Taming the Muse Prompt 27, BoaS Part 12, The importance of planning, BtVS, PG

[thismaz]

Well this story has not followed any of my plans to date, why should this week be different?

Title: The importance of planning
Part 12 of the Blood on a Sundial series. Previous parts, in reverse order, are here or in my memories.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: #27 - Hamartia
At: tamingthemuse
Disclaimer: here.
Rating: Pg
Word Count: 3,665
Note: Hamartia - 'A term coined by Aristotle to describe "some error or frailty" that brings about misfortune for a tragic hero. Hamartia may be interpreted as an internal weakness in a character.' Ref Glossary of Literary Terms and -' In Greek, the word hamartia is rooted in the notion of missing the mark (hamartanein) and covers a broad spectrum that includes accident and mistake.' Ref Wikipedia
Thanks lit_gal




12. The importance of planning

Watching the watcher, Spike decided to be careful. The man obviously suspected there was something dangerous about. He'd never been reckless, but now he was acting more like a timid mouse than a fighter of evil. He only ever left his house in daylight and even then he'd cross the road rather than walk along the shady side of the street, or even through the shadows cast by a tree. Lurking under cover of the alleys, Spike watched him - separated by a mere twenty yards, which might as well be the distance to the moon.

It was beginning to grate on Spike's nerves. It wasn't that he was impatient. That was never his flaw. The problem was, he got so bored by the slow game, quite happy to spend days plotting and planning, once the plan was set, he wanted it done. When he got bored he tended to improvise, which had led to some of his greatest successes, like holding Angelus to ransom, as well as some of his more ignominious disasters, like parent teacher night or holding Angelus to ransom.

Eventually the man would let his guard down. And Spike's burning need to rend and tear was not going away any time soon. He drew back further into the shadows and a smile spread slowly across his face. On the other hand, why wait? Spinning on his heel, he headed back to Willy's and the trapdoor leading to the sewers. There just had to be a way into the school, somewhere.

*****

The library was a place of safety and comfort - a place of certainty, even in the face of the uncertainties they discussed there all the time. But Xander had been avoiding it for the past two days, still uncomfortable with his feelings about that last conversation with Giles. He'd done a lot of thinking, skulking alone around the school, lying on his bed in the evenings, and aloneness had bought honesty in its wake. Eventually he'd faced a truth about himself - he loved that sense of belonging to an inner circle and by staying away, he was hurting no one but himself.

So here he was hesitating at the doors, having followed Willow and Buffy at a distance, as they left their class after last period. The girls had been in the extra literature class. He had been in woodwork, where he'd lost himself for a while in the smooth turning of the lathe and the satisfaction of watching the curls of wood separate from the main block, as he fashioned a fruit bowl which his mother would appreciate for five minutes and would then put aside. As so often happened, his mind had spiralled around the memories of Jesse, like the wood turning in its clamps. Jesse, who was such an integral part of his life, that he never thought about him. Until he was gone. Now it seemed like he thought about him all the time.

Lost in the concentration on craft, his hands doing the thinking as the wood took form beneath the blade, he remembered the night after Ampata died and how he had arrogantly assumed that no one else remembered Jesse. Which led to thoughts of love and loss, which somehow led to thoughts of Angel and Dru and eventually to Spike. The idea that he would ever see the terror of threatened loss in the face of a demon, would have been unthinkable only days ago. The idea that Xander himself would ever actually agree with Angel, about anything, was just as weird. But as he carefully angled the blade to bite a little deeper, he found himself suffering from a sense of sympathy for both Angel and Spike. Yes, Angel was a pain and Spike was evil, and Dru was just scary, but she was their family and in their ways they obviously loved her and mourned her loss.

And by some lights, what Giles had done was right. Surely it had to be right to destroy any vampire? Did it matter that they'd said they wouldn't? Xander reached for a different chisel as he considered that. Except Buffy didn't do it, when she rescued Xander and Angel from Spike's warehouse. And Spike didn't turn Xander, although he could have, when he had him prisoner. But he had turned Ford, as he had promised to do. It was beyond weird that Xander respected the actions of a vampire and felt betrayed by Giles' resort to expedience.

When the bell rang, Xander halted the lathe and removed the half formed bowl, putting it carefully aside. Giles was a watcher. Trained to train the slayer. Trained to fight the vampires. In killing Dru he did his duty. And wasn't Xander's disapproval stupid? Giles couldn't let a powerful vampire like Dru continue to exist. It would be a contradiction of everything he believed in. As Xander quickly swept the wood shavings into an almost tidy pile and headed out in search of forgiveness, another thought crowded in to find its resolution. Going back to the library was a purely selfish act. It might be the right thing to do, but it wasn't noble. He was drawn back by an addiction to being at the hub of something, by a fear that something would rise and he not be there to help prevent it and by the sheer need to regain the normality of his abnormal life. He could call it weak. He could call it stupid. He could admit it was a flaw. But he had to recognise that it was not because of some honourable desire to save the world. What it was, was simply that in the library he felt important. He loved the ego rush of knowing things the rest of the town didn't even begin to comprehend. It wasn't as simple as that, of course, but there was enough of that selfish impulse to make him see that the world was more complex than he'd expected. And maybe that was true of Giles too.

*****

Books had always been a constant in Willow's life - books for study, as a source of knowledge, books for birthday presents every year, which her mother would sometimes actually spend time with her discussing, books with their rich, mouldy smell and their wealth of ideas that captured the stray thoughts and channelled them in new directions. That was why the library was such a welcoming place - it was where the books lived.

Ever since she started school, the library was the place she went to find peace. The fact that it wasn't particularly popular with most of the other kids was a bonus, in the past. But since Buffy came to town and her world turned upside down, the library had a new reason to be a favourite place, a new attraction - Willow had never had a girl friend before. Xander and Jesse had been her companions in loserdom. But Buffy... she was beautiful and glamorous and strong, and she hung out in the library. It was like all Willow's best things come together. And the fact that now Xander also hung out there... Well could it get any better? Just walking in the doors put a bounce in her step. Her place of private retreat had become new and warm and full of companionship. Buffy was the best of best friends. She opened up new worlds of experience. She may not be a big book person herself, but it wasn't like she was stupid. Buffy did other things. And she did them from the library. Willow's solitary refuge was now the nerve centre of a major operation. It was thrilling and Willow felt proud she could share her personal space with Buffy and Giles, and join them in the fight against evil.

As she pushed open the doors, the warm, musty atmosphere washed over her and she revelled in its calming influence. Giles looked up and smiled and Willow basked in the welcome. If she was honest, Giles approval was almost as important to her as Buffy's friendship. Most teachers approved of her, but Giles... he saw her. To him, she mattered as a person. She wasn't just good grades and a dutiful demeanour. She was Willow. Someone real.

The sound of the door opening again made her look around and there was Xander. The familiar rush of affection and physical heat flooded through her at the sight of him. Her Xander. Handsome, strong, a bit of a dork, but hers. He'd always been hers. The problem was, how to make him see that. Buffy understood, she even tried to help, but it wasn't working. Xander, big dork-man that he was, seemed determined to miss the obvious. Maybe he really didn't see? It was so clear to Willow, but Xander remained stubbornly blind. As she turned back to Giles she decided to ask Buffy, again, what she was doing wrong.

*****

Giles looked up when Buffy and Willow entered the library and as he caught Buffy's eyes he felt the strange blaze of pride that always took him by surprise, at the sight of her. He smiled. "Hello, you two. Thank you for coming." And there was Xander, trailing along behind them, as always - hesitating at the doors, before pushing them open. Did he always doubt his welcome, Giles wondered, as he took off his glasses and walked over to the table?

There was something about Xander that irritated - a tentativeness of demeanour, that he covered with ill-conceived jokes which made Giles want to smack him. That was Xander - most of the time, an irritating presence Giles accepted as an extension of Buffy and Willow and which he couldn't avoid. He'd even developed an exasperated fondness for the boy. But just occasionally Xander would come out with some throwaway line that illuminated whatever problem or puzzle they were facing in such a way, and with such startling clarity, that Giles' pride was pricked. At first he'd assumed it was an accident, but after the third or fourth occasion, he began to take note. And as he watched, Giles' irritation grew. How could Xander be capable of such original insights, such lateral intelligence, and yet be so obviously, an academic under-achiever? How could he come out so carelessly with the solution to problems? It was as if he didn't have to think about it, at all. So Giles started to watch the boy. He wasn't a high flyer. Not like Willow. He wasn't a natural leader, like Buffy. He had no air of command, no decisiveness, yet sometimes he found answers that eluded Giles' brain, honed by years of study. It was perplexing. It was annoying.

Giles was honest enough to recognise that it was his own pride that took offence. Academia had always come easily to Giles. By the time he was 16 he could read and write five languages. By the time he graduated from Oxford he could speak, if not read, another four and had a thorough knowledge of the arcane. So how was it that an untutored boy could see solutions where Giles trained mind found only problems?

Giles sighed. Pride. Or more precisely, academic pride. That was his fault, and he knew it. Intellectual arrogance based firmly on a foundation of book learning. Xander didn't have it. So Giles resented Xander's flashes of inspiration. They undermined his comfortable expectations and his values. And that just annoyed him more. He knew he was hard on the boy, but there was something about Xander that got under his skin.

He turned back to the group gathered before him and began to tell them about his fears that Spike was back in town.

*****

Extra English was a drag, although her Mom had been pleased that Buffy had been selected to take the class, so at least it made up for the fact that she was flunking history. Not that her Mom knew that, exactly. Heading for the library, Buffy leant half an ear to Willow's bemoaning the blindness of men, and Xander in particular, but her mind was concentrated on the problem of reconciling Giles and Angel. The scene in the graveyard the other night, and later when she caught up with Angel and he told her he'd taken Spike to L.A., had been difficult. Giles was not feeling very friendly towards Angel at the moment. And she needed them to like each other. It was not that she wasn't sympathetic to Angel's decision, but when it came right down to it, Giles was right. Drusilla was a vampire and Giles had a duty, just as she did, to wipe vampires off the face of the Earth. She smiled at her own extravagance, but that didn't make it any less true. Why couldn't Angel see that?

When she followed him that night, he came as close to snapping at her as he ever had. All he would say was that Drusilla was his child. Buffy was just glad that, for whatever reason - probably the need to cover their escape - she hadn't killed Dru herself, when she had the chance. As they walked past their lockers, outside the craft room, she decided she needed to find out more about what vampire families were. It was stupid being jealous of a woman who was not only dead, but also dust. So another illicit foray into Giles private collection, was definitely in order. She turned to Willow to make the suggestion, but was brought up short by the realisation that Willow was still bemoaning Xander's blindness. Okay, she could hold that thought. She'd suggest it later. For now, they'd best see what Giles had to say about why he'd called a meeting.

*****

Xander braced his shoulders and his courage and pushed open the library doors. The first thing he saw was Willow's smile and he felt his own face relax as he smiled back. "Hey, guys," he said, cheerfully. He nodded to Giles. "So, what's going down? Anything big? Do I need to hide?"

Buffy laughed. "Xander," she teased. "As if I'd let anything hurt you." Her face fell and she turned to her watcher. "There isn't anything, is there Giles? You haven't unearthed an ancient prophesy, or something, have you?"

Giles reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief. He began to polish his glasses, but it was obviously an automatic action, to give him time to gather his thoughts. "No," he said. "No prophecy. Something more mundane and hopefully easier to deal with." He glanced from face to face. "I think I saw Spike this morning."

Xander looked at Buffy and Willow and saw the shock in their eyes. Surely, he thought, they must have expected that? He turned back to Giles. "Was he watching you?" He asked.

Giles shoulders slumped slightly. "Yes. I think he was. I suspect he's looking for revenge." He picked up a small book from the table. "I've been doing some reading. It seems Spike was with Drusilla for over a hundred years. I didn't think such devotion was possible in a vampire, but it appears that as well as being his Sire, he cared for her. I would say, almost like a human would care for their spouse, if such a concept were not virtually impossible to believe."

Xander frowned. "Why would it be impossible to believe?" He asked. "Can't vampires love? I mean, they were human once, weren't they?"

"No, Xander. I've told you before, vampires are not human. They are nothing like human, except in form. The soul leaves and the demon inhabits the empty shell. They may carry the memories of the human they have killed, but that is all." He sounded impatient, so Xander decided to just shut up. He had an apology to deliver, so it was best not to make it more difficult than it already was.

Buffy headed over to the book cage and began hunting through the weapons cabinet. She pulled out a crossbow and turned back to face them. "Where did you see him, Giles?"

"He was in the alley next to the cinema. I was across the street. He couldn't reach me because the sun was out. But I think it's significant that he was out and about, in the daytime."

Buffy nodded. "Okay, I'll start there and work my way around to Willy's. See if he's seen anything. Willow, could you go online? Pull up the map of the tunnels and see if there's an exit in that alley. Xander, uhm..."

Xander smiled. "Don't worry, Buff, you go. I'm sure Giles can find something for me to do." She nodded and headed out. Willow was already at the computer, logging in. Xander turned back to Giles. "Uhm... Giles, could I talk to you, please?" He looked across at Willow, already engrossed. "Er... In private?" he added.

Giles raised his brows and stared at him, as if debating what Xander might have to say that needed privacy, but then he sighed and nodded. "Alright. Shall we...?" He waved one arm vaguely, indicating the door and together they walked out, the way Buffy had just left. Willow didn't look up.

Once safely in the corridor Xander drew a deep breath and turned to face Giles. "Listen, Giles. I know I was a bit harsh the other night." He paused for a moment at Giles expression of surprise, before gathering his courage and continuing, "I just wanted to say, I was sorry. I was wrong. What you did. Well, it shocked me. But I guess, it was the right thing to do."

Giles expression melted into softer lines and his smile was one of real warmth. "Xander," he said. "You constantly surprise me." He shook his head, but it wasn't in disagreement. "Thank you. That can't have been easy to say and I admire you for having the strength of purpose to say it."

Xander grinned in relief. "So there's hope for me yet?" He suggested.

Giles laughed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I think you are growing up, my boy. I think there is every hope for you."

*****

Spike slipped out of the basement access, after watching Buffy pass, and looked around. The library would be down there and it seemed like everyone had left for the day. All the better, because he'd bet the Slayer's gang was still safely ensconced, doing whatever slayer groupies did, while the Slayer was off hunting down innocent demons.

He edged forwards, pausing at the corner to take a quick gander. Better and better, his prey was playing right into his hands. He watched as Xander and the Watcher talked. Was the boy leaving? No, it was like they'd come out here to have some private conversation. They were a mere fifteen feet away. Spike could almost taste the watcher's blood.

Bursting into action, he sped around the corner and crashed into Xander, knocking him across the corridor and into the wall. He was out for the count, so Spike spun around to confront the watcher, whose expression was suddenly hard.

Spike paused to savour the moment. "Not expecting me?" He asked with a sneer. " Or is that where your slayer's gone? To find me? Sending a girl out to deal with a personal problem? Not gonna happen, mate. I've come for you."

He sprang forward, grabbing Giles by the neck and shoving him back against the wall, hands at his neck. Giles was scrabbling at him, pushing at his chest, trying to get free, but Spike's hold was stronger than any human. The watcher seemed to realise that, because he dropped his arms to his sides and Spike took advantage, to get a better grip, lifting the Watcher's feet clear of the floor. "You killed my Dru, you bastard. You don't know, yet, what pain is, but you will."

Giles began to struggle again and Spike pulled back one arm to deliver the knockout blow that would allow him to take the man and leave. His car was just a block away, waiting with his plans for retribution.

He had a moment to register a change in the watcher's eyes, then Giles pulled his hand free of his jacket pocket, flipped open the lid of the bottle he held and splattered the contents all over Spike's wrist.

Spike screamed, more in shock than anything else, as his hand exploded in pain and started to smoke. He pulled back and Giles held up the little bottle, displaying a black cross on the label. "Holy water," he gasped. "And I've got more." Even as he bent slightly, with the effort of drawing breath into his lungs, he was digging another flip topped jar out of his other pocket.

Spike took a step backwards, snarling and Giles lifted his arm, thumb already prising the lid free. "Don't try it, Spike," he threatened between gasps. "Stay back."

Warily Spike took another step backwards and his boot nudged something soft. Something that moaned softly. He kicked back and his heel caught the thing behind him. There was of the sound of a head hitting the wall and the moaning stopped, utterly. The watcher was still trying to catch his breath and Spike held his eyes with his own, forcing him not to look down at the body at Spike's feet. Then Spike turned, grabbed Xander's arm, hoisted him up and over his shoulder and ran.

Behind him he heard a yell of outrage, and the sound of feet starting to follow at a stumbling run. But a middle-aged man was no match for vampire speed and Spike was through the basement door and down the stairs before the Watcher had even reached the turn in the corridor.

He hitched the boy's dead weight into a more comfortable position on his shoulder and quietly let himself out of the school basement, into the tunnels.

Next Part

Comments

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Whooo Hooo, bounces in anticipation of the next part - what do you mean it's a week away!

I love the internal thoughts of each of them. They've got their own perspectives on why they do what they do and each is probably more self aware than the others would give them credit for.

I like Giles knowing damn fine that Spike's out there - he's not a Watcher for nothing. And his musings on Xander's insights was excellent.

Very nice fight scene at the end, but you're right, the middle aged Watcher is going to be no match for the vampire - especially a vampire in full retreat mode. I wonder what will happen when Xander comes round! Just a little thing - bit like me! Small and annoying!!!

This was great love, can't wait to see what happens next. Prays for a semi sensible prompt.

One little typo - when Giles is thinking you've got him thinking that By the time he was 16 he couldn't read and write five languages. I assume you mean he could read and write five languages It's just a little thing - small and annoying - bit like me...

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Heee. Like I said yesterday, I really didn't intend to get this far with the action, this week. The prompt seemed to require that they all have moments of introspection and self-knowledge, and either realise something unpalatable about themselves, or show that to the reader. I also wanted them to be blind to aspects of each other, or themselves, and possibly misinterpret their own feelings. Personally, I think some of the things they thought here are not really true and not necessarily what they really think, but the products of the time and circumstances.

Here's hoping for a good prompt later today. But the really fun thing about this game is the way it drives the story in totally unexpected directions (as you know yourself).

Thanks for the typo catch. Yes, you are right. I have corrected *glares at the dragon* (or maybe I should just learn to speak more clearly. *g*)

I'm glad you are still enjoying it enough to look forward to the next bit.
Thanks, Hon.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Woooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooo

It's started.

I really adore the internal conversations as each of them tries to come to terms with their own personal wants and needs. You have really caught these characters in all their adolescent glory: they love each other, but they're still essentially centered on themselves.

Once again, Spike's plan might have failed, but his ability to improvise is still alive and healthy, and this time maybe he'll have a little more interest in the boy. After all, Spike is alone and hurting now. Yep, I'm fairly well dying for the next part. Would bribes work?

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* Yes, I guess it has.
Thank you, that description of their inner selves is so much more articulate than my ramblings.
Once again Spike has failed, but as he realised himself - When he got bored he tended to improvise, which had led to some of his greatest successes, as well as some of his more ignominious disasters. We'll have to see what this one turned out to be.
Don't suppose you could recruit Willow's help in ensuring a helpful prompt this time? No, I guess not. *sigh* we are helpless victims of chance and your random word generator - but that is what makes this game such fun to play.
Thank you for your comment and I do love your icon.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Well, the prompt is up, and I really do hope it works for you because it's sure not working for me and Magical Cage. And the chocolate is a favorite of mine, and yet I just don't get to use it often enough.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*grin* Yes, I think this prompt may just work for me, thanks again.

[realpestilence.livejournal.com]

I used to get so irritated at the way that Giles and Willow, in particular, dismissed Xander as stupid because he wasn't a natural scholar like them. No one who's as witty, observant, and comes up with so many bright ideas is stupid! Intellectual arrogance is a major failing with both of them. Better to explore the ways that low self-esteem can damage a person, poor grades being one of them.

I'm not familiar with this series, but the prompt caught my eye because I'd seen it used in someone else's fic. I'll have to track down the other chapers now, because I liked it.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. For this comment and your others. I am so glad you enjoyed this chapter enough to re-read the previous ones. That is a real compliment.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Good morning!

which had led to some of his greatest successes, like holding Angelus to ransom, as well as some of his more ignominious disasters, like parent teacher night or holding Angelus to ransom.
Oh, God, I love it!

Yes, Angel was a pain and Spike was evil, and Dru was just scary, but she was their family and in their ways they obviously loved her and mourned her loss.
Again, you've done such a lovely job of showing Xander's struggle as he comes to terms with who has been honorable and who hasn't in this case.

When the bell rang, Xander halted the lathe and removed the half formed bowl, putting it carefully aside.
Was this intentional? The allusion to Xander's half-formed self slowly taking shape in halts and starts?

And truly my favorite line of the week:
It might be the right thing to do, but it wasn't noble.
True of so many things we choose to do... right and proper but ignoble nonetheless.

This is just a beautiful protrait of each player's indiviual weaknesses and flaws. I really enjoyed the early portions as they flowed one after the other. Then, the finale with its plot-propelling encounter between Giles and Spike still managed to move your story along - all with an incredibly difficult prompt. Very nicely done! Give yourself a hearty pat on the back, my girl, because this may have been the toughest week yet.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Was this intentional? The allusion to Xander's half-formed self slowly taking shape in halts and starts?
Actually, no, but can I claim it was *g* Thank you. I love that you saw more than I did.

And thank you for your praise and encouragement. I am glad if the story is still working. At least this week's prompt is a bit easier. *she says hopefully*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sharvie_/]

Just read the whole series and damn! You have such a great handle on the characters. Spike in particular. I love how hurt and damaged he is right now. I can't wait to see what he does with his consolation prize. Because I was reading so fast for a second there I thought Giles let Spike take Xander instead, but then I realized Spike drew his attention away from Xander at his feet.

Just absolutely loving this series! Really digs into the story and each character. Great stuff.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Wow Sharvie, thank you. *smiling like crazy here* That is a lovely compliment... compliments. I am chuffed to bits you enjoyed it enough to read the whole thing.

[qamratala.livejournal.com]

I liked how you showed each character's flaw almost introspectively.

Now that Spike has Xander, things will really get tense. I wonder what you've got up your sleeve.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm so glad you liked.
*peers up sleeve* Errr... I'm afraid it's just my arm. *grin*
As for what happens next, hmmm, I'm wondering about that too.
I hope Spike lets me know before next Saturday.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Oops! Well, now that changes everything.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I know. Spike keeps doing things I don't expect - or sooner than I expect.
I have a feeling there may be a change of something now, pace, mood, direction, I'm still waiting to find out.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Poor Xander, held hostage yet again. This story has so many twists and turns, it's fascinating. I loved your use of the prompt to delve into each person's foibles and flaws.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* Yes, he does seem to be making a habit of it, doesn't he. Actually, this is only the second time, but I have to keep reminding myself of that - it feels like more.
Thanks, I found this prompt a real challenge, but fun to write, for all that. I'm glad it worked.

[i-luv-trees.livejournal.com]

Liked hearing everyone's thoughts, very interesting to see what each thinks about and considers important. And Spike has kidnapped Xander yet again. Crossing my fingers that he won't hurt him much.

Thanks for the lovely words, C

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Liked hearing everyone's thoughts
Yes, I enjoyed writing this chapter, for the same reason - getting inside their heads was an interesting exercise.
And Spike has kidnapped Xander yet again.
He does seem to be making a habit of it, doesn't he? *g*
Thank you for reading and commenting.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly enjoyed getting into each characters' head in this fascinating chapter. The teenagers are believably self aware, and their need to belong drives their actions. Spike's attack after the seemingly mundane meeting was a violent surprise, and you choreographed it beautifully. I loved the tension in this vivid bit: The watcher was still trying to catch his breath and Spike held his eyes with his own, forcing him not to look down at the body at Spike's feet. Then Spike turned, grabbed Xander's arm, hoisted him up and over his shoulder and ran. Spike's finally got his prize. Now what?

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad the contrast worked. The prompt for this chapter required some introspection. I remember that it was interesting to write. And yes, Spike has his prize, although not the one he intended. *g*