Memories Maketh the Man, Chapter 4

[maryperk73703]

 Spike talks to Angel.  Hmm, who is Ford really?  Buffy meets Brenna Hassib.

Chapter 4

"Angelus, just the vampire I wanted to see," Spike growled. "Stay away from the Slayer. She doesn't belong to you."

"You think she belongs to you, boy?" Angel scoffed.

"It doesn't matter what I think," Spike smirked. "It's what I know.

"You know nothing." Did Spike actually believe what he was telling himself. Angel knew Buffy the best. There was no way the Slayer would accept a soulless vampire as anything except stake practice.

"Wimpy little William beat up a git who was attemptin' to rape Lizzie." Spike gave Angel a contemptuous look. "Carl Pendergrass was the first one I used the spike on.  <I>His</I> torture may not have lasted very long but it was the most satisfying of all my old <I>friends</I>, Angelus."

Angel grimaced. Drusilla had crowed about her dark prince's torture methods for a decade. He had always wondered what lay behind Spike's selection to kill certain members of his social set. "Buffy is not your Lizzie," Angel growled.

"No, she's not." Spike agreed. "But that doesn't negate the fact that she's under my protection from now on, and I always protect what is mine."

"Oh, like you protected Drusilla?" Angel sneered.

"Dru's not mine, now is she?" Spike tilted his head. "She belongs to her Daddy." His eyes flashed yellow. "Stay away from the Slayer, or you'll learn how much I've changed since you left the family." Spike turned to leave before he got any madder and ended up doing something that might brass off the Slayer. Although from Buffy's reaction earlier she might not be too upset.

"She has no idea what you really are," Angel called out. "Once I tell her of all the evil things you've done, she'll turn on you."

Spike gave Angel a two-fingered salute over his shoulder. He wasn't worried because he knew Buffy would avoid the broody vampire at all costs, and her friends would help. Spike wondered if he was making a mistake by not staking Angel while he had the chance.

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Billy 'Ford' Fordham sank down into his bed, and he pulled the covers up over his head. The day had been harrowing on the young man between his headaches from the tumors and the weird feelings that had come over him the night before. Ford wearily closed his eyes as he slipped into sleep.

THE PENDERGRASS MANSION, MARCH 12, 1879

Calvin Pendergrass' eyes followed the young woman across the dance floor of his family home. The spoiled heir of the Pendergrass family line was used to getting exactly who and what he wanted. A "man" of twenty-two, he thought the world was at his feet and should bow to his desires. At that moment his desires traveled down a dangerous path. Despite the fact that he could have any woman in attendance at his beckon call, the blossoming form of the petite Elizabeth Addams was the young woman he'd set his sights on for the night. He didn't care that she was only just thirteen years of age.

Lizzie fanned her blushing face to calm herself down. She wasn't used to attending such functions, but her parent's connections with the Pendergrass family made it imperative for her to be there. After stumbling upon a rather lewd couple fornicating in one of the upper rooms while she searched for the privy, she'd rushed back into the main area to calm herself. Her eyes searched for her friend William. She hoped he made it tonight. She needed the company of a friend right now.

"May I have this dance?" A voice startled the young girl.

Lizzie turned to find a handsome young man a few years younger than William standing next to her. She studied his face for a few moments before she decided that it was probably fine for him to dance with her. Lizzie was sure he was just being polite as she now recognized him as the young Pendergrass heir. She nodded, and she held her hand out for the young man to take.

"My name is Carl," the dark-haired man said softly as he took the girl's trembling body into his arms. <I>This is going to be so easy,</I> he thought to himself. He swept her onto the dance floor where he smirked at his buddies. He knew that they knew what he had planned.

"My name is Lizzie... I mean, Elizabeth," Lizzie said, wanting to sound more grown up. She glanced around for William again. She thought Carl was handsome, but he just didn't make her tingle the way William did. Lizzie wasn't sure what the tingles meant, but they did feel quite nice.

"Would you care for some punch, my sweet?" Carl asked ever so softly. He knew he had to be gentle to get this one alone.

"That would be lovely," Lizzie murmured shyly. She let Carl lead her over to the refreshment table.

"Some of my 'special' punch for the young lady," Carl told the servant behind the table.

"Of course, sir." Travis looked at the young girl standing next to the Pendergrass heir, and he inwardly shuddered. There stood another youngling to be destroyed by the over indulged boy. However, he knew there was nothing he could do. It would be his word against the Pendergrass', and he was only a servant. As he turned away from the couple, he heard the girl speak.

"I hope William gets here soon. We are going to take a tour of the gardens together." Lizzie smiled while she thought of the shy man attempting to court her stepsister.

"Forget about Jamison," Carl said. "I'll take you on that tour."

Travis knew exactly who William Jamison was, and he thanked the Lord for finding him a way to deliver the young woman from Carl Pendergrass. He poured some of Carl's special brew into a small cup. Travis turned back to hand the cup to Carl, who then handed it to Lizzie. He watched with worry in his heart as the couple strolled away towards the terrace.

Travis kept a close eye out for William Jamison. He knew the young man was very shy, but he also had great confidence that he would protect those he felt loyal to. Travis had heard from the other servants that William considered Lizzie a good friend despite the age difference between them. It was just a few minutes later that Jamison appeared in the door way, his glasses askew and his hair wind-blown. Travis waved one of the servants carrying a tray of glasses over, and the two traded places. He wove his way through the throng to Jamison's side.

"Sir, a drink to take off the chill," Travis said. He waited as Jamison took a drink, and then in a low voice, he continued, "Carl Pendergrass took the young Miss Addams into the gardens. I fear that he has nefarious plans for her."

Jamison's eyebrow raised, and a cool look settled over his face. "Thank you, Travis. I will see to it right away." The curly-haired man strode across the room in search of his friend.

William searched through the garden as quickly as he could. Soon, he could hear Lizzie's sweet young voice coming from one of the gazebos. She was telling Carl to leave her alone. William literally growled when he heard Pendergrass laugh and tell her to shut up. Carl said that she was asking for it.

William stormed up the steps that led to the gazebo, and he burst into the small outbuilding. He saw red when he realized that Pendergrass was laying on top of the young girl with one hand grasping at her breast and the other pushing up her dress. "Unhand her, Pendergrass!" William snarled.

"Mind your own business, Jamison," Carl replied. He tweaked Lizzie's nipple while he slid his hand even higher.

"Help me, Will," Lizzie cried. The tears ran down her face. "Make him get off me!" She struggled in earnest now.

"Do as the lady says," William growled. He grabbed Pendergrass by the shoulder. Later, William had no idea where the strength came from, but he was able to throw the taller, heavier man across the gazebo.

"You'll pay for this, Jamison." Carl rose to his feet. He advanced on William, but before he could do anything, William threw a punch that caught him right in the nose. Carl's eyes watered, and while he was trying to assess the damage to his nose, he felt William's fist connect with his cheekbone. Blackness overwhelmed him. That was the last thing Pendergrass knew until morning when he woke up in his bed.

After that, Pendergrass took every opportunity to put Jamison down. It was he who came up with the nickname, William the Bloody Awful poet.

Ford awoke with a gasp. He wondered what the hell the dream meant while he rose to get himself a drink of water. The girl did look a lot like his old friend Buffy Summers. So, he decided that was what the dream was all about. After all, he was going to Sunnydale where she lived, and he knew she was the Slayer. Some vampire was sure to turn him in exchange for her blood.

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Buffy sat in Brenna Hassib's waiting room. She was quite nervous about seeing the therapist. The last couple of days had been tense as Buffy had avoided Angel at all costs. Just the mention of his name brought back the memories of Lizzie's brutal death while thinking of Spike filled the Slayer with warmth.

"Miss Summers, Dr. Hassib will see you now," the receptionist announced.

Buffy gave the woman a nervous smile before she went through the door to the inner office.

Brenna Hassib rose from her chair with her hand forward in greeting. "I'm so pleased to meet you, Miss Summers. You don't know how grateful we are that the Slayer now lives in Sunnydale."

Buffy stared at the tall dark-haired woman for a moment. She was unsure what to say exactly as she shook Dr. Hassib's hand.

"I can't even begin to imagine how stressful your life must be," Brenna continued. She shook Buffy's hand for a moment before she gestured to a chair across the desk from her own. "Please have a seat."

Buffy sank into the chair. "So, Giles told you what was going on?"

"Not really. He just mentioned that recent events had hit you hard." Brenna smiled encouragingly.

"Yeah, you could say that," Buffy said in a soft voice. "I don't even know where to begin."

"Why not start at the very beginning," Brenna suggested. "Who was Buffy the little girl?"

Buffy nodded before she opened her mouth to speak. She told Brenna about her childhood and the fights her parents had. She talked about how she'd felt when she became the Slayer, and her parents divorce that had caused her and her mother to move to Sunnydale. Buffy mentioned Angel and his undead status. Lastly, she spoke of her death at the hands of the Master.

"All that's nothing compared to what happened on Halloween," Buffy muttered.

"I did notice something odd going on that night," Brenna replied.

"Yeah, that was Giles' friend Ethan Rayne." Buffy sighed. "Anyone who bought a costume from him turned into whatever the costume was."

"You purchased your costume from his shop?"

"Oh yeah," Buffy nodded. "I was all helpless girl. Then, I ran into Spike."

"Spike?" Brenna asked. She wondered why this person hadn't been mentioned before. "Who is this Spike?"

"He's a vampire. He came here to kill me, but things have changed." Buffy looked down at her hands. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"My species does not," Brenna said slowly. "But we live on the Hellmouth. Stranger things have happened." The therapist unknowingly echoed Willow's words from Halloween night.

"While I was under the influence of the spell, I recognized Spike." Buffy scrunched up her brow. "Well, I knew I was a girl named Lizzie who recognized the person he was before he was turned."

"Does this bother you?"

"Surprisingly, no." Buffy shook her head. "But I relived her death at the hands of Angel."

"The vampire that you've felt romantically attached to prior to Ethan's spell?" Brenna watched the Slayer carefully.

"Yes." Buffy nodded. "Now though, I can't stand to even think about him without major freakage."

"I can well imagine."

"I mean, I know he's all sorry and broody about all the people he killed back in the day, but I feel like it's me, Buffy, that her hurt. Not just Lizzie." Buffy nibbled her lip. "I'm really freaked by the whole thing, yet Spike's a vamp and I'm not freaked by him."

Brenna glanced at the clock, and she realized that Buffy's time was almost up. "We had a great start, Buffy."

"I do feel a little better having told someone," Buffy said. "I just wish I could talk to my mom about some of this stuff. She thinks I'm a delinquent."

"If that's one of your goals, we can certainly work on it," Brenna replied.

"Okay." Buffy rose to her feet. "I guess I'll see you next week."

"Of course." Brenna also rose to her feet. "It was good meeting you, Buffy."

Buffy gave a smile. "Thanks." She left the office, and she was pleasantly surprised to find Willow waiting for her in the outer office.

Comments

Memories Maketh the Man, Chapter 4

[cordykitten]

Mmmm I hope not that he is right. Spike wondered if he was making a mistake by not staking Angel while he had the chance. Because then he would regret his decision very much.
Oh my, seems Billy 'Ford' Fordham is connected too; he was Calvin Pendergrass once. Not sure if he'll do something though but Buffy has to be careful.

Good to see Buffy feels better now after talking to her doctor.

Re: Memories Maketh the Man, Chapter 4

[maryperk73703.livejournal.com]

Yes, Ford being someone from their remembered past was something I had planned even before I started the story. Buffy will be careful, because Lizzie will recognize Pendergrass. LOL

[basilio-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Great chapter!

[maryperk73703.livejournal.com]

Thanks.