A/N: Hey all, check me out updating twice in the same month! Thanks for sticking with this, I really appreciate each and every reader and your lovely reviews keep me going when it's getting tough. I know it's short, but the next shouldn't be far behind, and I think there's plenty in here to make you smile :o)

Buffy knocked on the Magic Box door, glancing at the 'Closed' sign in the window, and within a few seconds she heard the bolt scraping back. The door swung open to reveal Giles, and she braced herself for a sarcastic, 'Nice of you both to join us'. Instead he wore a soft frown which he tried to cover with a smile.

'Giles?' she said cautiously, walking past him. 'What's up?'

'Up? What makes you think something's up?' he asked, closing and locking the door behind them.

'No lecture on my tardiness, plus answering my question with a question, equals something's up,' she said, hands on hips. 'Are the British witches not coming?'

'No – or rather, yes, - that is, they should be here shortly,' he said, clearly flustered. 'Perhaps I could have a word in private?'

'Don't mind me,' Xander said, pointing to where Willow, Tara and Lydia were sitting at the table. 'I'll go join the ladies over at Research Central.'

'So spill,' Buffy said to Giles.

'We have confirmation that Glory is indeed staying in the empty apartment building we discovered,' Giles began.

Buffy interrupted, 'One of your shady sources come through?'

'In a manner of speaking, I suppose,' Giles said. 'Actually, it was Spike.'

'Spike?' Buffy repeated, something inside her shivering at the sound of his name. 'How does he...when did he...where was he...'

'He waited for us last night, at the park, but before we arrived he was abducted by Glory's followers.'

'What?!' Buffy gasped, panicked. 'Is he okay?'

'He's healing,' Giles said. 'He's quite safe, he's with your mother at my apartment.'

'What do you mean, healing?' Buffy asked, lip trembling. 'Exactly what did Glory do to him?'

'She interrogated him somewhat, ah, aggressively, for information on you and the location of the Gateway. He's rather badly hurt, I'm afraid,' Giles said gently. 'Several broken ribs, a shattered cheekbone, cuts and bruises, a few burns, possible fractured wrist...'

'Oh my God,' Buffy breathed, head spinning. He did show up after all...he came to help me, after I was so mean to him yesterday, and look what happened to him...he must really hate me now.

'Don't worry, Buffy, I don't believe he told her anything,' Giles reassured her.

'Of course he didn't,' Buffy snapped. 'I have to go see him.'

Giles caught her arm as she span to leave. 'Buffy, wait. The witches will be here any time now, and we must press on with the summoning spell while we have the element of surprise.'

'So call me when they arrive,' Buffy said, shrugging him off gently. Off his disapproving look she went on, 'Giles, Spike got himself hurt for me – badly hurt, almost-dead-for-good-hurt. I can't leave him laying there thinking that doesn't mean anything to me.'

'I understand,' Giles nodded, making her blink in surprise. 'Go. I'll give you as long as I can before I call you back, but Buffy – this spell really cannot wait.'

'I know that,' Buffy said quietly. 'Don't worry, Giles, the Slayer will be ready.'

'Of course she will,' he said, smiling.

Buffy nodded and slid back the door bolt. 'Thanks,' she said, glancing back, and then she was gone.

'You're welcome,' Giles said to the empty air.

Buffy let herself in through Giles's front door, calling, 'Mom?'

'Buffy?' Joyce replied, appearing at the top of the stairs. 'What are you doing here?'

'I came to see Spike,' Buffy said, taking the steps two at a time. 'Is he in here?'

'Buffy, wait,' Joyce said, stepping in front of her. 'I know you want to know what happened, find out what you can about Glory, but he's not up to it right now. He needs some time to - '

'Mom, that's not why I'm here,' Buffy interrupted. 'I just...I had to see him.'

Joyce looked into her daughter's eyes, their green depths brimming with emotion, and smiled. 'Of course. I'll be downstairs if you need me.'

'Thanks Mom,' Buffy whispered. They hugged, brief and hard, and then Buffy found herself alone in a darkened room with the former bane of her life.

'Spike?' she said softly. The lump under the bedclothes stirred and then a white-blond head and pale shoulder were emerging.

'Buffy?' said Spike's voice, hoarse and thick with sleep. 'Wha's goin' on? Is Glory...'

'Nothing's going on,' Buffy said, sitting on the chair by the bed. 'I just wanted to come see you. Giles said you were hurt pretty bad.'

'I've had worse,' Spike said, sitting up with a wince which he tried to hide. 'Done worse, come to that.'

Buffy nodded, her heart clenching as she got a look at his face. His expressive blue eyes were smudged with purple, one all but swollen shut; his full bottom lip was puffy and cut; his cheekbones were smeared with bruises; his nose was a broken mess. She felt tears welling up and looked down at his hands.

'Buffy?' Spike prompted gently.

'I'm so sorry, Spike,' she said, tears bubbling over. 'I'm sorry that you got hurt, and I'm sorry for what I said, and I'm...I'm just so sorry.'

'Shh, pet,' Spike said, reaching for her and biting back a gasp as his wounds protested.

'Oh, no, don't...God, Spike, don't try and comfort me,' Buffy said, sniffling. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, taking one of his hands in both of hers. She rubbed her thumb gently across his split knuckles. 'How did you get away?'

'My fearsome cunning and ingenuity,' Spike said with a smile, which melted into a frown. 'Actually, I'm not sure I remember...I mean, I think I do, but it makes no sense...'

'It doesn't matter now,' Buffy interrupted gently. 'What matters is that you're safe, and that you get better.'

'S'that right?' he asked, face soft and disbelieving.

Buffy nodded, heart in her throat. 'Can I get you anything – more blood?'

Spike grimaced. 'Yeah, I guess I should force some more down. Never was that keen on pigs' blood, and it's even more disgustin' through a straw.'

Buffy stood, then paused. A thought flitted through her mind – a crazy, insane, impossible thought – and before she could think it through and dismiss it, Buffy decided to act on it. She kicked off her shoes and yanked her sweater over her head.

'Buffy?' Spike asked, bewildered, as she stood there barefoot in jeans and a white tank top.

'Are you wearing anything under there?' Buffy asked, one eyebrow raised.

'To my shame, Giles's tartan pyjama pants,' he said. 'Why?'

'Lie down,' Buffy replied.

Spike obeyed, his face saying he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Buffy pulled back the comforter and got into the bed, trying not to look at his wounded body.

'Buffy, love, what are you doin'?' Spike asked. 'I only ask 'cos when I've mentally played our first night in bed together, I usually have a greater range of motion than a T-rex in a straightjacket.'

Buffy smiled. 'Dream on, fang boy,' she said lightly. 'You need blood; I have a ready supply of the super-strength variety.'

Spike's face was suddenly filled with awe and love so strong it made her tremble. 'You'd let me...you'd let me bite you?'

'Not like it's the first time,' she said, mouth quirking in a quick smile. 'C'mon, Spike, don't make this a big deal.'

'Whatever you say, pet. How should I...?'

'Come here,' she said, putting her arm around his shoulders so he was lying against her on his side, head pillowed on her shoulder, face nestling her neck.

For a long moment he just brushed his face against her skin, breathing in her smell. His left arm came up to rest across her waist, and he was amazed when she let it stay there. Then, gently, he pressed his mouth to her throat.

Buffy's eyes closed as he felt Spike's tongue against her skin, his body pressed up along her side, his hand a pleasant weight on her stomach. She brought her right hand up to rest on his forearm, holding him in place, and she felt him smile. Then, soft and smooth, there were teeth in her throat and Spike was making contented noises that made her glow from head to toe.