Long Way From Home - Chapter 7

Leaning over the open wooden case of artefacts Spike listened to the sound of footsteps echoing up the stairwell, closing his eyes he breathed in deeply as the person approached.

"Just don't touch anything kitten." He smiled as the person came to a halt next to him.

"How'd you know it was me? And I'll have you know I wasn't going to." Buffy pouted at him and then giggled as she watched him adjust the glasses on his nose.

"The museum's closed and the girls who work here don't smell like you. What's funny?" Spike looked up at her and sighed. "It's the glasses isn't it? I only need them to read the spider scrawl on these bloody cards." He took a label from the case and held it out to her.

"Just I was talking to Willow last night and we were saying how Clark Kent you were, now here you are wearing glasses."

"Really?" Spike took his glasses off and arched a brow at her. "Talking about me with your girly friend?"

Buffy was thankful it was dark in the museum so he couldn't see her blush under his gaze.

"Here's a thought." He placed his glasses on his notepad. "How did you get in?"

"My mom always told me I had a personality that would open doors…" Buffy caved as he arched a brow at her in a look of disbelief. "Okay - I asked this nice lady and she let me in."

"Vera let you in? Without asking what you wanted?" Spike rolled his eyes and sighed.

"No. I said I was looking for William." Buffy grinned mischievously as Spikes face fell.

"Oz." He gritted his teeth and shook his head as he picked up his stuff and walked towards the cases that lined the walls.

"Why's it so dark?" Buffy followed him as he walked.

"Because it's closed. You want light? Stay put and don't touch anything." Spike sauntered towards the stair well and up to the next level.

"Wasn't going to." Buffy whispered and when she could no longer hear him she started feeling a little creeped out in the half-light of the museum.

"Let there be light!" Spike bellowed from up above and flicked the switches.

Buffys eyes widened as section by section of the museum lit up in front of her. Looking about her she saw row upon row of cases full of artefacts from all over the world. She walked towards the intricate black iron railings that formed a balcony overlooking the ground floor.

Below and above her she saw more wooden cases full of a variety of different objects. At eye level there was a boat hanging from the ceiling and she stared past it to the opposite side of the building.

"Thought I told you not to move?" Spike leant on the railings next to her and watched her profile intently, happy that she looked pretty fascinated.

"That's the biggest I've ever seen." Her eyes were transfixed.

"The totem pole?" He raised his eyebrows at her and watched her nodding. "Biggest in Europe."

Spike smiled at the sight of her, she was wearing a zip up black jumper and dark red trousers, her hair was wrapped up tightly and pinned to the back of her head. Much as he wished he could stay there observing her he pushed himself off the railing and walked around the edge of the balcony to the cases that lined the walls.

Buffy watched as he unlocked a case and started scribbling notes into his book. He looked totally different to how he usually dressed; in place of his usual choice of a black top was a deep red shirt, slightly opened so it exposed his collarbones. He still wore black trousers but his feet lacked his trademark boots, instead he was wearing black shoes.

Buffy appeared at his side and peered into the case at the mass of swords.

"What is all this?" She reached her hand out and Spike slapped it.

"Weaponry. About a third of what we have in storage." He continued to make notes.

"Figures." Buffy rubbed her hand and smiled at him.

"What?" He couldn't help but look at her.

"That weapons would be your thing."

"Then you would be wrong." He grinned at her as she pouted her red shiny lips out at him.

"Not your thing?"

"I don't have a thing against weapons, but Mike's off sick. This is his department." Straightening up Spike stepped up to her, close enough that he had to look down at her when she spoke.

"What is your department? Not that I really want to know." She averted her eyes from his and then found the courage to look up at him.

"Ancient artefacts." His voice was a purr that made Buffy wonder how he managed to make everything sound so dirty. "Rituals and magic."

"Rituals and magic?" She swallowed hard and ignored how his dulcet tones made her feel. "What like?"

"Come on." Putting his pad down he was suddenly like an excited kid.

Spike grabbed her hand in his and she didn't protest, leading her down to the ground floor he weaved their way through the cases and came to kneel in front of one. He pulled Buffy down beside him.

"Rituals." Spike caught Buffys eye and pointed to something in the case.

"That's gross." Buffy recoiled slightly as she realised she was kneeling in front of a row of shrunken human heads.

"Really?" Spike pulled a face at her and tried to hide how affronted he was.

"Are they real?" As she peered into the case her tones turned to fascination and a smile spread across Spikes face as he watched her.

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