Some Devil 4/11
Title: Some Devil Author: twisted_reach Pairing: Spike/Angel, Will/Liam Rating: T Warnings: Starts with very strong language. Time frame: goes AU post NFA Summary: A take on how Shanshu might work - after the battle Spike wakes up to Will’s life. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
He kept things under control. Went back to the office and worked steadily. Ate properly. Avoided drinking the hard stuff 'cause it only made him depressed. Even took the babysitting gig when Jim took Isa out for their anniversary. Unreal life wasn't so bad.
Was it?
His friends changed their approach to his rehab after his unlikely display of domesticity. They started trying to set him up on dates. At least Jim, Sandra and some willing accomplices did, Isa just rolled her eyes and laughed.
He agreed to meeting in groups but resisted any blind or solo setups. Nina, Helen, Kristan, pretty girls, nice, smart. He did his damnedest to enter the friend zone as quickly as possible. Penelope he took to dinner twice after getting on really well with her at Sandra and Graham's barbeque. Then he realised she reminded him of Dru, what she'd been like in brief moments of lucidity. She seemed disappointed when he let it fizzle out.
He let his bleached hair grow out. The old William looked back from the mirror for the first time in more than a century.
One piece of research turned up a lead.
"Hello. Is that… er… Fairview House?"
"Yes. How can I help?"
"Um…" deep breath, Will, "I found out that an old friend of mine is an in-patient. Would I be allowed to visit her?" he grimaced at the phone.
"That would depend, sir. The family has to agree in some cases, the doctor in others. If you give me the patient's name, I can put you through to someone who can help."
"Buffy Summers."
"Just a moment I'll see if Dr. Rubenstein if free - please hold."
"Dr. Rubenstein speaking."
He let out the breath he'd been holding unconsciously, "Hi, this is William Haddon. I was wondering if I'd be allowed to visit Buffy Summers."
"Are you a family member?"
"No. I knew her when we were kids, she was school-friends with my younger sister."
"Miss Summers can have visitors, but I'd like to meet with you first."
"Do her family have to vet me?"
"No."
"When can I come in?"
"Visiting for non family members is from 4pm weekdays, noon on weekends. Come to see me at… 3:30 on Wednesday?"
"That's fine. Thank you."
Wednesday morning crawled by; Jim asked him if he wanted to play basketball after work, he said he had an appointment. He could tell Jim was suspicious when he didn't elaborate.
Fairview House looked… well, quite nice actually. Well kept grounds, bright modern building. He found Dr Rubenstein's office with the help of a member of the admin staff.
"Mr Haddon, please come in and take a seat." Will sat in the proffered chair, hunched nervously. He looked at the tidy shelves and desk and was suddenly reminded of Angel's office, though this had to be a quarter of the size. He picked up a pencil and started to fiddle with it before catching himself and placing it back carefully.
"I probably should say up front that I phoned Buffy's parents to speak to her. They told me she was ill and that I couldn't see her. I don't want to cause trouble, but I'd just like to find out if she's… I don't suppose okay is the right word." He trailed off and looked at the doctor for… he didn't know what.
"Her condition is serious. There have been brief periods of improvement, sadly always followed by relapse. Her parents are her only visitors usually, so I'd like to see what reaction another familiar voice and face would produce, if any."
"Hank Summers said she was catatonic?"
"Yes. I don't want to raise anyone's hopes, yours or her family's, but anything is worth a try at this stage."
Will nodded.
"If you don't mind I'd like to take some of your details, for security purposes and the like."
"Yeah, sure."
He filled in a form, answered Dr Rubenstein's questions.
"That seems all in order. Would you like to follow me?"
"Now? I mean, I can see her now?"
"Yes." He gestured to the door, "Please, this way."
Half an hour later Will sat in his car with his hands on the wheel and his head on his hands. He hadn't known what he'd expected. That she'd come miraculously to consciousness when he spoke, touched her hand? She'd barely looked like Buffy at all. Her hair uncoloured and unstyled, her clothes plain and shapeless, no make-up, none of the slayer muscle tone.
No spark.
The doctor had described her previous awakenings. The timings fitted, but Will didn't believe this was the heaven she'd described and so missed, though maybe it was where she'd been pulled when the demon venom had poisoned her. His Buffy was not here, and if there was any justice in the universe, she never would be.
He yelled wordlessly at the dashboard. I will not cry. You will not cry, Spike. Oh, who am I kidding. He gunned the car out of the parking lot and drove home too fast.
In his office Dr Rubenstein made his notes on Buffy Summers' file with a sad shake of his head. The poor man had obviously been shocked by seeing her in that state. He'd agreed to keep the experiment from her parents, no need to remove what little hope remained in them. Dr Rubenstein doubted William Haddon would come back. He was right.