A dull throbbing woke Takashi up as it traveled through her body, certain points hurting more than others. She let out a moan as she tried to move, only to instantly stop. Her eyes fluttered open as she remembered everything that happened the night before. Sex with Spike on the couch, then in the shower, then on the bed. She passed out from exhaustion by that point and had no idea where he had gone. She glanced over next to her on the bed where she had last seen him but the bed was now empty.
Takashi took a deep breath before forcing herself to sit up, her hand moving to her neck to feel the bandage that was there. She looked over her body, taking in all the bruises, hickies, and bite marks that littered her body. She looked as though she had been beaten to within an inch of her life, and she felt like it too. But she felt a deep satisfaction and knew if she wasn't so sore she would be greatly relaxed. She was glad she was closed today as she swung her stiff and bruised legs off the bed and slowly made her way to the bathroom.
…
After a long soak in the tub with epsom salt she decided it might do her muscles some good to walk around a little. So she grabbed jeans, a sweater, and a scarf. Covering all of the marks on her body so no one would ask any questions. She drove into town, parking outside of the small cafe she had been to a few times, deciding to get a hot chai before going to the Magic Box. She paused as she took in everyone kind of standing about, no customers to break up the silence.
"Bad day huh?" She asked softly as she walked forward, trying not to wince.
"Hey. What's up Morticia?" Xander called out, waving at her from the table he sat at with Dawn.
"Apparently I'm out of the loop on what's up." She told him as she walked over, slowing sitting down next to Dawn.
"Mom and Buffy are at the hospital." Dawn told her as she flipped through her text book. Takashi looked over to Xander who shook his head at her, letting her know they would talk about it later.
"So, what are you working on today?"
Takashi started to help Dawn with her homework she best she could, aware that the young teen didn't want anything to really do with it. Takashi halted in her movements as Dawn pulled down her scarf, eyes locked on onto her neck.
"What happened?" Dawn asked, taking in the bloody bandage and scratched as well as bruises.
"Got into a little tumble with a vampire yesterday. I'm alright though." She answered with a smile.
"I'd say more than a tumble." Giles said as he walked over to her, removing his glasses as he looked at her neck. Takashi flushed as she tried to fix her scarf.
"Really, I'm alright."
Everyone turned as Buffy walked into the shop, instantly forgetting about Takashi as they watched Dawn run to her sister, throwing her arms around her. Everyone stood and moved closer to Buffy, faces full of worry and concern.
"Is she awake yet?" Dawn asked, pulling away from her sister.
"Yeah, she's waiting for us." She answered softly as she looked down at her.
"Can we take her home now?"
"We'll see."
Buffy looked up at everyone, a sad smile on her face before she looked at Giles.
"Any monster reptile sightings?"
"None." He answered her.
"Tara and I did a mini-patrol earlier, but the big snakie was nowhere in-" Willow started but was cut off as the front window of the shop was smashed in. Everyone quickly moved out of the way as the large snake creature looked around, Takashi grabbing Dawn and shoving her behind her. Everyone watches as Buffy stands in front of the snake, her first raised, ready for a fight. But the snake wasn't interested in her, quickly side swiping her off into a set of bookshelves before moving further into the room, looking around.
Takashi's eyes widened as the snake was suddenly in front of her, her hand pushing Dawn further back into the shelf as she stared up at it in fear.
"Fu-" Takashi's curse was cut short as the snake flicked her away with it's tail, her body flying across the room and into the glass display to their left, shattering it on impact. Darkness swallowed her whole as Dawn's scream rung in her ears.
…
BEEP.
BEEP.
BEEP.
Takashi groaned, trying to block out the annoying beeping that woke her. Trying to lift her hand to cover her ears only to feel a strong sting shoot through her.
"You need to stay calm honey." A nurse said as she walked into the room, her voice soothing.
"Do you know where you are?"
Takashi opened her eyes, instantly squinting them in the bright light.
"A hospital? What happened?" Takashi asked, trying to sit up. The nurse rushed forward and helped, moving the pillows to prop her up.
"You're friends said that you were attacked. Do you remember anything?"
Takashi bit her lip as she shifted through blurry memories, the night in the Magic Box coming back to her. Dawn's scream ringing in her ears.
"I need to go." She said, pulling the blankets away from her body only to pause, taking in the bandages that were wrapped around her arms and legs.
"You need to stay in bed. You are covered in wounds from the glass we had to remove from you and have suffered quite a bit of blood loss." The nurse reprimanded, pulling the blanket over her leg.
"I need to see if my… if my friend is okay." Takashi tried to explain, mildly hysterical. The two gave pause as a pack of smokes landed in her lap, making them both look towards the door where Spike stood.
"Figured you could use some get well help." He said with a smirk as the nurse looked at him in annoyance, her lips pinched together.
"One normally brings flowers sir. Not cancer sticks." She told him sternly, causing him to shrug in response.
"Well maybe you can get her to listen and stay in bed."
The nurse quickly left the room, to annoyed to stay any long. Spike walked over and flopped down in the chair next to the bed, putting his boots up on the stark white sheets.
"How's Dawn? Is she okay?"
"Just peachy." Spike said, picking at his nails. Takashi let out a sigh as she fell back onto the bed, wincing as she did so. Spike looked up at her, taking in all the bandages.
"Not like you. Decided you wanted to see what it was like to be a rock in a glass house?"
"Don't sell yourself short there buddy. I'm pretty sure most of the blood loss and bruises are from you. The snake just tried to finish me off." Takashi told him without opening her eyes.
"Come now pet. I thought you liked a bit of pain."
"Hmm, a bit. Not so big on looking like I was hit by a truck and my neck was mauled. Next time we will have to figure something out."
Spike sat up at this, putting his feet down on the floor as he leaned towards her.
"Next time?"
Takashi hummed again in response, opening her eyes to look at him.
"Maybe. Depends on how many get well cigarettes I get."
"Spike?"
The two looked over as Dawn walked into the room, surprised to see him there.
"Hey Niblet. Here to see your would be hero?" Spike asked as he stood up.
"Yeah, we were visiting mom and decided to come check on her. You're awake!" Dawn cried out as she turned to look at Takashi, rushing into the room and throwing herself on top of her. Takashi grunted as she tossed her head back slightly, eyes widening in pain.
"Easy there kid." Spike said, pulling her off.
"Oh, sorry." Dawn said, looking at Takashi apologetically as she waved a hand at her.
"And why, is your hand on my little sister." Buffy asked as she walked into the room, eyes boring into Spike.
"Hey Buffy. Takashi is awake!" Dawn said happily as Spike raised his hands up in surrender. Takashi waved over at her with a smile as she pulled herself up into a sitting position again. Buffy walked over to her, looking her over quickly.
"How are you feeling?" She asked softly.
"Oh, I'm alright. Been through worse." Takashi lied, smiling at Dawn.
"I'm just glad you're safe. Even if I wasn't able to do much other than get in the way."
"No! You were amazing. You didn't scream or anything! Not like me…" Dawn said, looking down as Takashi laughed before grabbing her chest.
"You alright?" Spike asked, stepping forward slightly.
"Yeah, chest hurts a little is all." She told him, brow furrowed.
"What are you pulling?" Buffy asked, looking over at him.
"What?" Spike asked, confused.
"Why are you here? Did you hear that I was here or something? Because that's low, even for you to try to play on my mom being sick." She rattled off at him.
"What?! No! I'm here because I heard Takashi was hurt!"
"So what? You cared from your soulless unbeating heart?"
"Woah, guys." Takashi said, surprised at the sudden hostility between the two.
"I don't have to put up with this. I'll see you later luv." Spike said, glancing at Takashi before stomping out of the room.
"God, what's with him?" Buffy asked, plopping down in the chair he had been in just moments before. Takashi looked at Dawn, both of them sharing a look.
"Do you like him?" Takashi asked bluntly.
"What?! Spike?! God no!" Buffy called out, making a face as though she was throwing up.
"Well you have to admit, he's kinda cute." Takashi told her.
"And he's always helping you out and stuff." Dawn added on, sitting down on the corner of the hospital bed.
"He has some sort of gross obsession with me. He can't kill me, so he's been stalking me. It's- it's gross!"
"It must be a little flattering though. Knowing someone likes you that much." Takashi said, trying to ignore the pang of jealousy.
"He's a vampire." Buffy tried to reason with them, pointing a finger at Dawn as she opened her mouth.
"And don't you dare bring Angel into this, he had a soul."
"Angel?"
"Her ex boyfriend." Dawn supplied.
"Angelus, Angel?"
Buffy turned and looked at Takashi.
"Do you know him?" Buffy asked.
"No, I read about him the night I found out about vampires. He was a pretty evil guy."
"That was before he got his soul. He's different now."
"Spike has a chip." Dawn mumbled, picking at the sheet she sat on.
"How's your mom?" Takashi asked, quickly interrupting the sisters, pulling Buffy's attention to her.
"She goes in for surgery in a couple of day, they want to keep her here until then." Buffy told her. Takashi nodded before she let out a yawn.
"Okay ladies. Time to go. My patient needs her rest." The nurse said as she came into the room.
"We will see you tomorrow okay?" Dawn asked as she jumped up from the bed.
"Sure, I would love that." Takashi told her as the nurse ushered the girls from the room. The nurse fluttered about the room, checking charts and machines before telling Takashi to get some sleep, thank her body still needed to heal, leaving her in her dimly lit room. Takashi grabbed the cigarettes from under the sheets, lifting the box to see he had written something on it. She squinted in the bad lighting to read the permanent marker.
"Keep that red stuff on the inside."
She let out a soft laugh before snuggling down into the sheets.
"Idiot." She mumbled, drifting off to sleep, a small smile on her face.
