A.N.: So I'm back. Taking a break from oneshots and going to work on the sequel to Arbitrium. This one is probably going to be a bit (okay a lot) darker than before. There will still be plenty of Spuffy, but be on the lookout for Angelus. Set almost directly after the end of Arbitrium. Thanks for reading and God bless
Disclaimer: I don't own it, I don't make money off of it. I just enjoying writing for it.
There were four things Buffy realized simutaneously, one thought rolling in after the other. The first, was his voice. It had risen three octives and was a panicked shriek that could be heard above the din of the battle. His voice that was screaming her name. The second was the demon she could hear stomping behind her, the glint of a hefty ax caught in the corner of her eye. The third was that she needed to move, NOW, or she would be cleaved in two. The fourth was that she was not going to be able to move fast enough…not nearly fast enough to avoid the devastion that was hurtling in the air. She watched as the weapon, almost in slow motion, made a wide arc in the arm, blade speeding towards it's target… which just so happened to be her. She whipped her head around, trying to lock eyes with Spike one last time, to convey what she felt in a single smile. She felt a shoulder dig into her gut as she was knocked to the ground, ax catching on her shoulder and tearing away a chunk of skin and sinew with it.
She cried out as she smashing into the pavement, gravel cutting into the fresh wound. She lay unmoving for a moment, trying to breath through the pain as Spike rushed to her side. "Buffy!" he yelled, dropping down besides her in the rain, watching as red poured down past her body. She gazed up at him, eyes misted with tears. He tenderly cupped her face in his hand. "Buffy, love, let me see it." He whispered, gently. She rolled over on her side, hissing in succession with him as a white hot pain blurred her vision momentarily. "Everyone fall back!" Angel roared from the distance as a clattering of weapons and feet retreating could be heard. Angel was also at her side, concern darkening his eyes. "Buffy," he breathed. "I'm okay." She told both of them, pushing herself up to a sitting position. "I'm ok…" her words caught in her throat as she saw Faith lying several feet away.
The demon had been neatly disposed off, head wretched off of its shoulders, but not before taken a victim with it. "Faith." Buffy whispered, hand covering her mouth in horror. Angel and Spike followed her gaze. The brunette had been sliced deep, blood and more important bits of her spilling out into the street. "No." Angel said, racing to her. He dropped to his knees, pulling her into his lap with one hand and trying to force her contents back into her with another hand. Her lashes batted against her face weakly as she moaned in protest. "Your gonna be fine Faith." He stated, sweeping her up into his arms. "Oh God Faith." Buffy mumbled, leaning into Spike's shoulder for support. "Come on Angel, we don't have a lot of time…" Spike broke off. "If she's going to make it." Angel turned, nodding grimly. "Let's go."
Buffy tried to keep up with them. Her feet created a rhythm of sloshing and thudding as she raced towards the hotel. She fell behind, once and then twice until the blond vampire appeared at her side. " You ok?" "Don't worry about me, just take care of Faith." She forced the noise between gritted teeth. Spike eyed her, tensing as he followed the trail of blood behind her. "Buffy," he started, placing a hand on her uninjured shoulder. She almost fell at the touch of contact with him. His hand broke into her pattern of counting her steps. Her eyes met his, he smiled tightly at her. "It's just a scratch Spike." "I know," he paused taking her hand in his. She took strength from his touch as her feet quickened, a few hundred feet away from the save haven now.
She mentally took note of every survivor she passed, trying only to concentrate on two things. The distance to shelter, two hundred feet away, looking astonishingly beautiful for a old beat up hotel. And the hand that was clutching in hers, fingers anchoring her to conscious, soft voice murmering nonsensical words of comfort. He knew just as well as she did that things were bad, they were very bad. One hundred feet now. Angel had already crossed into the threshhold, barking orders at Willow, every emotion flitting across his face as he raced to save the other Slayer. "Everything's going to be okay pet." She loved him so much in that moment, searching his blue eyes as she could feel her consciousness tinged black at the edges. She loved him so much…even if he was lying.