Shades of Gray - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 – A Cooperating Captive’s Suggestion

They walked back to the house in silence, both thinking about the plan, but more accurately, Buffy was trying to figure out how to keep it from going through, and Spike was trying to come up with a way to ensure it would work.

Once they got inside again, Buffy walked ahead of him and into her room, shutting the door behind her. Spike raised an eyebrow as he stopped to stand in front of the door, the key in hand.

‘She could’ve ran when we were outside,’ he thought. ‘Will she go if I don’t lock it?’ He studied the key he was holding and sighed. ‘She said it herself- she doesn’t know where she is, and it’s doubtful she’ll get somewhere on her own safely… If she left and got hurt, I’d feel even more guilty.’ He turned to walk away before shaking his head and going to the door, locking it. ‘But I still don’t trust Angel with her, and I’m sure as hell not going to leave the door open so he can just walk in there and have his way with her.’

He walked downstairs and saw Angel and Gunn sitting at a table, playing a card game.

“So, I see she came back,” Gunn said, looking at Spike. “She didn’t try to run?”

“No,” he answered, sitting at the table. “She seems to be emotionally wearing down, though.” He hesitated. “I think we need to come up with a back-up plan in case Hank isn’t willing to pay us.”

“He’ll pay us,” Angel replied, putting down his hand of cards. “Why wouldn’t he? We’ve got his precious daughter here.”

“Because I’m starting to think that Hank really doesn’t give a damn about Buffy and if she lives or dies,” Spike answered, hoping his friends couldn’t hear the underlying anger in what he was saying.

‘If I had a daughter like her, you can bet I’d be overprotective of her,’ he thought. ‘Even if she was my girlfriend, I’d be protective.’ He paused, making a face. ‘Where did that thought come from?’ Before he could analyze it, Gunn handed him a few cards so he could play poker, too.

“Spike, Hank is going to pay, no matter what Buffy says,” Angel said. “She’s just trying to save her own ass.” He grinned. “A perfectly-rounded ass, might I add.”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” Spike said in a low tone, and Angel raised an eyebrow, amused.

“Why not? Because you want her for yourself?” he asked, and Spike looked at his cards, clenching his jaw. “Thought we weren’t supposed to touch the hostage, Spike? It seems as though you’ve done more than just tying her up.”

“Shut your gob,” Spike said sharply. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Like hell, I don’t!” Angel shot back. “Your feelings for her are beginning to blind you from what we’re trying to do! All you can think about is her and her well-being, not your friends and how careful we have to be so that we’ll succeed. You could be setting us up for a fall, for all we know.” Spike stood up quickly, his chair flying back with the force of how swiftly he moved.

“Don’t you dare make assumptions about what you don’t even know or understand,” he growled. “I’m the one who came up with the plan, remember? So what I say goes.” Angel stood up and moved closer to Spike so that they were toe-to-toe.

“I’m not going back to prison,” he said, looking down at Spike. “If we get caught, I will lie as much as I have to in order to take you down, got me?”

“No one is going back to jail,” Gunn said, standing up and pushing his friends apart. “Can’t we just sit here and have a peaceful card game?” Spike glared at him.

“Get stuffed,” he replied, walking away and going outside.

* * * * *

After smoking a couple of cigarettes, Spike walked back inside and headed upstairs, straight to Buffy’s room. He let himself inside and saw her on the bed, reading a book. He watched her for a moment, noticing how calm she looked.

‘If I were trapped in a house, I’d be doing anything to get out,’ he thought. ‘I’d run away, even if I had no idea where I was. I’d do anything to break out of this room, even if it involved jumping out of a boarded-up window and breaking my legs. Apparently, she’s not as adventurous as I am.’

She felt him watching her and closed her book, looking at him.

“Hi,” she said quietly. “What’s going on?”

“You said I should think of a Plan B,” he replied, and she nodded. “What would you do if you were me?”

“I would never be in your position,” she said, and he shot her a look, tilting his head. “Well, for one, I would let go of the girl you kidnapped.”

“Very funny,” he said, walking over to his usual chair and sitting down. “What else?”

“I guess I’d try to contact Hank somehow,” she said. “Maybe by phone or something, but not a cell phone or one that you could easily trace.”

“Like a payphone?” he asked, and she nodded.

“Or you could send him a letter of some sort,” she suggested, shrugging. “I don’t know- I’m just thinking of what I’ve seen done in the movies.”

“We could put blood or something in the letter, which would make him pay quicker, don’t you think?” he asked, and she raised an eyebrow.

“First, you’re not taking any of my blood,” she said. “Second, it wouldn’t matter to Hank. How many times do I have to tell you- he’ll get more publicity if I’m dead, which is exactly what he wants.”

“What do you want us to do? Kill you?” he asked, becoming irritated as she looked at him.

“Sometimes, I really wish you would,” she answered. “I think it might be better than being stuck here, not allowed to see my friends or live my somewhat normal life.”

“Well, sorry we took you away from everything,” he replied, angry. “But you’re here now, so it’d be great if you could help us, Buffy. The quicker we get paid, the quicker you can be released and get back to your life.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Spike,” she said, looking down. “Maybe you should’ve thought of more than one plan before you made Angel bring me here.” She sighed. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you watch a bunch of cheesy robbery and kidnapping movies to get ideas?”

“You’re a laugh riot, pet,” he said sternly, standing up and going to the door.

“All I know is this- Hank’s not worried about me,” she said, and he stopped walking, turning back to look at her. “What you need to do is find a way to hit him where it hurts.”

“And where is that?” he asked.

She tilted her head and smiled softly. “His business.”