History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E14Crush

[[caption-width-right:350:"I knew ... before you did. I knew you loved the Slayer. The pixies in my head whispered it to me."]]

* NeverMyFault: Spike during his rant on bloody women. It's Buffy fault for making him fall in love with her, it's Drusilla's fault for making him come back to Sunnydale because she dumped him, and Harmony's just ganging up on him with the others. None of said women are very impressed by this argument.

* PunchedAcrossTheRoom: Buffy's final rejection of Spike is of him decking him across the face with enough force to send him flying across the room and into his StalkerShrine, smashing it to pieces.

* PunchedAcrossTheRoom and into your StalkerShrine.

* LetMeGetThisStraight: Drusilla [[ContinuityNod fills in Spike]] on events in ''Series/{{Angel}}'', such as [[Recap/AngelS01E22ToShanshuInLA Darla's return from the dead]] and Angel [[Recap/AngelS02E11Redefinition setting them on fire]]. Spike has trouble believing it all.

->'''Spike:''' I love you.
->'''Buffy:''' [[OhCrap Oh God]]...

The Bronze re-opens after its repairs and refurbishment following the damage caused by Olaf the Troll and Buffy watches as her friends dance. Spike shows up and starts discussing the bar menu with Buffy, who is confused at the fact he seems to be attempting to carry on a regular conversation with her. Willow reveals that she is suffering from headaches and nosebleeds as a result of her teleportation spell. Buffy spots Ben and offers her thanks to him for looking after Dawn. A train pulls into Sunnydale Station but when no one gets off the porter boards the train and finds all the passengers dead before he too is attacked.

Buffy and Xander investigate the train and Buffy confesses the possibility of Spike loving her, though Xander finds it very funny and is more concerned with Dawn's crush no longer being on him. Buffy finds her mother and sister talking in the kitchen with Spike; Joyce subsequently explains that Spike arrived to apologize for the situation with Dawn. Spike tells Buffy that he believes that the vamps from the train are.

On a stakeout in Spike's car, Buffy is unnerved by some of Spike's behavior, such as offering her bourbon, asking her what kind of music she likes, and the fact that he is doing this for free. Buffy and Spike enter the vampires' lair, but the vampires immediately run off at the sight of the Slayer. Buffy realizes that the warehouse is a vampire nest, and thus they couldn't have been involved in the train massacre. When Spike goes so far as to unwittingly hold the door open for her, Buffy finally demands to know why he is acting like this and if everything that just happened was Spike's version of a date. At first, Spike loudly denies it, but then asks, in a hopeful manner, "Do you want it to be?" Buffy is immediately disgusted. Despite Spike's pleas and confessions, Buffy refuses to listen to him and denies that there is something between them, insisting that Spike is still a dangerous villain and, being soulless, is incapable of such emotion. Having completely and brutally rejected Spike, Buffy departs the warehouse in horror and disgust. Despondently returning to his crypt, Spike is greeted by his sire and longtime love, Drusilla.

Drusilla tells him of the events in Los Angeles and tries to convince him to return with her. She's already aware of the chip in his head and tries to convince him he can be evil, even with the chip. Harmony arrives and yells at Drusilla for hurting Spike, however Spike quickly kicks Harmony to the kerb, announcing that not only is Drusilla back - he's back. Joyce and Willow talk to Buffy about the problem with Spike and tell her she has to make it clear to Spike that there is nothing between them. Buffy agrees, but tells Willow to do "something" for her while she is out...

Spike and Drusilla dance at The Bronze before Dru spots a couple on the catwalk for them to feed on. She snaps the neck of the girl, offering her to Spike before taking the guy for herself.

Spike hesitates initially but soon vamps and bites. Buffy discovers the extension of Spike's lair underground and a shrine dedicated to herself. As she returns to the surface, Buffy finds Spike and Drusilla waiting for her. Spike watches Drusilla shock Buffy with a cattle prod. After the Slayer collapses, Drusilla turns to Spike, only to be shocked herself as he seizes the cattle prod and uses it on her.

Buffy awakens to find herself chained up in the underground space below Spike's crypt, Drusilla tied to a pole across from her. Spike professes his love and offers to kill Drusilla to convince Buffy of his love. He threatens that if Buffy does not return his love, he'll untie Drusilla and let her kill Buffy. Spike asks for only a small sign that Buffy could love him. Buffy rejects Spike again and he goes into a rage about women being so difficult. Harmony arrives and shoots Spike with a crossbow bolt. While Harmony and Spike fight, Drusilla breaks free and goes after Buffy while the Slayer is still chained up. Spike saves Buffy. Realizing that the Spike she once loved is gone forever, Drusilla leaves Sunnydale heartbroken. Harmony leaves Spike, telling him it's completely over between the two of them. The minute she leaves, Buffy physically attacks Spike and storms off.

!Tropes:

-->'''Harmony:''' What about me, Spike? You forget about me again? The actual girlfriend? I gave you the best ... bunch of months of my life! I thought I could change you, Spike. I thought maybe if I gave and I gave and gave, maybe you'd come around. Maybe be a little nicer. Stop treating me like your dog. But now I see it's you. You're the dog. Who needs to be put down.

* BuffySpeak: Xander is Pay Day Man!
* ButtMonkey: Spike ruins any chance he has of getting back together with Drusilla because of his love for Buffy, and then Buffy rejects him. In the end, he's left three times woman scorned.

** [[{{Seer}} Drusilla]] knew Spike was in love with Buffy even before he did. This was shown in "Fool For Love".
* CaptiveDate

* ClothingReflectsPersonality

-->'''Buffy:''' You don't know what feelings are!
-->'''Spike:''' I damn well do! I lie awake every night--
-->'''Buffy:''' You sleep during the day!
-->'''Spike:''' Yeah, but-- (through his teeth) You are missing the point.

* ContinuityNod
** Reference is made to the Bronze being repaired after Olaf's rampage in "Triangle".
** LetMeGetThisStraight: Drusilla fills in Spike on events in ''Series/{{Angel}}'', such as [[Recap/AngelS01E22ToShanshuInLA Darla's return from the dead]] and Angel [[Recap/AngelS02E11Redefinition setting them on fire]].

* DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu

'''Xander:''' And you should never hurt the feelings of a brutal killer. (ponders) [[OnSecondThought You know, that's, uh, that's actually some pretty good advice.]]

* FireForgedFriends: Averted; Spike tries to play on the help he gave to Buffy in "Blood Ties". Buffy is not impressed.

-->'''Spike:''' You can't deny it. There's something between us.
-->'''Buffy:''' Loathing! Disgust!
-->'''Spike:''' [[VampiresAreSexGods Heat. Desire.]]

** Buffy sitting watching her friends dance, in contrast to her eagerness for such fun in previous years -- this happens more often as Buffy becomes weighed down by her responsibilities and isolated from her friends.

** Spike pleads with Buffy for an indication, no matter how slight, that his love might not be unrequited. Although Buffy shuts him down here, Spike finally gets that sign in "Intervention".

-->'''Spike:''' I got a bit of info you might be keen on knowing.
-->'''Buffy:''' Sorry, all out of cash. Why don't you hit on Giles...hit ''up'' Giles!

-->'''Spike:''' Don't mock this.
-->'''Buffy:''' Go mock yourself!
* GhostStory: The ultimate version of this trope -- scary stories told by the monster himself! Buffy comes across Dawn in Spike's lamp-lit crypt, eagerly listening to the vampire tell the story of how he murdered a whole family, and then heard the faint sound a child's gasp in a pitch-dark coal bin so he-- (DeathGlare from Buffy) had her adopted out to a nice family that didn't put their children in coal bins. Dawn is not impressed by the lame ending.

* GrandRomanticGesture: Well, for a vampire it is.

-->'''Harmony:''' Why? Because she's back?
-->'''Spike:''' No. Because I am.

* HollywoodTorches: In Spike's crypt.

* IgnoreTheFanservice: Harmony [[ReadyForLovemaking dressed in a nightie]] tries to tempt Spike to bed. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint He says he's not tired.]]

* LaughingMad: Spike's LoveConfession is interrupted by Dru's "{{laugh track}}".
-->'''Drusilla:''' "I knew it. I knew before you did that you loved the Slayer. The [[HearingVoices pixies in my head told it to me]]."

-->'''Joyce:''' Honey, did you somehow, unintentionally, lead him on in any way? Send him signals?
-->'''Buffy:''' Well, I do beat him up a lot. [[CombatSadomasochist For Spike, that's like third base.]]

-->'''Xander:''' Listen, Bleach Boy, I don't have a chip in my head. I can do far more damage to you than you can ever do to me.
-->'''Spike:''' (distracted watching Buffy chat up Ben) Yeah? Like you could ever hurt me.

-->'''Spike:''' You think I like having you in here? Destroying everything that was me, until all that's left is you, in a dead shell. (scoffs) You say you hate it, but you won't leave.
* MadLove

* MoodWhiplash: Buffy quietly asks Giles if they should continue going easy on Dawn re recent events. When he advises her to keep things normal as possible, Buffy rounds on her sister for stealing her cashmere sweater.

* NotADate: Spike invites Buffy on a stakeout of a vampire nest, offers her a QuickNip and tries to make conversation about her taste in music. When the vampires turn out to be less than aggressive, Buffy goes to storm out only to find Spike holding the door open for her, and so she suddenly asks Spike "Is this a date?"

* NotSoDifferent: Dawn says there's no difference between [[RestrainingBolt Angel's soul and Spike's chip]]. Buffy responds, "I can't listen to this!" Likewise when Spike starts playing on the same tropes that Angel did (StalkingIsLove, MurderTheHypotenuse) Buffy is angry and disgusted.

* ParentalHypocrisy of the older-sister kind: Buffy argues that Dawn "cannot have a crush on something that is dead and evil and a vampire". Dawn promptly calls her out on it.
* [[ObliviousToLove Oblivious to Foe Yay]]: When Dawn states point-blank that Spike loves Buffy, big sis reacts as though she misheard, not believing [[SelectiveObliviousness (or wanting to believe)]] that such a thing is possible.

-->'''Spike:''' [[SkywardScream GNAARGHHH!]] WHAT...THE BLEEDING HELL...IS WRONG...WITH YOU...''BLOODY WOMEN?!'' WHAT THE HELL...DOES IT TAKE? WHY...DO YOU ''BITCHES'' TORTURE ME?"
-->'''Buffy:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Which question do you want me to answer first?]]
* PutOnABus: Last appearance of Harmony, though she does become a secondary character in ''Series/{{Angel}}''.

* ShakingTheRump: Lampshaded by Harmony when she says that the only thing Spike will see of her is her ass walking away -- unwilling to give him even that pleasant sight, she decides to back away instead.
* ShipTease: Spike/Buffy and Ben/Buffy. [[PortManteauCoupleName So Spuffy and...Buffy?]]

-->'''Tara:''' Let's just call She Who Cannot Be Named another name. Let's call her--
-->'''Buffy:''' ''(seeing a familiar face)'' Ben!

* TheTeetotaler: The events of ''Beer Bad'' seems to have caused this Spike offers Buffy a QuickNip from his flask.
-->'''Buffy:''' Ewww.
-->'''Spike:''' [[IDoNotDrinkWine It's not what you think]], it's bourbon.
-->'''Buffy:''' ''[[{{Squick}} Ewwwwww...]]''
** More likely she just doesn't want to share Spike's flask with him.
* TemptingFate: Xander laughs over the idea of Spike being in love with Buffy.
-->'''Xander:''' I mean, how upset can you really get over one of Spike's fevered daydreams that's not gonna happen?

-->'''Joyce:''' Well, I'm relieved that you're home. Because to be honest, I wasn't feeling all that safe with you gone. ''(Giles looks injured; Buffy gives mom a MeaningfulLook)'' At first. And then I, um, remembered that, um, Rupert was here and I felt much, much safer.
-->'''Giles:''' Yes, well, thank you for the little backpedal...

* VillainsOutShopping: The two vampires in the abandoned warehouse are cooking up popcorn and going through some stolen CD's.

* VisualPun: As the VictimOfTheWeek enters the railway car where Drusilla has feasted, there's a sign saying Diner.

-->'''Dawn:''' Spike's totally into you! Oh, come on. [[ObliviousToLove You didn't notice?]] Buffy, Spike is completely in love with you.
-->'''Buffy:''' Huh?
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Inverted from the usual; Buffy refuses to accept that Spike's obsession with her is love, as "you can't love without a soul".

-->'''Harmony:''' Well, you've got some nerve showing up here like this. After all this time. After breaking my sweet boo-boo's heart. (Drusilla looks at Spike and mouths 'boo-boo?') Do you have any idea how hard it's been to break down the walls he put up after you left? I mean, ''serious'' trust issues.
* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Spike calls Buffy by her family name "Summers" while making his {{Anguished Declaration of Love}}.

** During Spike's second LoveConfession, [[LadyInRed Buffy wears red]] while his "dark beauty" Drusilla is a WomanInBlack.

* [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Did I Just Go On A Date With Cthulhu?]]

* EmergingFromTheShadows / SomethingAboutARose: Drusilla's introduction.

* FailedAttemptAtDrama / ShotMidSentence: Spike's tirade is interrupted by his ex-girlfriend Harmony shooting him InTheBack.

* VisualPun: As the VictimOfTheWeek enters the railway car where Drusilla has feasted, there's a sign saying Diner on the carriage next to it.

->'''Spike:''' ''"I love you."''
->'''Buffy:''' ''"[[OhCrap Oh God]]..."''

* QuickNip: Buffy jumps in her seat when Spike reaches for a flask in the glove compartment. He offers her some. "Eww!" He says it's not blood, it's bourbon. "Ewwww!"

* TheTeetotaler: The events of ''Beer Bad'' seems to have caused this when Buffy sees Spike drinking from a flask.

-->'''Spike:''' It's not what you think, it's bourbon.

Spike's VillainousCrush on Buffy is exposed. Drusilla comes back to town

->'''Spike:''' I love you.
->'''Buffy:''' [[OhCrap Oh God]]...

* VampireInvitation
** Spike tells a story of how he forced a woman to give this by [[YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo holding her husband hostage]].
** Spike goes to follow Buffy into her house, only to bounce off the threshold as Willow has done a de-invite spell. The episode ends with Buffy closing the door [[JerkassWoobie on his shocked face]].

* CasualKink: Harmony invites Spike to tie her up. Spike instead gets her to dress up as Buffy for some roleplay and roll-in-the-hay.

* LackOfEmpathy: For all the comic shenanigans, Spike casually steals from Xander, boasts to Dawn of murdering an entire family, uses and abuses his girlfriend Harmony, participates with Drusilla in the joint murder at the Bronze (he does hesitate to drink from the body, though possibly just because he's worried the chip will fire), kidnaps Buffy to force her to respond to his affections, and completely fails to see why this behavior would fill Buffy with revulsion, assuming she's just PlayingHardToGet.

* ReadyForLovemaking: Harmony in a nightie tries to tempt Spike to bed. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint He says he's not tired.]]

* AbandonedWarehouse: {{Lampshaded}} by a deleted line where Buffy comments, "Is there any other kind in Sunnydale?"

* YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious: Spike calls Buffy by her last name "Summers" while making his {{Anguished Declaration of Love}}.

* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Spike talks of his obsession as if it's an AssimilationPlot.

* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Spike talks of his obsession as if it's a physical torment.

* CourtlyLove: Spike's LoveConfession to Buffy hits several points of this trope. Given his past as a Victorian-era romantic poet, he may even be acting it out, consciously or otherwise.

* WhiteShirtOfDeath: The first couple of victims shown in the railway massacre are wearing a white sweater or clutching bloody paperwork.