your assed kicked, even if you are still weak."

"Yeah, right mate." Spike snorted with scorn. "Weak or not, if you want to kick my arse, you better go get the Slayer to back you up. You're lucky." Dropping the squirt gun on the floor, he sat down on the bed. "I was just about ready to fill the gun up with holy water."

Lying on his back, Djoser used his hands to wipe the water off his face. "So what's the big emergency?"

"No emergency." Spike settled himself at the head of the bed, back against the wall. "Just seeing if you were dead or undead. You've been mostly comatose this last week."

Djoser only grunted in reply, as he slowly sat up, trying to shake the cobwebs out of his brain.

"So what's the matter with you. . .brood boy junior." Spike couldn't help the insult. "You've been moping around for a week now. How come you haven't been patrolling for Buffy? In fact where has Slutty been lately? She's usually finding any kind of flimsy excuse to hang around here." He gave his brother a leering look. "That night that you went to look for her, you came home with her scent all over you, but I didn't smell any signs that you two were shagging. So what happened? Did you give it a shot and get your face slapped?"

"No." Giving a one-word answer, Djoser grabbed a towel and headed for the camping shower.

"Alright." Jumping off the bed, Spike followed his brother to the shower. "So why have you been hiding and sulking here in the crypt, if everything is fine between you and Buffy?"

Turning on the shower, Djoser waited a moment for the water to heat up.

Leaning up against the wall, Spike could only roll his eyes. "We don't have any hot water, remember? Will you tell me what the bloody hell is the matter with you? You usually don't act like such a brainless plonk."

"We kissed." Djoser finally gave his brother an answer, as he willed himself to step into the cold shower.

"O-kay, and?" Spike gave Djoser an expectant look, waiting for the rest of the story.

"And that's it." Quickly lathering his hair and body, the vampire was anxious to be done with his icy shower.

Sighing, Spike rolled his eyes again. He could hardly believe that he was going to have to give his nob of a brother lessons in courtship. "So you kissed her, and now you're hiding out here? Trying to play hard to get?"

"You just don't get it, do you William." Shutting off the shower, irritation was evident in Djoser.

"No, I don't." Spike followed his brother back to the bedroom area. "So explain it to me."

"I was told, no ordered to stay away from the Slayer." Answering curtly, Djoser turned away to look for some clean clothes. "I think our Sire still see her as his, and. . . ."

"Wait a moment!" Interrupting, Spike could hardly believe his ears. "Who gives a bleeding shit what He thinks or doesn't think, and why don't you try passing along this theory of ownership to Buffy. For sure you'll get your face beat in because there is no way that she considers herself belonging to him or anyone."

"It doesn't matter what she thinks. It's what our Sire perceives that counts."

"Why are you so hung up on what He thinks?" Totally exasperated, Spike's voice rose a notch. "We're not His anymore."

"But we are." Dropping his clothes on the bed, Djoser turned to look at his brother. "Oh, we can run away. We can cut out our marks. We can pretend to the world, but that doesn't change a thing. It doesn't change who we are. We're Blood-Childer, His Blood-Childer, and by our law we are morally bound to Him. It is our duty to serve him."

"And doesn't he have a duty to us?" Spike took a step closer to Djoser. "He's suppose to care and protect us, but he rarely fulfills that responsibility. Darla threatens us, and he's oblivious. We run off, and does he come after us? No, doesn't bloody care. In fact he's probably relieved because we're not there to bother him, and he can live happily ever after with his one true love and their Pure Blood-Childe. A frigging fairy tale ending." Sitting down on the bed, he stared up into his brother's face. "It was your idea to leave Him, so why are you now having these doubts?"

"I was angry with Him." Djoser whispered softly. "And I thought. . .thought that I could just. . . ." The dark vampire shook his head sadly. "For all of my existence, more than two hundred years, it's been beaten into me that my whole reason for living is to do my duty to my Sire and to my Bloodline. I remember my mother. . . ."

"Your mum?" Spike's eyes widened in surprise. "What things did your mum tell you?"

"That total obedience was due my Sire, and anything less would be disgraceful." Djoser paused a moment as he pulled on his pants. "And I've been hearing her voice, and the voices of my other ancestors telling me how I have shamed them."

Shocked, Spike could only wonder if his brother was losing his marbles. "I wouldn't pay too much attention to any voices in your head; it's probably just all the pig and cow's blood talking back."

"William." The vampire could only stare at his younger brother sadly. "You just don't understand."

**

Egypt, 1778

Staring arrogantly at the assembly of human warriors lined up in front of him, Angelus felt no fear, only contempt at their ignorance. "Die haben keine Idee was wir sind." He whispered to his younger brother Anton who stood next to him.

"I must humbly differ with you." An older man, face creased with age and the elements stepped forward. "We know exactly who you are, Afreet."

Narrowing his eyes, Angelus stiffened with surprise at being addressed in English and by the term afreet. "If you know who were are. . . ." His tone was dangerously quiet. "Then you must also know that even if you think of yourselves as warriors, you are no match for us." He made a point of looking around at the vampires who stood behind him, his bodyguards and minions.

"We do not wish to do battle with you, Afreet, but to respectfully ask you and your. . . ." The old warrior's eyes swept over the group of vampires. "Followers to leave our land."

"And if we chose not to?" Temper beginning to rise, Angelus could hardly believe the impudence of the human.

"Please, Afreet. We do not wish any more trouble. Your seed has already been planted. We know that already." The old man's posture conveyed both respect and dignity. "We will honor you by raising your offspring to be worthy of his heritage. When the time is right, you may come for your son, and at the time, we will also present you with a companion for him. Both will be raised as warriors, according to our traditions but will also be schooled to be your obedient children. In return you and your people will leave now and cause no more trouble."

"Wovon spricht er?" Anton looked at Angelus questioningly, not having any idea what the human was talking about.

A small satisfied smile as Angelus suddenly knew who the man was. Nodding his head slightly at the old warrior, a surge of pride and pleasure flow through him. He had impregnated the young woman. He would be the first of the High Master's sons to produce a new generation of Blood-Childer. "I will leave, but not before I receive a guarantee that your promises will be kept regarding my coming son."

"As leader of my tribe. . . ." Pulling out a long blade, the warrior stood, arms spread wide. "And grandfather of the Afreet's son, I swear on my own life." A swift movement and the old man buried the dagger in his own heart. Blood spilled out, turning the sand under him a dark red.

**

Sunnydale, Oct 2001

It had taken all of Spike's ingenuity to convince Djoser to stop listening to the voices of his ancestors and go find the Slayer. "Christ, my brother is getting as nutty as Him." He said this out loud as he opened the door to his friend Clem.

"Your brother is what?" The loose skinned demon looked into the crypt fearfully.

"Don't worry, mate." Spike signaled for Clem to come in. "My deranged brother is not here now. I finally managed to get rid of him."

"That's good." Clem sighed with relief. "Because the doctor has seen him hanging out with the Slayer, and he might not be too willing to do business if he sees your brother around."

"Yeah, I figured it's better that Djoser not know anything about this deal. He's been kind of stressed lately. He's hearing voices now." Spike made the circular motions of 'he's out of his mind' at his head.

"Hearing voices?" Already afraid of Djoser, Clem was not happy to hear that the intimidating vampire was going crazy. A mean vamp was scary enough, but a mean, crazy vamp was even scarier.

"Yeah, and you know what that means don't you?" Spike turned to face Clem. "It means I'm in big shit because he's just another example of the battiness that runs in my Bloodli. . . ." Abruptly stopping, the vampire remembered that he was playing the charade of being just a turned' vampire. "Never mind." He changed the subject. "So will this doctor and his merchandise be here soon?"

**

"I didn't mean to put you on the spot." The tall, attractive woman named Sam walked beside Buffy through the cemetery. The two were hunting for the Suvolte demon nest. "There's no bad guys in this one. The only thing that helped Riley work it out was time. Lots of time. Took him a year to get over you.

Although saddened, Buffy tried to be happy for her ex. "I'm glad he's over me. I'm glad he's got you now."

"So. . . ." To cover the awkwardness, Sam quickly changed the direction of the conversation. "Seeing anyone new? Someone special?"

The other woman's question immediately brought up the image of Djoser in Buffy's mind. "You know, I just want to take my time. I don't. . .don't want to jump right into anything, don't want to. . .you know. . .be defined by who I'm with."

"Yeah, better no guy than the wrong guy that's for sure."

Those words cut deep into Buffy as she thought again about what had happened between her and Djoser and the Bronze. "How right you are." She mumbled out loud to herself.

"I'm sorry." Sam's smile was genuinely open and friendly. "Did you say something?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Buffy caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure. "You know what?" She stopped and turned to the other woman. "I think we should split up now."

"Oh, I'm slowing you down." Sam was apologetic. "I knew I would, this was just selfish of me."

"No, it's not. . . ." Body tingling, Buffy knew that the dark shape half hidden in the shadows was Djoser. Uh. . .there's this guy, an informant, but he's twitchy. I show up with company, and, and we'll get nothing."

"Ok." Turning to leave, Sam spotted a black SUV pulling up to the edge of the cemetery. "Well, look who just showed up." She commented, watching her husband, Riley Finn get out of the vehicle. "I'm guessing Finn needs me about now." She flashed another friendly grin at Buffy as she began to walk away. "Don't worry about Rye and me, we're good."

Watching the woman leave, Buffy whispered a quiet, envious mutter. "I noticed."

**

Watching Buffy approach him, Djoser could feel the anger simmering in him. He too had seen Riley Finn get out of the black SUV, and although he had already decided that a relationship with the Slayer wasn't possible, he didn't like that her ex boyfriend had suddenly made an appearance.

"Slayer." He hissed harshly at her.

Stopping in her tracks, Buffy couldn't help but feel the hostility in the air. "I need information." Her manner became all businesslike.

"Boyfriend back?" Djoser taunted her. "The boyfriend who likes to visit vampire whore houses."

"Riley is not the issue here." Controlling her temper, Buffy kept her voice calm. "The issue is a guy who they call the doctor. He's a dealer, a dealer in demon Suvolte eggs."

"I don't know anything about any Suvolte eggs, but I do have a vivid picture in my mind of your soldier boy getting the juice sucked out of you by some undead whores." Life so out of control, the usually disciplined vampire was letting his composure slip.

"Will you focus for a moment?" Her own control slipping, Buffy's voice began to rise. "We don't have much time. If those Suvolte eggs hatch, Sunnydale will cease to exist, and then where will you and Spike hide out?"

"We don't need you to hide us out, Slayer." Djoser sneered contemptuously as he moved to walk away from her.

"Wait a moment." Grabbing the vampire by the back of his tunic, Buffy spun him around. "We had a deal, remember? I give you and Spike protection from Darla and the Ventrues, and in return the two of you help me with any troublesome demons. I need your help now."

"What? Your military boyfriend doesn't have what it takes to back you up? Too weak from all his drug use and whores? Should have thought of that before you spread your legs for him." Not knowing how to deal with the fear and jealously that flowed through him, Djoser lashed out irrationally.

The vampire's unjust accusation was the last straw for Buffy. Letting her temper get the better of her, she lashed back with her fists. Punching Djoser hard in the face, she split a lip.

Tasting his blood, Djoser didn't bother to wipe it away. A slight smile crossed his face. "I always said Slayer that you were just lucky when you defeated my Sire and my brother, but you're not going to get lucky for a third time." Letting his tunic slip down his arms and onto the ground, the vampire raised his fists. Nothing like a good battle to help him feel more like himself.

****

Part 9

Cocking his head, Spike studied the newly delivered merchandise that he had been hired to safeguard. "Ugly little buggers, aren't they?" He commented to Clem who stood next to him also examining the demon Suvolte eggs.

Nodding in agreement, Clem handed Spike a folded up piece of paper. "The instructions on how to care for them. One of the deliverymen handed it to me as they left."

"Instructions?" Spike studied the paper for a moment before tossing it on the floor. "Pfft, don't need any instructions on how to take care of a bunch of demon eggs. Just let 'em sit here until the buyers come. What kind of idiot needs instructions for that?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Clem didn't argue as he turned to follow Spike up the ladder. "And how are you going to explain these. . . ." He gestured back at the Suvolte eggs. "To your brother?"

"Djoser usually doesn't ever come down here." Spike grabbed on to the ladder leading up to the main floor of the crypt. "So I'm hoping they'll be sold before he even realizes they were here."

Smiling, he envisioned the happy surprise on his brother's face when he handed over the wad of cash that would be made on this deal. "Then Djoser will know that I can be useful, and he won't leave me like he did before, and like all the others did." Spike whispered this softly to himself as the faces of family members who had abandoned him in the past flashed through his mind. Angel, Djoser, Ramose, Drusilla, and Alex. "And I won't ever be alone again."

**

There were no other sounds in the cemetery except the grunts and groans of two people locked in vicious combat. Slayer and vampire kicked and punched all their frustrations, all their sorrows out on each other.

"I thought you were this super tough Slayer." Djoser taunted Buffy as he blocked an incoming blow and countered with a right cross. "But you fight no better than a lowly minion."

"Oh, really." Buffy responded as she in turn blocked Djoser's second punch and grabbed his arm while turning her body so she could toss the vampire over her shoulder onto his back. "So your minions must routinely throw you to the ground then." Pulling back a foot, her intention was to give Djoser a hard kick in the ribs, but he quickly seized her foot in a strong grasp, yanking up, causing her to fall.

"Minions would not dare to lay a hand on me." He snarled as he scrambled to get on top of Buffy to keep her from regaining her feet. "I am a Tremeren Bloodline vampire. They risk losing life or limb by touching a Childe of the Bloodline."

"Well, goody for you." Using all of her strength, Buffy knocked Djoser off of her while at the same time flipping herself on top of him. "It must be nice to be so privileged." Tightening her thigh muscles, she held the vampire down by the hips. "But news flash for you, you're not in your Sire's kingdom. You're here in my territory, and in my territory all vamps are equal."

"All right, Slayer." Lying perfectly still, Djoser did nothing to try and throw Buffy off of him. "If I'm just another vampire to you, then stake me. Stake me right now."

"Maybe I will." Pulling out a stake from under her clothing, Buffy raised it, hoping to spark some fear in the vampire, but his dark, hopeless eyes stared fearlessly back at her. "Maybe I'll just. . . ." The words died in her throat as the stake fell from her fingers. Grabbing him by the front of the shirt, she pulled him up, her own desperation spilling over as she crushed her lips to his.

**

England, Oct 2001

Using all of his will power, Giles tried to tear his eyes away from the mesmerizing figure in front of him but was unsuccessful. He just couldn't stop staring at the Ventrue High Master.

"Rupert Giles." The vampire's voice was as seductive as his looks. "I have heard so much about you."

"I-I. . . ." Opening his mouth, the Council Watcher wanted to respond in a civil but stately manner but found himself unable to form a complete sentence. "Yes, I. . .it. . .I'm surprised. . . " He finally managed to stammer out. "That you have heard of me."

"You are one of the Watchers who has had extensive contact with Angelus and his family. Angelus, Pure Blood-Childe of Heinrich Nest and now High Master of the Tremeren Clan."

"Yes, that. . .I've. . . ." Giles turned his head to look puzzlingly at Quentin Travers. "I have been acquainted with Angel. . .Angelus for about four years now."

"The Tremeren Clan, the Clan that through out our history has been the Ventrues' greatest enemy. And I, like a famous human general and philosopher. . . ." Judelin's eyes swept over the occupants of the room, the human Council members and his vampire advisors and bodyguards. "Always make it my practice to *know my enemy*."

**

Sunnydale, October 2001

There was nothing tender or loving about her kiss. Buffy smashed her mouth against Djoser's as if her lips were her fists, brutal and hard. And the vampire gave as good as he got, returning the punishing kiss with his own hidden violence. Two unhappy people giving into a sexual attraction with the despairing hope that it might make them feel better.

Djoser felt sharp teeth nipping at his already split lip, but the sting was exhilarating because it made him forget everything else. Wrapping his arms around Buffy, he held her in a tight, painful embrace while continuing to grind his lips and teeth against hers.

Seeing Riley happily married had merely added to Buffy's misery by emphasizing the total emptiness of her life. Physical attraction and lust overcame good sense, as her only need was to feel a strong body in and around her. Without breaking contact, her hand reached down, feeling for a snap and a zipper. Opening the vampire's pants, she felt for his manhood, pulling it out and stroking it to hardness. "Tell me you want me." She whispered against his mouth.

"I've wanted you for a long time." He whispered back while pulling up Buffy's skirt and tearing the elastic band of her panties.

Closing her eyes, those were the words she wanted to hear. Positioning the hard flesh in her hand against her opening, Buffy pressed down while staring down into Djoser's dark eyes. His body was hard and cool, bringing a flash of memory of another vampire she had made love to. Suppressing the recollection quickly, she rocked her hips, rubbing her sensitive pelvic area against the hardness inside of her.

Buried deep in Buffy's heat, for a moment all of Djoser's troubled feelings and doubts disappeared. His only coherent thought was how hot she felt around him. It had been many years since he had taken pleasure with a human female. "Slayer." A very faint hiss that only he and Buffy could hear.

A soft groan sounded in her throat as Buffy tore Djoser's shirt open, satisfying the need to see and feel more skin. Her small, but strong hands caressed the hard chest beneath her. Her hips continued to move back and forth. The world around them ceased to exist as Slayer and vampire took pleasure in each other.

**

Despite the television blaring, Spike heard and sensed the humans coming a split second before Riley and Sam burst through the crypt's main door. "Well, looky here, tin soldier boy is back, and I thought we ran you out of town, mate." His welcome greeting was accompanied by a cocky grin. "Who's the bint?" He made a point of scrutinizing Sam thoroughly.

Ignoring the question, Riley raised his weapon to point it at Spike. "Where are they. . . Doctor?"

The expression on Spike's face was innocent, as he responded. "Where are what? And the name's Spike. But you should know that. We've met before." He gave Riley another cocky grin as he remembered the last encounter the two had.

"This is William the Bloody." Riley turned to Sam. "A.k.a. Spike, a.k.a. Blood-Childe of Angelus, a.k.a. the Doctor. Where's your Sire? Does he know you're dealing in illegal demon eggs?"

Eying the gun in Riley's hand, Spike considered his odds. In his weakened state, the vampire knew that it was chancy to try and take on two armed, trained soldiers. "My Sire will be along any minute now, so if I were you, I'd leg it while I can. He's not been in a good humor lately." He lied blatantly.

"Interesting." Riley called Spike's bluff. "The nice thing about being back in Sunnydale is that all the locals speak English, and I know who to beat for information. And they tell me that Angelus has been gone for more than six months now, so I know. . . ." He took a step closer, weapon still pointed at Spike. "That you're lying. So I'm going to give you one more chance before I get unprofessional. . .Where are the eggs?"

"Don't know what eggs you're talking about." Spike continued to lie.

Stepping up, Riley touched the barrel of his gun lightly to Spike's abdomen. "Okay. We can do this the hard way, or we can do this the fatal way."

"Riley!" Buffy entered the crypt with Djoser right behind her. "Riley!" Turning quickly, she grabbed onto Djoser, preventing him from attacking her ex. "Riley, you need to take Sam and leave here now."

Spike glowered murderously at Riley. "Yeah, take your bint and shove off, mate."

"The local demons all pointed me here to this crypt, saying that the Doctor was here." Riley turned to address Buffy. "Spike has been using the alias Doctor with his illegal dealings. The eggs are here. I know it, and I plan to take this place apart until I find that nest."

"Over my dead body." Growling, Djoser tried to escape Buffy's grasp, so that he could launch himself at Riley.

"Riley!" Gripping Djoser tighter, Buffy held him back. "This Doctor, it can't be Spike. He-he's too incompetent." She glared over at Spike angrily. "It's just Spike."

"Right, Buffy." No longer enamored with the Slayer, Riley was able to remain calm."A Blood-Childe of the deadly Tremeren Clan, known for being vicious and opportunistic. . .or have you forgotten?"

Buffy had no answer for Riley. Still holding tightly to Djoser, she looked up at him. "Let them search. They won't find anything, and then the issue will be resolved."

Not trusting himself to speak, Djoser reluctantly nodded his head. It galled him to permit mere humans access to his lair, but he recognized Buffy's logic.

"Hang on!" Quickly stepping in front of Riley, Spike protested. "I'm not going to allow you to. . . ."

"Let them be, William." Djoser commanded softly as he looked down at Buffy. "The Slayer is right. After their search turns up nothing, they will be on their way and won't bother us again."

"But this is. . .unconstitutional, is what it is!" Brain working furiously as Spike tried to decide whether he should quickly fess up to his brother, or not. "Hey!" He watched as Riley, followed by Sam, Buffy, and Djoser started down the ladder leading to the basement of the crypt. "There's nothing to see down there!" Rushing after them, he realized that it was now or never to confess. "I can explain."

"William." Reproach was evident in Djoser's voice as he and the rest could only stare at the sight of the Suvolte eggs.

"You see, I have this friend. . . ." Spike swiftly began his explanation, but was cut off as Buffy punched him in the face, sending him sprawling.

"You promised that you would behave! And now. . . ." She began but the sight of movement among the demon eggs cut her off.

"We're going to need more weapons." Riley slowly stepped backward from the eggs. "Spike screwed up." He turned to the vampire. "You didn't keep them frozen, did you. . .Doctor?"

Spike had no idea what Riley was talking about, but he was never one to be intimidated. "You can stop calling me that any time, crew cut, and as-a-matter-of-fact I was just about. . . ."

"William." He was interrupted by Djoser grabbing him by the back of his shirt collar. "We all need to get out of here. *Now*. Those eggs are about to. . . ." The vampire never finished his sentence as the eggs began bursting open and tiny Suvolte demons came screeching out.

Riley and Sam tried to raise their weapons but were unable as they were swarmed by the baby demons. "We have to pull out!" Riley shouted as he swatted a Suvolte off his shoulder.

Vampires, humans, and the Slayer scrambled up the ladder with a horde of baby demons after them.

"We have to find a way to contain them." Riley desperately looked around the crypt for something heavy to cover the opening, but Buffy was one step ahead of him.

Grabbing a hold of his military belt, she yanked it off of him and pulled the pin on one of the grenades attached to it. Tossing it down the ladder, she yelled a warning. "Get down!"

Everyone threw themselves on the floor and covered their heads as a fireball shot up from the basement of the crypt causing an explosion and setting the room on fire.

"Out, William." Hauling Spike up with him, Djoser threw himself out of the crypt's entrance followed by Buffy, Riley, and Sam. Lying on the grass of the cemetery, the vampires watched as the place they had called home went up in flames.

**

Looking around the burnt out crypt, Spike glanced over again at Djoser. His brother had not spoken a word to him since the explosion, and his hostile silence was becoming unnerving. "Djoser, I'm sorry for not telling you about the Suvolte eggs, but I wanted to surprise you with all the money I was going to make. . . ." He trailed off lamely. "On the deal."

"You do realize." Djoser couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. "That you now owe the cost of the demon eggs that were destroyed."

Nervously rubbing the tip of his right boot on the back of his left leg, Spike found he couldn't meet his brother's eyes. "Each egg was worth more money than I've ever had, and there was a doz. . . ."

"You Don't. . . ." Djoser harshly interrupted him. "Have to say anymore. I've already done the math."

"Should we skip town?" Spike asked meekly. That had always been his solution in the past when he found himself in a bind that couldn't be fixed.

"We don't even have enough money for gasoline for the car." Hands balling up in fists, Djoser so wanted to hit something or someone. He now had a small understanding of why his Sire had always been punishing Spike. His younger brother had a knack for making one lose control.

"Oh." Was all that Spike could say as he kicked a piece of rubble. Barely anything salvageable. They didn't even have anything to hock.

"I have to. . . ." The need to get away and let his anger cool overwhelmed the vampire. He had to put some distance between himself and his brother and what was left of their lair. "I have to go." Turning abruptly, Djoser left the crypt in a hurry.

"Wait." Spike called out, but instinctively knew that he shouldn't follow his brother out. "You're not going to leave me, are you?" His voice lowered to a whisper. "Because you promised me you wouldn't."

**

"Hey." Opening her front door, Buffy couldn't help but stare nervously at Djoser. She already regretted about what had happened with him in the cemetery, and having him on her doorstep made her uncomfortable. "Sorry about the crypt." She told him awkwardly as he brushed his way past her into her the house.

"Where's the. . .boyfriend?" Stopping in the entranceway, Djoser checked around.

"Riley and his wife left a short time ago."

Taken aback, Djoser was left speechless for a moment. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he just came straight to the point. "I need your help."

"Listen." Deciding that it would be better if the vampires left Sunnydale, Buffy was not about to do any favors for them. "I'm not going to bust Spike's chops over his stupid scheme, but perhaps it would be better for all involved if both of you left."

"Lend me some money." Djoser continued as if Buffy had not spoken.

Eyes widening in disbelief, Buffy couldn't believe what the vampire had just asked her. "I don't have any money, and did you hear what I just said?"

"Lend me just enough for gasoline, so I can drive to Nevada. There's a job there. After I make the money, I'll give you half of what I earn. You'll be well compensated, and all you need to do is give me gas money, and watch William while I'm gone."

"Excuse me, but I have my own sister to take care of. I don't need a delinquent vampire as well."

"After this latest escapade, William should be on his best behavior. He knows he screwed up, and I won't be gone long, a week at the most." Having made his own arrangements with the Doctor, Djoser only needed Buffy to agree.

"What's the job, Djoser?" Buffy gave the vampire a serious look.

"To pay the Doctor for the Suvolte eggs we destroyed, I need to go and bring back a couple of demons for him. He'll then cancel out the debt we owe him, plus pay me some extra cash. Normally in a situation like this, the one hiring will pay some upfront expense money, but the Doctor considers the exterminated demon eggs enough of an outlay. He won't give me anything more."

"I just received my first paycheck from the Double Meat Palace. You can have that." Buffy began to make her way up the stairs to her bedroom. "But after you've made your money, I think it would be best if you and Spike left Sunnydale."

****

Continue to Parts 10 to 12

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