Disclaimer: The work contained within is merely my playtime with the characters created by Joss Whedon and I in no way own any of them, or anything like that. Unfortunately. It sucks. But I'll just continue my plot to kidnap and clone James Marsters for myself.
Rated NC-17. Just in case.

Si Primo Venit

Hold Onto Me

He was sweating and shaking. His stomach churned in a way he hadn't experienced for centuries. His skin crawled and he could feel the poison working it's way through his system. attacking every part of him and making him feel numb but on fire at the same time. The room blurred and moved out of focus every few seconds, and he wanted more than anything to welcome the blissfulness of sleep, just so he didn't have to feel like this anymore. Even Buffy's hand felt cold to his overheated skin, and her concerned gaze burned him. He was no use to her like this.

In the hours since the poison had taken hold, he'd been taken back to his apartment. Bodies came in and out, but he couldn't pinpoint who they were or what they were doing. Someone had tried to feed him blood, but the mere attempt had left him weaker as he'd thrown up everything. At some point, he'd heard shouting, but he couldn't be sure of the words as the poison seized him. He could feel his body drifting...

Three centuries wasn't a bad run.

Buffy stared at Spike as he tossed and turned, beads of sweat running down his forehead, his usually slicked back hair sticking to his skin in wet blond curls. He was in agony, and she couldn't help him. It was tearing her in two. Willow was working to identify the poison, and Giles had brought almost all of his research material to Spike's apartment, where they had decided he would be more comfortable. Buffy had carefully got him into bed, removing his shirt and cleaning the wound, which looked angry and red, with purple veins spiking in all directions around it. Her anger at Faith had swelled to massive proportions now.

She was going to pay for this.

The front door opened, getting her attention, and she heard the younger Watcher enter, Giles greeting him gruffly. Buffy stood, moving from the bedroom with one more glance to the sick vampire on the bed.

'Did you reach the Council?' Giles was asking Wesley, who fidgeted under twin gazes.

'Yes.' He looked to Buffy hesitantly. 'They couldn't help.'

'Couldn't?' She repeated, her tone like ice.

'Wouldn't.' He repeated, having the grace to look ashamed. Buffy narrowed her eyes. Wesley swallowed hard. He'd spent a good deal of time trying to convince Travers of the situation, but had received the same message. 'It's not Council policy to cure vampires...'

'Well, did you explain these are special circumstances?' Giles demanded.

'Not under any circumstances, and yes, I did try to convince them.'

'Try again.' Her words were as hard as her eyes.

'Buffy, they're very firm. We're talking about laws that have existed longer than civilization.' He explained, but it only served to fuel the Slayer's anger.

'I'm talking about watching my lover die. I have no clue what you're talking about and I do not care.' Tears were burning her eyes as she spoke, but she daren't let them fall. Not now. There would be time for that when Spike was cured.

'We'll find a cure, Buffy.' Giles' voice was quiet and reassuring. Wesley took that moment to piss her off further.

'The Council's orders are to-'

Buffy turned on him, fury exploding outwards from her. 'Orders?' The Watcher froze, realising his words had caused her anger to be directed fully at him. She couldn't talk to the Council - he was all they had to defend them here. 'I don't think I'm gonna be taking any more orders. Not from you. Not from them.'

'You can't turn your back on the Council.' Wesley stuttered out.

'They're in England! I don't think they can tell which way my back is facing.'

Wesley turned pleading eyes to his elder Brit. 'Giles, talk to her.'

'I've nothing to say just now.'

Buffy took a step forward, her stance threatening. She raised a pointed finger at the Watcher. 'Go back to your Council-'

'Don't you see what-' Wesley started but she stopped him.

'Go and tell them that until the next Slayer shows up they can close up shop. I'm not working for them anymore.' Her words were final as she lowered her hand. Wesley gaped at her for a moment, wondering how she thought she could get away with this.

'Don't you see what's happening? Faith poisoned Spike to distract you, to keep you out of the Mayor's way. And it's working. We need a strategy to-'

She stopped him. 'I have strategy. You're not in it.'

'This is mutiny.'

Buffy cocked her head to the side, unconsciously mimicking Spike. 'I like to think of it as graduation.' She turned to Giles, effectively dismissing the now redundant Wesley. 'I can't sit around. I'm gonna go help the others.' Her eyes glanced to the bedroom. Giles nodded in acknowledgement.

'Yes, of course.'

'You'll watch him?' She asked and Giles nodded again.

'I'll call if there's the slightest change.' She smiled slightly, then moved to the door, passing Wesley. He tried once more to reason with her.

'Buffy, you don't know what you're doing.'

She glared at him. 'Get a job.'

Walking through Sunnydale, Buffy hugged herself tightly, looking straight ahead as she moved toward the school to find Willow and the others. She sensed Angel before she saw him, but she was too tired to be irritated with him.

'Buffy?' He asked softly, moving to catch up with her. She didn't pause, and he fell into step at her side easily. She noted then just how aware she was of Spike when he was with her, like they were in tune. Angel's presence was almost smothering in comparison. When she didn't reply, Angel frowned. 'Buffy, are you okay?'

'Not particularly.' She sighed, and Angel's frown deepened.

'What's happened? Are the others okay?'

'It's Spike.'

Angel's eyes widened. 'What's he done?'

'He hasn't done anything, Angel. Do you have to assume the worst of him?' She sighed. 'He's sick. Faith poisoned him. He's dying and I need to help him.'

'He's-' Angel stopped in his tracks. 'Dying? He's dying?'

Buffy nodded as she looked back at her former boyfriend. 'I need to get to the school. Willow and the others are working on a cure. Giles is with him for now.' She looked in the direction she had been taking. 'I can't let him die.' She started moving again, and a few seconds later, Angel was at her side again. He was silent, and if she'd looked at him, she would have seen his eyes downcast, concern and sadness reigning his emotions.

'He won't die, Buffy.' He said quietly. 'I'll help. Anyway I can. Maybe me and him haven't always seen eye to eye...but he's family. A-and he's important to you.'

'I love him.' She whispered. Angel blinked, looking up at her. 'I'm sorry. I know it hurts you. But I do. And watching him...'

'Have you told him?' The brunette vampire asked and she shook her head.

'I hadn't told anyone. I hadn't even said it out loud to myself.' Her voice was so quiet, if he hadn't been a vampire, he wouldn't have heard her. She looked over at him, her hazel eyes meeting his brown ones. 'I can't tell him. He'll think I'm only saying it because he might die. It's not the right time.' She smiled a little. 'You now how much of a martyr Spike can be.'

Angel grinned. 'Yeah, I do.'

The school was in sight now, and they completed the rest of the walk in quiet contemplation. When they located the other Scoobies in the science classroom, all of them were elbow deep in research. Willow looked up first.

'Hey Buffy.' She put the book down. standing and giving a cursory nod to the vampire at her friend's side. 'Angel. How's Spike?'

The Slayer smiled wearily at her friend as Xander slowly put his book down. He glared at the vampire briefly, but then returned his attention to Buffy, as worried for Spike as the others were. 'He's getting worse. Mumbling, sweating, the whole she-bang.' Her eyes shone as she looked to her best friend for answers. 'Have you found anything?'

'Finding the poison wasn't that hard. It's a mystical compound - the Latin name translates roughly as "Killer of the Dead". Used on vampires.'

'And the cure?' Buffy asked hopefully.

'There aren't a lot of instances of it being cured.' Willow said slowly.

'But there's some.' The hope in her tone was palpable.

'One or two. Pretty vague accounts.' Willow said, her hand resting on the book. The rest of the room was quiet. Oz was still thumbing through a book, and raised a hand suddenly.

'Hold it.'

All eyes turned to the werewolf. 'You got something?' Xander asked.

'I'm not sure...'

'Be sure.' Buffy demanded, the earlier hope in her voice replaced with steel.

'Okay. "Killer of the Dead." That's our boy, and here's a vamp that walked away from it.' Oz read.

'Does it talk about the cure?' Willow asked.

'Damn.' His voice was barely a breath as he said the word.

'Nothing?'

'No, it's in here, but...'

Willow reached over, taking the book and scanning the passage he was reading. 'Completely reversed the effects... Oh.' Her face went pale, and Buffy was about to burst from the tension.

'What?!' She exclaimed, making Willow jump a little. Xander looked from the Slayer to his oldest friend.

'Come on, guys. The suspense is killing Spike.'

Oz looked over at Xander, then to Buffy as he spoke evenly and clearly. 'The only cure for this thing is to drain the blood of a Slayer.' No one said anything. Silence occupied the room and a pin dropping would have deafened them. Buffy shrugged, folding her arms over her chest.

'Good.'

Xander blinked. 'Good? What'd I miss?'

'No, it's perfect. Spike needs to drain a Slayer? I'll bring him one.' Shocked expressions met her declaration.

'Buffy, if Spike drains Faith's blood it'll kill her.' Willow said. Buffy's face held no emotion as she regarded her friend.

'Not if she's already dead.' The Slayer turned, leaving the room. Angel followed quickly behind, grabbing her elbow as she made to march away. She span, glaring at him. 'I don't have time for this, Angel.'

'Buffy, listen to me-'

'I'm not letting him die. There's a way to save him.'

'You can't kill her. You're not that person, Buffy.' Angel watched the guilt in her eyes, seeing it be swallowed by the anger inside her.

'I am what I have to be. She did this. She can fix it.'

'There's another way.'

'No there isn't.'

'How do you think Spike would feel? About being responsible for the death of another Slayer?' The vampire pointed out and Buffy shrugged.

'He'll deal. It won't be him that kills her anyway.'

Angel shook his head. 'You know him better than that. Despite all she's done, he won't like it. It'll eat away at him.' He sighed. 'Trust me, I know.'

'What else do you suggest I do?' She almost yelled, desperation lacing her voice. 'I can't...I can't let him die again, Angel.'

He reached out to her, but she knocked his hand away. 'Buffy, please.'

'I have to do this.'

'No.' He said. 'No. You don't. I can do it.'

Buffy looked at him in surprise. 'What? No, Angel-'

'Look, we'll go and find her. We can contain her. I will take what is needed and keep her alive long enough for medical help. Then I'll go to Spike and he can take the cure from me.' Buffy blinked at his plan as he looked at her in earnest.

'But you hate Spike.'

'I don't hate him as much as I loved you.' Angel said quietly and Buffy stilled. The vampire looked down. 'And like I said, he's family. I can't stand by and watch him die, any more than I can stand by and watch you take a human life.'

'You'd really do this?' She asked quietly and he nodded.

'For you, I will.'

Buffy felt sick at the sight of her former ally, as she sat eating junk food and reading comics on the bed in the lush apartment the Mayor had gifted her. The music was blaring, and the carefree attitude Faith displayed was making Buffy angrier. She reached out, turning the stereo off and getting Faith's attention. The dark haired Slayer rolled from the bed, standing to face the blonde, her body shaking with tension and excitement.

'I thought I'd stop by.' Buffy said, keeping her tone even.

Faith smiled and Buffy wanted to break her face. 'Is he dead yet?'

'He's not gonna die. Good try, though.' She replied. '"A" for effort. Your plan?'

Faith nodded proudly. 'Uh-huh. Mayor got me the poison. Said it was wicked painful.'

'There's a cure.' Buffy said quietly and the other slayer looked disappointed.

'Damn. What is it?'

'Your blood.' She watched the other girl's face as she absorbed the information. 'As justice goes, it's not unpoetic. Don't you think?'

'You come here to get me? Gonna feed me to Spike?' Buffy nodded. 'You know you're not gonna take me alive.'

'That's not a problem.'

Faith smiled again, sweeping her eyes over the blonde. 'Well, look at you, all dressed up in big sister's clothes.' She moved forward, her gaze locked with Buffy's as the other slayer mirrored her actions.

'You told me I was just like you, Faith. That I was only holding it in.'

'You ready to cut loose?'

'Try me.' Buffy was almost shaking in anticipation of the fight.

'Okay then. Give us a kiss.' Faith's head reeled back as Buffy punched her hard. She recovered quickly, twirling around and landing a backhanded punch to the blonde. They regarded each other for a second before the fight really began. Kicks and punched flew, each countering with precision and efficiency. It was a brutal ballet, filled with rage and pent up emotions from the past few months. The television smashed in their wake and Faith dismantled a table as she landed on it from a particularly hard kick to the stomach.

No words were exchanged between them as they hit back and forth, moving around the apartment. Buffy threw a hard right to the brunette, but Faith span out of reach, grabbing the other slayer in a lock from behind. They tussled for control, Faith's mouth close to Buffy's ear.

'Not getting tired, are you? I'm just starting to feel it.' Buffy didn't reply, instead propelling herself backwards, and slamming Faith into the wall. The grip was broken, and Buffy threw the dark slayer up onto the landing in front of the window. Faith scrambled to her feet as Buffy ran for her, spearing her backwards, the window smashing as they fell through it and onto the rooftop outside.

As Faith lay on her back, groaning from the impact, Buffy reached around pulling the handcuffs from her back pocket, quickly securing them together.

'Stick around.'

Spike's head thrashed on the pillows as he groaned, the sweat on his skin soaking the sheets below him. Willow watched, Oz at her side as he cried out in pain, only one word discernible between the gasps, shouts and moans.

'Buffy...'

'What's the matter? All that killing and you're afraid to die?' Buffy asked, as Faith pulled at the cuffs. She countered Buffy's words with a punch, grunting as she tried to get away from the bindings. Buffy hit her back, then pinned her down, pulling the knife from where it was holstered under her shirt. She held it up for Faith to see, and the brunette glared.

'That's mine.'

'You're about to get it back.' Buffy ground out, punching her hard again. Faith kicked out, and pulled again at the cuffs, snapping the chain. She pulled away, twisting and punching.

'Man, I'm gonna miss this...' Faith grinned, and Buffy saw red, lunging forward and bringing the knife closer. It slid through the darker slayer like a knife through butter, and both girls' eyes widened in realisation of what had occurred. A trickle of blood escaped from Faith's mouth as Buffy pulled the knife free, backing off slowly in realisation of what she'd done. Faith took advantage and upper cutted Buffy, sending her flying across the rooftop.

'You did it.' Faith said as she looked down at the wound in her stomach. 'You killed me.' She looked up at Buffy. 'Still won't help your boy though.' Her eyes grew distant. 'You shoulda been there, Buffy. Quite a ride.' The sound of a truck passing below reached Buffy's ears and she realised what Faith was going to do. As the dark slayer went to take a step back and fling herself over the edge, Angel appeared behind her. He grabbed her neck as Faith grunted, her plan foiled and anger on her face.

'Sorry, Faith. You missed your ride.' He vamped out and sank his fangs in, drinking deep as Buffy watched.

To Be Continued...

I know this chapter is slightly shorter than others, but it conveyed what I needed for this portion of our tale. I hope you enjoy :)