Fix You by Enigmaticblue

Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures where the First is involved. In order to prevent the end of the world, Buffy asks Willow to do a spell that's supposed to fix everything, and Spike goes along for the ride.

Chapter 9: Picking Up the Pieces

Giles rubbed his eyes, and then looked at his watch. "Only a few more minutes."

"Good." Buffy sighed. "I wonder how Spike is doing."

"I'm sure he's fine, Buffy." Giles waved at their surroundings. "Spike has some protection."

Buffy held up the tranq gun. "So do we."

The crypt they had found to chain Veruca up in wasn't terribly secure, if only because there were no barriers; if the werewolf broke the chains, they would just have to hope they got off a quick shot.

Of course, Buffy had brought extra darts with her, and she had every intention of shooting Veruca again at the first sign of movement. There was no point taking unnecessary risks.

She still had no idea how to make sure that Veruca left town. The first time around, the girl had been prepared to murder Willow in order to get Oz.

As the first rays of the sun lit the crypt, the werewolf's form shifted, and Veruca lay naked on the cold, stone floor. Giles turned away at once, like the gentleman he was. Buffy tossed a blanket over her, brought for that purpose.

Veruca began to stir slowly, the chains clanking. "What—"

"We take werewolves at large very seriously in this town," Buffy said. "The way I see it, you have two choices. You either get your own cage, or you leave."

Veruca's eyes burned. "You can't make me."

"You wanna bet?" Buffy asked. "I'm the Slayer, which makes this my responsibility. The fact that you were after my best friend's boyfriend makes it even more of my problem."

Veruca stood, letting the blanket drop, unashamed of her nudity. "Well, if your friend can't satisfy him—"

Buffy had no hesitation. She slammed Veruca back against the wall, tightening her grip around the other woman's throat just enough to demonstrate her power, but not enough to cut off her air supply. "Let me put it this way. I don't like you, and I happen to know that you'd kill Willow if given half a chance. That's why you're staying here until the full moon passes, and then you're going to leave town."

"And if I don't?" Veruca asked with a sneer.

Buffy smiled grimly. "I would have absolutely no problem driving you to the middle of the desert and leaving you there."

The idea of essentially forcing Veruca out of town wasn't a pleasant one, but Buffy knew that it might be necessary. She'd learned quite a bit about expediency in the last few years.

Besides, Buffy knew that if Veruca continued to pursue her present path, she would eventually kill someone. That wasn't going to happen in Buffy's town.

Her threat seemed to get Veruca's attention. The Slayer suspected that the woman was interested in self-preservation first and foremost. "Well?"

"I want you to leave town and not return. If I see you here again, you won't get a warning. You'll just get your ass kicked." Buffy shoved her against the stone wall again for emphasis, causing the chains to rattle.

There was a long pause, and then Veruca finally nodded. "Fine."

"Good." Buffy turned to her Watcher. "Let's go, Giles."

"You're just leaving me here?" Veruca demanded, straining against the chains.

Buffy glanced over her shoulder. "Yep. I thought I'd give you time to think, and there's no way I'm letting you wander around tonight."

She walked out, Giles following closely, and Veruca shouting her protests. "You can't leave me here by myself! I've got things to do! I'll get you for this!"

"Do you really think this is wise?" Giles asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

"What else am I going to do?" Buffy asked. "I can't trust her to stay away from Oz and Willow, and I'm certainly not going to hang out with her all day."

"What if she escapes?" Giles raised his eyebrows. "Perhaps someone should be watching her."

Buffy made a face. "Crap. I want to check on Spike, and I've still got classes today."

"I'll stay for a couple of hours, but then I really do need to get some sleep," he insisted. "I'm not as young as I once was."

"Thanks, Giles," Buffy said. "I'll talk to Spike. He might be willing to stay here while I'm in class today, and then I can take his spot."

"And when are you going to sleep?"

Buffy shrugged. "I've gone without sleep for longer."

"Hmm." Giles didn't appear convinced, but he wasn't going to argue. "I'll see you later then?"

"Tomorrow, probably, once I've made sure that Veruca's gone for good." Buffy shook her head. "I just hope that Oz and Willow can work things out."

~~~~~

Spike glanced up as Willow entered the cavern, carrying a thermos and a paper sack. "Is he—"

"He's fine," Spike said quietly. "Not quite awake yet, though."

"What about Veruca?"

"Buffy's taken care of her," Spike said. "She's where she won't do any damage."

"Willow?" Oz called.

"I brought breakfast," she said, looking at Spike.

He took the hint. "I'm goin' to be outside. I've got the car if you two want a ride somewhere." Spike sat down under a nearby tree and leaned up against the trunk wearily. A little over a week, and he was exhausted again, although he didn't hurt like he had. Not even the Gem of Amara could change the fact that he hadn't slept in two days.

"Hey there." Buffy sat down next to him. "How'd it go?"

Spike shrugged. "Fine. You?"

"Veruca made a lot of noise when I left her chained up, but I think she'll leave town. She knows what's going to happen if she doesn't."

"What is going to happen?" he asked, wondering what the Slayer had planned.

Buffy sighed. "Well, I threatened to take her to the middle of the desert and leave her there."

Spike winced. "Remind me not to piss you off."

"What else am I supposed to do with her, Spike? It's not like I can kill her while she's in human form, but I can't really force her to leave Sunnydale, either. If she really believes I'd dump her in the desert, she'll leave town on her own." Buffy leaned her head against his shoulder. "Is Willow here already?"

Spike nodded. "You knew she was goin' to come?"

"She did last time."

There was a long pause as they both considered the ramifications of that statement. It was becoming clear that there were events that couldn't be altered.

"I told Giles that you would take over watching the crypt for him," Buffy finally said. "He was worried about the skank escaping if we left her alone."

"Probably best," Spike agreed. "You gonna get some sleep, then?"

Buffy shook her head. "I've got classes. I'll come by after and relieve you."

Spike set his jaw stubbornly. "You'll get some sleep first, an' then you can come by."

"What about you?" Buffy asked. "You've been awake as long as I have."

"So? Vampire, here. Don't need as much kip. Besides, once you get there, I can sleep a bit, an' we'll find somebody else to watch the boy tonight."

"I'll stick with Oz tonight," Willow announced, as she and Oz exited the cavern. Her eyes were a little red, and Spike could see the anger in her expression, but she was composed. "Thanks for doing this, Buffy. And Spike."

Buffy smiled. "What else are friends for?"

Spike just shrugged. "It wasn't much."

Willow met Oz's eyes. "I think it was a lot."

~~~~~

It hurt. It hurt a lot, actually, even though Willow knew that Oz had only been with Veruca while in wolf form. He hadn't pursued a relationship with the other werewolf, although Willow was aware that there had been occasions recently when he hadn't gone out of his way to avoid her.

Maybe she should have expected this. Willow couldn't believe that she'd actually thought that her attractions would be enough to hold Oz. Time after time, she'd marveled at her good fortune, and now it was turning.

"I'm sorry." They were standing in his room. Buffy had a class, but Willow still had some time. Oz was trying to apologize, but Willow didn't know how "sorry" would ever make this right.

She might not have much hope left for their future, but she still wanted desperately to work it out.

"I know." Willow took a deep breath. "Would you really have locked her in there with you? Even though Buffy warned you about what could happen?"

"I don't know," Oz replied. "I couldn't let her..." He trailed off.

Willow shook her head. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," he repeated. "I love you, but—I've got to get this thing under control, Willow. I—I couldn't help myself with her. There was something that drew me, and I need to know what it was."

Willow could have told him what it was. It was the same thing that seemed to draw every male eye towards her; Willow had noticed Veruca's effect on every man inside the Bronze the last time they'd heard her sing. She had an animal magnetism to her presence that Willow lacked.

"I want to get past this," Willow said.

Oz wouldn't meet her eyes. "I need some time to think."

Willow fought back the tears. "How much time?"

He shook his head. "A day?"

Willow wrapped her arms around herself and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow then." She ran out, blinking rapidly. She hurried back to her room and began to get her books together for class, trying to focus on the reading she'd done.

Trying, and failing.

Willow sank down on her bed and buried her face in her hands, the tears coming hot and heavy. She had no idea how she was supposed to live her life without Oz. What if he left for good?

"Will?" She looked up to see Buffy in the doorway. Her friend rushed to her side, immediately putting an arm around her shoulders. "What happened?"

"Oz said he needed some time." Willow leaned her head against Buffy's shoulder. "He said he needed to control the wolf. I think he's going to leave Sunnydale."

"I know." Buffy rubbed Willow's back soothingly. "It's going to be okay."

"You don't know that," Willow objected.

Buffy sighed. "Yes, actually, I do."

Willow stared at her, realizing that Buffy was right. "What—what happened?"

"Will—"

"I need to know."

Buffy looked torn. "Last time, Oz left, and you ended up falling for someone else. Then Oz came back."

"For me?" Willow asked.

"For you." Buffy smiled sympathetically. "After he learned to control himself."

"Completely?"

"Yeah." Buffy stood and rummaged around in their small fridge. "Well, almost. I think it worked out for the best." She sat back down next to her on the bed. "It's going to work out this time, too."

Willow took the soda she offered, wishing that Buffy's words were more comforting. "Why doesn't it feel that way now?"

"Because it never does," Buffy said, hugging her once again.

~~~~~

Spike watched the crypt through half-closed eyes, trying to stay awake. It wouldn't do to let the girl get away from him. She would start yelling again every so often, but he'd ignored her. There was no point in engaging an angry werewolf, and Buffy would kill him if he looked at her twice.

Not that it was a hardship to be sitting outside on such a beautiful day.

"Hey there," Buffy said, sitting down in front of the neighboring tombstone. "How's our 'ho doing?"

Spike cocked his head. "You really don't like her, do you?"

"In girl terms, Veruca committed the ultimate sin," Buffy pointed out. "She went after my best friend's boyfriend. That would automatically make her public enemy number one, even if she hadn't tried to kill Willow."

Spike had to concede her point; he had experienced Buffy's jealousy first-hand after his dalliance with Anya, even if he still maintained that he was the one in the right. The fact that Anya had been one of her friends, and that she'd had to witness them having sex had probably made matters worse, though.

"How are we playin' this?" Spike asked.

Buffy shrugged. "We make sure she doesn't get loose, and then we make sure that she leaves town tomorrow."

"You think she's gonna leave without a fight?"

"No idea." Buffy smiled at him. "I thought that you might be able scare her off, though. It's one thing to feel powerful when you've got the full moon on your side, but you don't need the full moon."

"Damn straight," Spike agreed.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Buffy suggested. "I'll keep watch."

"An' you?" Spike asked. "I know you haven't gotten a chance to sleep yet."

Buffy shrugged. "I'll wake you up in a couple of hours, and we can switch."

Spike would have preferred to take the first watch, but he could see by the set of Buffy's chin that she wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Yeah, alright," he agreed, slouching down against the headstone. Given Spike's exhaustion, it took only seconds for sleep to claim him.

When Spike awoke, the sun was going down, and Buffy was nowhere to be seen. "Buffy?"

The Slayer came out of the crypt. "We've got a problem," she announced.

Spike frowned, his mind still fuzzy from sleep. He was astounded that Buffy hadn't woken him. "What happened?"

Buffy reached down to haul him to his feet. "I checked on her an hour ago, and she was still chained up. Now, she's gone."

"She's gone?" Spike echoed, hurrying to keep up. "Bloody hell. How'd she manage to escape?"

"Hell if I know," Buffy snapped. "Where would she go?"

Spike's eyes widened. "Where did she go last time?"

Buffy caught on quickly. "Oh, no. Willow."

They both took off running in the direction of campus, where Oz would just be locking himself up for the night. "What are we goin' to do when we find her?" Spike asked.

"That depends on how much damage she's managed to do," Buffy replied grimly.

~~~~~

Willow had made certain to time her appearance so that Oz would already be in the cage. She didn't want him to think that she was stalking him, or trying to force the issue. Willow recalled from high school, after he'd caught her kissing Xander, that he'd needed time to work through things and make a decision.

"I told Buffy that I'd stay with you tonight," Willow reminded him when Oz caught sight of her. She set the tranq gun down on the ground.

Oz nodded. "Thanks."

"No big deal."

Neither of them spoke, and silence between them had never been quite so uncomfortable before.

"I thought I'd find the little woman here." Veruca's voice echoed off the stone walls, her mocking tone setting Willow's teeth on edge.

Willow whirled to face the other woman. "What are you doing here?"

"Getting a little of my own back." Veruca smiled cruelly. "Your friend thinks she owns this town."

"She does," Willow shot back. "She's the Slayer, and when she gets her hands on you—"

"You'll already be dead." Veruca's face began to shift.

Willow heard the squeak of the iron door, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Oz standing there, his fists clenched. "You first," he said, stepping out of the cage, even as the change overtook him.

Willow dove for the tranq gun, scrambling out of the way of the two werewolves. She knew that she couldn't allow them out of the cave, but she didn't want to hit Oz with a dart before Veruca was sedated.

Granted, Oz wouldn't hesitate to kill her while in wolf form, but she'd take her chances with him before Veruca.

Bringing the rifle up to her shoulder, Willow tried to keep her hands steady as she drew a bead on the tangle of fur and limbs. She could hear the yowls and cries as they bit and clawed each other, but she had no idea who was winning.

There was a howl of pain, and then silence, broken only by harsh panting. Willow held her breath, watching as one of the werewolves raised its head from the still form of the other. It only took her a split second to recognize that the surviving werewolf was Oz, then she pulled the trigger.

He went down hard, and Willow rested her head on her knees, beginning to sob from fear and shock.

"Willow?" Buffy came rushing through the door, immediately going to her side. "Are you hurt?"

Willow shook her head. "Oz took care of her."

Spike was kneeling next to the two werewolves. "This one's alive," he said, beginning to haul Oz to the cage.

"That's Oz," Willow said, hiccupping. "The other one's Veruca."

"We'll take care of her body," Buffy said. "You should go back to the dorm and try to sleep."

Willow shook her head. "Someone should stay with Oz."

"You shouldn't be alone," Buffy insisted.

Willow was adamant. "You guys must be exhausted."

"I'm not," Spike said. "Since I had that nice nap."

Willow didn't quite understand the disgruntled look that Spike was giving Buffy, but she shook her head. "I don't—"

"I'll take care of Veruca and call Xander to come stay with you," Buffy said. "How's that?"

Willow nodded, accepting the compromise. It was clear that Buffy wasn't prepared to let her stay by herself.

The Slayer dragged Veruca's body out of the cave. Willow stayed on the floor, a little surprised when Spike sat down next to her. "You okay, pet?" he asked gently.

She began nodding, and then shook her head. "No."

He patted her shoulder tentatively. "Sorry we couldn't fix this for you."

"It's not your fault," Willow insisted tearfully. "You guys tried."

"Still feel like we should have done more," Spike muttered.

Willow shook her head. "You can't fix everything."

She knew that all too well.