Disclaimer: I own nothing besides any original characters, Joss and Mutant Enemy are the lucky ones.
Summary: Spike can't live with Buffy breaking off their tryst; and she's forced to show him that his unlife is worth living.
Pairings: Spuffyish
Warning: This story will likely be broken up into several parts. This first part will definitely not be Spuffy in the romantic sense of the word.
Chapter Two: Misery in action
As the slightly blunt tip of the wood hit Spike's chest Buffy felt something akin to vertigo. For a split second she couldn't tell which way was up or down; and she was certain that when she landed it would be into a cloud of dust. Had Spike selected an actual stake that would have been the outcome, but the wood barely managed to tear into the flesh before meeting the barrier of Spike's breast plate. The force with which he slammed the wood into himself cracking the bone.
Luckily this bought Buffy the extra second she needed to make it to Spike. Tucking her body she landed on her back and rolled to her feet; reaching her hand out she grasped the improvised stake between Spike's grip and his chest. The blood from the wound coating her fingers and for some reason causing tears to spring to her eyes. As Spike dug the wood deeper, trying to reach his heart he felt the resistance and opened his eyes. Their eyes clashed as she slowly pulled the wood out of the wound. Spike clenched his jaw and placed his other hand on the end, using all his strength to worm it back in.
Buffy's grip started to slip, his blood causing her hand to slide downward. For a long second they stared at each other as the sound of the wood pushing deeper into his chest seemed to vibrate off the walls. Spike finally shut his eyes against the pain and turned his head to the side. Through gritted teeth he chuckled hoarsely and then turned back around bowing his head somewhat as tears fell from his face, landing on Buffy's hand. He whispered softly to her as the tip of the wood came within centimeters of his heart.
"Dat's right slayer, tell yourself you tried."
No one had ever pissed Buffy off more than Spike her whole life; so many times he had seen that scathing look of hers when he made her life difficult. As he said this though the steel in her eyes melted and for just a second her lip trembled. In a flash it was gone as she reached out with her other hand and wrapped it around Spike's wrist. Pulling as hard as she could she managed to stall the stake's progress, grunting with the exertion she spoke sadly.
"It's not ending like this."
Spike turned his head and spat, leaning his head back against the rock he brought out his game face, giving him that extra bit of power to continue pushing the wood into his chest cavity.
"Give it up luv...you can't even...keep the men you love...w'at makes you think you can hold onto one...you hate."
Before Spike realized what was happening Buffy's hand was gone from the stake and her fingers were weaved inside his hair. Violently she wrenched his head forwards and then backwards; slamming his head into the wall so hard his human visage shone through. Immediately she wrenched his grip off the stake and pulled it out; a stream of blood running down his belly. Bitterly he snickered as he faded in and out of consciousness, dragging his eyes towards Buffy.
"You have to leave sometime pet, so just fucking sod off already, got a date with the sun."
Buffy raised the hand not covered in blood and dealt a stunning jab to his face, giving him that last push towards oblivion. As his eyes rolled back and his head drooped he mumbled.
"Bloody bint..always the nose."
With that he passed out; lurching to the side he tumbled over onto the ground. Buffy rose shakily and made her way towards the tunnels, searching for the discarded sink Spike had installed especially for her use. Wiping a tear from her cheek she turned the faucet on, ice cold water pouring out and slapping the bottom. She placed her hand under the steady stream and watched as the water turned pink and circled the drain.
'He's right you know, it's not like you can just camp out here until he gets over it...if he ever does.'
Sighing in frustration she spoke to the empty cavern.
"No, he's not taking the easy way out."
'What exactly was easy about what just happened princess? You just "broke up" with a man who is a self-proclaimed member of the eternally in love with Buffy club. You knew there was a chance this might happen.'
She had known Spike would do something, although she half expected him to attack her. But taking his own life because she was leaving him..okay, not leaving because that's something you do when your dating...because she was going away from him; that seemed to go against everything she knew about Spike.
'What makes you think you know anything about him? Up until last year you didn't even know vampires could love.'
"Just because Spike can love, doesn't mean vampires can love."
'You wanna run that by me one more time sister, without the huh?'
"Spike is...he's.."
'...special?'
"Yes."
'But not special enough to warrant a chance, a real chance?'
"He doesn't have a..."
'...great singing voice? Get over yourself already, just because Angel can't love you without a soul isn't reaso...'
"SHUT UP!"
She doesn't realize she's shouted until she hears a rustle of movement; turning around she sees Spike shifting. Hurriedly she uses a towel to wipe her hands, tossing it to the side when she's done. For the next few minutes she goes about the lair, grabbing what she needs. Next she makes her way over to his prone form, grabbing him under the arms she manages to carry him over to the bed.
Lying him down gently she looks at the wound left in his chest, jagged and dark it makes her retch. Turning around she gathers the chains Spike had previously used to restrain her as he offered to kill Drusilla. Securing them to the wall and bed she locks the manacles on his ankles and wrists.
She then spends a short time pacing in front of the bed, occasionally peeking at him to see if he's waking up. Finally she stops and crosses her arms, regarding him with a withering glare, ineffective but calming to her nerves.
'You know what you have to do.'
It might be difficult and might not even work, But she'll be damned if he'll die because of her. As long as it takes to convince him that dying isn't the answer, he'll stay restrained.
'Why do you even give a damn what happens to him? It's not like you love him...do you?'
Buffy uncrosses her arms and turns away from him; wiping an errant tear from her face she makes her way towards the ladder.
"I can't love him."
'Who can you love?'
A/N: I'm working on fleshing out the story, so hopefully future chapters will be longer. As always reviews are more than welcome, I certainly wouldn't wanna play piano to an empty auditorium.
