Chapter 1

An alternate ending

Ok so this is my first fic, but I would love to hear reviews from y'all, and don't be afraid to criticize.

This is set in an AU, after the Gift, where Buffy doesn't die and the portal isn't opened. So voila, and enjoy!

Spike was running fast up the tower, right to the top, where Dawn was standing, tied there, waiting to be bled. He had made a promise to get there in time. To a lady. He noticed another figure up there, standing in front of the Key, but he couldn't figure out whom. The Slayer was keeping Glory occupied, so who could it be, Spike asked himself, as he scaled the tower. A million thoughts were rushing through his head; just get there before she gets cut, just bloody well get there in time. He reached the top of the scaffolding, with a breathtaking view in front of him. It encompassed half the city, where the rebuilt school, most of the 12 cemeteries that reside in Sunnydale, and the University of Sunnydale could be seen. But he hadn't any time to take it all in. There was Dawn, but blocking his view of her was a familiar body, and he couldn't believe it.

'Spike!' Yelled Dawn, with desperation in her voice, ruining Spike's stealthy advancement toward the demon he thought dead.

'Doesn't a fella stay dead when you kill him?' Spike said, as he swaggered like a pirate toward Doc.

'Look who's talking.' Doc remarked, with agitation, after all, he had to bleed Dawn in time for Her Most Splendiferous to prevail.

'Come on Doc, let's you and me have a go.' That's it Spike, keep him distracted. Just keep him away from Dawn for just long enough…

'I do…have a prior appointment' Doc replied to the challenge, with annoyance now occupying his tone, as he glanced toward Dawn.

'This won't take long.' Noted Spike.

'No, I don't imagine it will.' Doc replied, as he lunged toward Spike with his knife, and he flew past the vampire like a bat, and re-emerged behind him with the knife in Spike's back, who was baffled. Spike turned around, and he was the sole thing separating the seemingly immortal demon from his goal.

'You don't come near the girl, Doc' Spike warned.

'I don't sense a soul on you. Why does it even matter to you?' Doc inquired, intrigued.

'I made a promise to a lady.' Spike replied proudly.

Doc unexpectedly shot his tongue out in the direction of Spike's chip, which the vampire skillfully dodged, but was tripped up by Doc's swinging leg. He was grabbed by the collar and hung precariously over the edge of the platform.

'Then I'll send the lady your regrets!' Doc proclaimed gleefully, with a wide grin across his face. Victory was in grasp.

Fear formed in Spike's eyes as he looked desperately toward Dawn, believing this to be the last glance he would get of her. One word formed in his mind: Failure.

He could only manage to breathe 'No' as Doc flung him off the platform, and then advanced toward Dawn, who was also yelling in despair.

Doc stood in front of Dawn, only the hole in the platform separating him from his goal. He brought back his knife, ready to cut Dawn, until there was a vice-like grip on his wrist that would've taken off any human's hand. The Slayer spun him around, and unleashed a right hook that made contact with his jaw, stunning him and causing him to drop his knife. Buffy wasn't in the mood for mercy, so she launched her boot which collided with the other side of Doc's face, completely disorientating him. She grabbed him by his jacket and flung him into the depths of the construction site, and to what she believed a certain death. She wasn't interested in the result however, and picked up the knife, and approached Dawn, and cut the rope that was tying down her sister.

'Dawn! Oh god, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.' Buffy said, as she started to cry into Dawn's shoulder.

'It's okay, Buffy, I'm alright. You saved me.' Dawn replied gratefully, somewhat breathless.

'Oh Dawn, I promise I'll never let you go again.' Buffy promised as she looked up at the sun rising on the horizon. 'Look, the sun is rising. Everything's going to be okay. We live to see another day.'

'Where are the others? Are they okay?' Dawn asked.

'They're fine, they're at the bottom. We're all safe now. It's okay.'

The two remaining Summers girls descended the tower together, and surveyed the scene at the bottom. Several of Glory's minions were lying on the ground, motionless, and most of her lunatics were dazed and confused, more so than usual. Willow and Tara emerged from the rubble, arm in arm, as they were both clearly injured from the reverse brain-suck. Xander appeared from some fallen concrete that had come from the tower, carrying Anya in his arms, who was unable to walk. Spike was lying in the shade, battered and bruised, easily coming out the battle worst of all the Scoobies. Giles emerged from above, with blood on his hands.

Buffy noticed instantly. 'Giles! There's blood on your hands…are you hurt?' she inquired.

'No. One of Glory's minions decided to attack me, but I fended him off.'

The Slayer turned around to the witches. 'Will? Did it work? Is Tara cured?' Buffy asked, turning toward her best friend, although she already knew the answer once she looked at the couple.

'Yeah, it did. My baby's back.' The powerful witch smiled, turning toward her lover, who smiled equally back.

'What's happened? Like for the past couple of days? My memory is kinda hazy…' Tara asked, looking around, confused, lost, but comforted by Willow.

'There's plenty of time to explain later, but right now, I think we need to get to a hospital.' Buffy suggested to her fellow injured Scoobies.

'I second that motion; Anya took a lot of damage. I think she's lost a lot of blood.' Xander said, looking down at his secret fiancé in concern.

Dawn looked toward the dark corner where the vampire was hiding. 'Spike? Are you all right? It looks like you took quite a fall. You did well up there though!' said Dawn, speaking for the first time since she descended from the platform.

'I'll be right, just gotta get out of the sun.' Spike replied from his refuge, with obvious pain in his voice.

'Wait. Just before we go, where is Glory? Like is she…dead?' Xander asked openly, wondering if it was a pointless question.

'Yeah, where is that hellbitch? I sure could go for some Glory beating right now.' Spike said, voicing his opinion.

'I don't think that she or Ben will be bothering us again. But we really need to get to a hospital, you guys are badly hurt.' Said Buffy. She looked sideways to Giles, who looked uncomfortable at the Slayers words, as if she knew something.

'What about you?' asked a concerned Xander.

'I'm fine. Glory really didn't live up to her reputation tonight.' Buffy replied.

'Well, what are we waitin' for? I could sure go for some bandages right about now.' Said Spike, looking away from Buffy.