Chapter 21: A Loving Act

As the group of soldiers in training walked to wherever Spike was being held Hanna could barley contain her nerves. What would she see? Would she be able to mask her disgust and anger long enough to get Spike out? She was scared that she would be too weak. Hanna had never rescued anyone before. She couldn't even rescue herself from one drunken frat boy. How was she going to get her and Spike out of there fighting an entire army? With guns? But she knew she had too. Spike would walk across an endless road of crosses covered in holy water for Hanna and she wanted to show the same love. As they approached a metal door Hanna glanced around the other soldiers in training Most of them looked too excited for her liking. Probably why they were chosen. Just as soulless and they demons they were catching. But two soldiers happened to catch her eye. One was smaller than the other one but very confident and steady and the other one which was the one that noticed the empty cage before kept shifting his gaze to the other soldier. It was almost a reassuring glance, but Hanna knew that would be crazy. Hanna shook her head. Maybe she was going insane because of her nervousness. Finally they all stopped in front of the large metal door and Riley and Forrest turned to the group. "Alright gang. This is your first taste of what we do here in the lab. We have captured a very dangerous hostile and he won't be happy with people watching. Be on the look out. You don't have to worry too much because Forrest, Graham, and I will be watching over you." Riley flashed a huge farm boy smile at Hanna. Hanna tried very hard to smile back and not roll her eyes. As Riley opened the door Hanna grew nervous again. She would not like anything she would see in there. That she already knew, what she did not know is how she would escape. She had to think quickly. What would Spike do? He would be brave and tough and scary. She couldn't pull off any or those things. But she would try. They all stepped through the door and into a large white room. There was a white chair in the middle of it and a table full of weird looking medical instruments. Hanna braved to see who was in the chair, just to confirm to herself. Her senses were going crazy and her stomach was doing weird flips. She knew it could be a combination of fear and what Spike described to her as the feeling of being in close proximity to your mate. She stood on tip toes and saw who was the in the chair. Strapped down and struggling with such great force that veins were bulging in his neck and arms. Hanna had to fight back sobs and screams of anger. She had to wait for a distraction…just for a second. She took a moment to assess her surroundings. Everyone had guns except for the woman holding a very big needle near her mate's head. Hanna looked towards the corner and there was a curious looking woman. She wasn't in camouflage or a lab coat. She was strikingly beautiful and deadly looking all at once. She had pale skin and raven black hair that tumbled down her back. Who ever she was Hanna got a really terrible feeling from her. She was snapped out of her thoughts by the most awful sound she had ever heard…Spike screaming. He was screaming something.

"No! No! Please no!"

"Hanna!"

"Hanna!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAA!!!"

Hanna couldn't hold back the tears. She sobbed quietly into her sleeve. He was calling for her. He needed her. He was pleading for her help. He must know I'm here thought Hanna. But how could she get to him. Then suddenly the two soldiers she noticed before turned to her and looked right at her. One of them also had tears streaming down his cheeks. Hanna gave him a look full of confusion. The one not crying nodded at Hanna and then nodded his head over to the woman standing over Spike torturing him. Hanna shook her head trying to tell them she didn't know what was going on. They turned back around and then all of a sudden there were gun shots being fired. Hanna screamed in surprise and heard all the soldiers scream as well. Then there was mass hysteria. People everywhere trying to get out of the white room. Hanna took this as her sign and charged through the crowd going the opposite direction. One of the soldiers from before came running beside her and shoved a gun in her hand.

"You know how to use this?"

Hanna looked at the gun and then nodded.

"You sure?"

She cocked it in response. The other soldier nodded and then veered off leaving her alone to try and get to Spike. She did actually know how to use a gun. Her father taught her right after her cousin died. He said that the bad people in this world don't stop using guns and they won't stop just because someone doesn't know how to use one. Better to be safe then sorry. She was never more grateful for her father then this moment. She almost paused with that thought. Was she ready to kill someone? To actually end someone's life for Spike? She looked up and saw Spike still strapped in the chair fighting to get out. To get to her. She looked at the woman hurting him and then at the gun. She ran faster and decided she would do whatever it took to get Spike back. What ever it may be she would do it. She finally made it to where Spike was. The woman standing over him straightened and cleaned her hands. She looked at her half heartedly until she noticed the gun. Then she smiled.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Hanna was shaking and she knew she must look scared. But she wasn't. It was adrenaline that was coursing through her veins making her shake.

"I want Spike back."

The woman looked down at Spike and then up at her.

"What are you planning on doing about that?"

Hanna pretended to think. "Well I plan on shooting you if I have to."

The woman didn't even flinch. "Oh really? And how do you plan on getting passed my soldiers?"

"Um...lady…they aren't here."

Finally the woman showed some fear. She glanced around the room looking for anyone to protect her. Everyone was dealing with the mess the two soldiers had created. She showed weakness. And if Hanna remembered anything from what Spike taught her it was that you can control anyone with fear. Hanna smiled.

"I'll be taking Spike now."

The woman stepped in front of him. "You don't have the nerve to fire that gun and you don't have the courage to rescue anyone. Why do you even want him? He's a filthy demon with no grasp on human emotion. He's nothing but a waste of space."

With that last statement she did something to make him whimper in pain.

"Stop that or I will shoot."

The woman smiled cruelly and did it again making Spike whimper louder. And before Hanna could even know what was happening the woman was lying on the floor blood poring out of her leg and the smell of gun powder in the air. Hanna looked at her hand that held the gun. That was too easy and that scared her. She didn't even think she just reacted and now this woman was in pain and bleeding. But she was hurting Spike and deserved what she got. Hanna shook her head. She would deal with it later. She walked over to the chair and stood over Spike. She lightly ran her hand down the hollow of his cheek, and the tears flowed freely again.

"Spike I'm so sorry I let this happen. You must be in so much pain."

He stirred slightly and parted him lips and if taking a breath to say something. He mumbled and Hanna leaned over to try and hear him.

"What did you say? Spike? Talk to me."

"..u…" Was all she could hear and finally her ear was so close to his mouth that she could feel the word tickle her ear. The word she did not expect him to say.

"Dru…"

Hanna snapped back from him. What did he say? Dru? As in Drusilla? As in the woman he was with for an entire century? But he had been calling for her, Hanna, his mate. She was his mate and he was hers. He wasn't Drusilla's. Not anymore. The woman in the back practically floated towards the chair and looked down at Spike. She grabbed his hand and looked at Hanna right in the eyes. "Hello little poppy. I pulled you out…don't you see…I got rid of you so you wouldn't poison my Spike anymore."

Hanna shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

Spike fluttered his eyes open and look at Drusilla holding his hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. Hanna tried not to be ill.

"You saved me love." He said gently and full of admiration.

Only he was saying it to the wrong girl.

"No Spike I saved you…please I saved you. I shot her."

Hanna looked to the ground and saw only a blood trail. She had no time to think of her now. Spike glanced at Hanna and then looked at Drusilla. He gave her a look of love and Hanna wanted to go find a nice bridge to jump off of.

"Untie me pet."

Drusilla reached for the leather straps and ripped them from the chair. Spike hopped up and swung his legs over. He stood and walked to Drusilla.

"Spike."

He turned and looked at Hanna. No look of love. No sweet words. There wasn't even a look of recognition. It was like he had no clue as to who she was.

"Who's the girl?"

Spike asked Drusilla. Drusilla smiled cruelly.

"She's your present."

"My present? Now Dru you know about my chip."

He said as he grabbed her around the waist. Hanna looked away finding it hard to even keep herself standing.

"Why do you think we are here my love?"

Spike titled his head to one side for only a second and then he seemed to realize something.

"You made them take my chip out."

Drusilla nodded.

"And then brought me my first real meal. Oh Drusilla I love you."

Hanna snapped her eyes back to Spike just in time to see him kiss Drusilla. He said he loved her. Her. The one he said didn't mean anything to him anymore. Hanna had lost him. She had come all this way to loose him anyway. She had no idea what to do…and then it dawned on her exactly what was said…his first real meal….he was going to kill her. He was going to drain her life force away and then leave her here to rot alone…he was going to kill her. And she was going to let him. She couldn't out run him. Could never fight him. Could never kill him. Not that she wanted to. He was her weakness. She loved him too much to fight back. She was already so tired from trying to get here. She didn't care. Spike didn't know…didn't want her…she had fought all this way for nothing. She realized she would never see her parents again. Her friends. Never go to college…get married…experience life. She would die right here by the hands of her true love. Her soul mate. And he will go one and live forever with his true mate. Someone who can give him immortality back. Someone worthy of his love. She had only one more thing to do.

Tara…

Tara…

Hey Hanna a whole mass of soldiers just ran passed. Dawn and I are in a tree hiding. Did you find Spike yet?

Yeah I found him

Are you guys almost out?

He will be out in a few minutes

He? Just him? What about you?

No I won't be coming with him.

Hanna you're scaring me, what's going on?

Tara just listen to me ok?

Tell Dawn that she is my best friend

Tell Jared and Kaye that they are my family.

Tell Buffy to please love Angel and Angel the same

And to you…thank you for being my true friend as well

Tell my parents that I love them and I'm sorry.

Tell them I did this for love…

And finally if Spike ever snaps out of this tell him I chose this…I did this for him tell him I love him and tell him I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough

Good bye Tara

No wait Hanna…

Wait no!

Wait!

Wait!

Hanna stepped closer to the couple. Spike was caressing Drusilla in a way that she only dreamed of. He was looking at Drusilla the way that he had once looked at her. She took him for granted. Waited months without him. Being stubborn. Being young and naïve. Being selfish. True love doesn't wait for you to wake up. True love happens only once. And she missed it. Now she would pay the price. She would die. She was scared. She was too young to die. But she wouldn't run from him. She would not die like pray. He will not hunt her and see her weakness. She would die by choice. She would stand firm. She would be brave. Spike deserved at least one act of bravery from her. This was her last loving act. It would hurt. But only for a short time.

"You know pet. Most people would run by this point." Spike said amusingly.

Hanna stood straighter and looked Spike in the eyes.

"What's the point of running? You're faster."

"Aren't you scared?"

"Not anymore."

Spike morphed into game face and Drusilla followed him.
"Well let's see if we can't change that."

Hanna moved her hair off of her neck and titled her head to one side. Maybe he will be gentle. Spike grabbed Hanna by the wrist and pulled her forward and held her tightly. Tightly to where she couldn't really breathe. Well maybe not. Her eyes welled with tears from the pain. She shut her eyes. She tried to imagine that Spike was just holding her. Just holding her like he used to. Hold her close and listen to her heartbeat. Hanna weakly put her hands on to Spike's shoulders. As if they were dancing or just hugging. At least she can be in his arms one last time. Hanna opened her eyes to his yellow ones. She tried to picture his blue eyes filled with love.

"I know this doesn't make any sense right now, but I love you."

She said quietly to him. He gave her a confused look, and lowered his head to her neck. Hanna closed her eyes once more and held Spike close.