Buffy closed her eyes, which stung with exhaustion. She hadn't gotten any real sleep in the past few weeks. Not since everything had erupted with such earth-shattering force. Between the potential slayers, the uber vamp that had kicked her ass, and a missing Spike, there just hadn't been time to sleep.
But the uber vamp was dust now. Spike was safe again, and the potential slayers were finally confident in her abilities. She could afford a night of sleep. Or, more accurately, a few hours. Images of Spike, beaten and bruised, flashed through Buffy's mind. And she couldn't help but remember one of the first things she had ever said to him.
"No, Spike. It's gonna hurt a lot."
It had been years ago, when Spike had first arrived in Sunnydale. He had crashed Buffy's parent-teacher night in search of the Slayer. Spike had just promised to kill her, but he had also said he would make it quick. Painless. She had argued, promising that it would hurt.
Turning over onto her side, Buffy couldn't help but realize just how right she had been. They had been through a lot, this vampire and his slayer, and every minute had hurt. A lot. From the days of being mortal enemies, to his gradual migration to the 'good side', and their eventual sexual relationship, things had never been simple. They had never been painless. It was almost as if in that one single moment, Buffy had been granted an un-natural clarity. A vision of the future, and things to come.
It had been Willow that had eventually sent Buffy upstairs to her bed. Spike had passed out shortly after getting to the Summers residence, and they had gotten to work on his wounds rather quickly. Buffy hadn't wanted to leave his side, but Willow pointed out that the bleached-blonde vamp would be fine.
"Vampires heal quickly, you know." Willow had reminded her. "A little pigs' blood, a little sleep.. he'll be good as new before you know it."
She had been right, of course. But Buffy felt guilty for not getting him out of there sooner. She blamed herself for what the First had done to Spike.
Rolling once more onto her back, Buffy held onto that thought with an iron grip. She refused to let it go. It made sense... Buffy hadn't wanted to leave Spike's side because she felt guilty. It was easier to believe than the truth. That she was starting to fall in love with him. But It was guilt, not love. It could never be love. He was still a vampire, even if he did have his soul.
But deep inside, she knew the real reason she was so upset about Spike's condition. Why she was so worried about him. She loved him. And while she might never admit it to him, or even to herself, Buffy really did love Spike. And as she finally fell asleep, her last thought was that one sentence from so long ago.
"No, Spike. It's gonna hurt a lot."
It was scary how right she'd been.
~*~*~*~
I was watching some of the old eps, and that sentence just stuck with me for some reason. I couldn't get over how fitting it was, long before any of the recent stuff started happening. Before any of it was even a glimmer in Joss' eye. So, this insanity was spawned. Hope you liked it.. review, and let me know what you think.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~
But the uber vamp was dust now. Spike was safe again, and the potential slayers were finally confident in her abilities. She could afford a night of sleep. Or, more accurately, a few hours. Images of Spike, beaten and bruised, flashed through Buffy's mind. And she couldn't help but remember one of the first things she had ever said to him.
"No, Spike. It's gonna hurt a lot."
It had been years ago, when Spike had first arrived in Sunnydale. He had crashed Buffy's parent-teacher night in search of the Slayer. Spike had just promised to kill her, but he had also said he would make it quick. Painless. She had argued, promising that it would hurt.
Turning over onto her side, Buffy couldn't help but realize just how right she had been. They had been through a lot, this vampire and his slayer, and every minute had hurt. A lot. From the days of being mortal enemies, to his gradual migration to the 'good side', and their eventual sexual relationship, things had never been simple. They had never been painless. It was almost as if in that one single moment, Buffy had been granted an un-natural clarity. A vision of the future, and things to come.
It had been Willow that had eventually sent Buffy upstairs to her bed. Spike had passed out shortly after getting to the Summers residence, and they had gotten to work on his wounds rather quickly. Buffy hadn't wanted to leave his side, but Willow pointed out that the bleached-blonde vamp would be fine.
"Vampires heal quickly, you know." Willow had reminded her. "A little pigs' blood, a little sleep.. he'll be good as new before you know it."
She had been right, of course. But Buffy felt guilty for not getting him out of there sooner. She blamed herself for what the First had done to Spike.
Rolling once more onto her back, Buffy held onto that thought with an iron grip. She refused to let it go. It made sense... Buffy hadn't wanted to leave Spike's side because she felt guilty. It was easier to believe than the truth. That she was starting to fall in love with him. But It was guilt, not love. It could never be love. He was still a vampire, even if he did have his soul.
But deep inside, she knew the real reason she was so upset about Spike's condition. Why she was so worried about him. She loved him. And while she might never admit it to him, or even to herself, Buffy really did love Spike. And as she finally fell asleep, her last thought was that one sentence from so long ago.
"No, Spike. It's gonna hurt a lot."
It was scary how right she'd been.
~*~*~*~
I was watching some of the old eps, and that sentence just stuck with me for some reason. I couldn't get over how fitting it was, long before any of the recent stuff started happening. Before any of it was even a glimmer in Joss' eye. So, this insanity was spawned. Hope you liked it.. review, and let me know what you think.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~