Somehow, facing a room of hostile watchers was easier than it'd been to face Buffy that morning. At least here he knew where he stood.

For the first time in over a century, Spike found himself reeling off his academic accomplishments and the strangeness of that was more than offset by watching the expressions on the wankers' faces as they realized his education was just as good as theirs and possibly better. Spike wasn't at all certain a First from Oxford awarded in the late twentieth century held a candle to a First from Cambridge awarded in 1875.

Then he listed the demon languages he knew, with Giles verifying through personal experience that Spike was indeed fluent in Fyarl. He jumped through the hoops and went through the paces, keeping his mind focused on the task at hand and not on the way he and Buffy had parted that morning. He wasn't about to go into melodramatics that they were over or finished because of one little argument, but they were injured and he wasn't certain how they were going to heal.

He could easily tell which ones were hostile and which merely curious. The hostile ones would never accept him or stop giving Giles grief over this move, though Spike didn't think there were enough hostiles to actually stop it as long as the curious could be won over. For once, Spike was going to do his best to smile and get along.

It was towards the end that one of the men (Spike had noticed immediately there were no women in the group) asked what was probably the most pertinent question: "Why do you want to do this? You're a vampire, something the Council has dedicated itself to eradicating. Why would you possibly want to work along side us, especially given your history?"

The question wasn't asked in a hostile tone, though it easily could have been. Spike took a moment before answering, fighting down the urge to say, "None of your bloody business." If he and Buffy were going to make this work, he was going to have to deal with these people because they were part of what she did and who she was; no need to make enemies without cause. "Simply, because of Buffy. She needs the help and I want to give it to her. Whether you agree or not, I'm still going to be there, still going to fighting along side her."

The man smiled. "I thought we were hiring you as a researcher."

Spike shrugged. "I'm good with the books, but I don't see any reason I shouldn't help elsewhere. I've watched this slayer die once and I know how short a slayer's life can be, what type of nasties are waiting for her out there in the dark. I want to help keep them at bay."

That seemed to satisfy the questioner, but then Havers, whose name Spike was not going to easily forget, leaned forward. "But what if your relationship doesn't work out? What if she comes to her senses and breaks it off. What will you do then?"

And this man thought he could be Buffy's watcher, make her toe the line? "You want me to say that I'd turn evil, go running after innocent victims because it'd give you an excuse to stake me, right? Sorry to disappoint, but I've chosen what side I'm on and it's not with the uglies; made that choice even before I came to Rome."

There was more that he could have said, but he didn't care to share intimate details with this lot or even consider the idea he might feel the need to leave Rome. Angel would take likely take him back, but Spike would spend the next century living it down...and that was a worst-case disaster scenario anyway.

At last, the inquisition came to an end and Giles asked Spike to wait in his office while the watchers had a bit of discussion. Relieved to be free of them, Spike went gladly, only to realize that left him with nothing to do but sit and think until Giles came to fetch him. He paced for a few minutes, and then flopped full out on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Not surprisingly, last night's argument kept playing on a loop in his mind.

He'd been bloody stupid to mention the Immortal; rule number one with Buffy was no trashing the ex-boyfriends. Since he and Angel had actually reached a point where they were able to work together without constantly trying to kill each other, he'd been able keep his mouth shut and Riley Finn never came up. The Immortal, though...

No, it hadn't been trashing the ex-boyfriend (and like it or not, the Immortal Git now fell into that category); it'd been the fact that he'd been in Rome, been that close and hadn't told her about it. He'd been keeping his own secrets, so he shouldn't be surprised when she was angry when the word slipped out.

Darla had always claimed he was his own worst enemy; as much as Spike hated the thought of ever admitting the bitch queen might be right about anything, it might be time to admit there was some merit in the statement.

He could learn; it only took him a century or so. Problem was, it wasn't as simple as keeping his mouth shut.

"Comfortable?" Giles asked as he came in.

Spike sat up with a shrug. "Better than pacing. Have you managed to beat them into submission?"

"Without too much difficulty. They're impressed by your knowledge and even Havers had to admit you're qualified to handle the day-to-day research, however reluctantly."

"He still doesn't trust me."

"And probably never will. I doubt that causes you much grief. What settled the matter, however, was not your skills, but the news I was able to impart regarding the status of Wolfram & Hart. I wonder if you and Angel understand how much of a blow you dealt them."

Spike couldn't help tensing. "We hurt them. That much I know. Cost the lives of some of my friends."

Giles' face grew serious. "I know. Roger Wyndham-Pryce is an ass. He never shared the news of Wesley's death with anyone because he was too embarrassed to admit his son died fighting side by side with a vampire. Got very touchy when I called him last night after dinner."

"Wesley wasn't the only who we lost."

Giles nodded and Spike thought he might truly understand. But then, Giles had lost friends of his own in this fight. "You didn't just hurt the Los Angeles office -- the whole company has apparently been scrambling, as if some kind of link between this dimension and the forces behind Wolfram & Hart were severed -- and they've been doing their best to keep it hidden from us. Personnel have been reshuffled not just to Los Angeles, but throughout the world. Buffy was dating someone shortly before it all happened, a creature called..."

"The Immortal. Angel and I have had run-ins with him before. I'd rather not discuss that."

Giles looked as if he'd just been provided with another piece of a puzzle...and something else as well. "He left Rome very suddenly, with no explanation and hasn't been in touch with Buffy since. At the time, she thought it was simply the end of their affair. However, he's apparently now in the New York office."

Information Spike would have to pass along to Angel. Why was he not surprised the Immortal was in bed with the evil lawyers? It made sense in so many ways. "Probably with a different bird on each arm every evening."

"I, ah, did not try to ascertain that particular piece of information. Suffice to say that the news you were not only no longer allied with an ancient enemy of the Council but had managed to hurt them stood you in good stead with my colleagues. Most are willing to admit you might be of use."

"Which translates into how much interference can Buffy and I expect?"

"Relatively little, I expect." Giles tossed his papers onto his desk. "We're still stretched very thin and most everyone realizes we need all the help we can get, even if it's a souled vampire. That's why I asked you to do this; I hoped that once they realized Buffy would have competent help, the others would reject the idea of Havers going to Rome, which they have."

Giles hesitated for just a moment. "Is everything alright between you and Buffy? She looked a bit distracted this morning."

Deliberately, Spike kept his voice casual. "We both said a few things we probably shouldn't have. We'll work it out. Funny thing is that if Buffy had asked me about it, I likely wouldn't have objected to Red coming to stay."

"Buffy does stand by her friends."

"Well, I wish she'd stand by her family for once. It's not easy always playing second fiddle."

He snapped the words out without intending to, receiving a raised eyebrow from Giles. With a sigh, he slumped back against the couch cushions. "Yes, there's trouble. No, I'm not taking off anywhere. You don't get rid of me that easily."

"I didn't think so. You are nothing if not persistent and you've proved that time and time again. And no, I'm not happy to hear there's trouble; I've got enough on my hands with Willow's dramatics."

Spike couldn't help snorting a little. "At least you've got that one solved."

"Until the next crisis. Come along; there's paperwork you're going to have to fill out and we might as well get both you and Narissa through it at the same time. Besides, Willow and Xander took Buffy to lunch, so you won't be able to see her until they get back. You can give her the good news then."

Spike levered himself off the couch. It was good news, especially the bit about Havers. That should make Buffy smile at least. She'd smile and they could talk. Talk would be good.

Listening to teach other would be even better.

On to Part Ten

Back to Part Eight