A/N: S6 E19 'Seeing Red', obviously the Spike is this AU wouldn't do what happened in this ep in canon, so there's no triggering content or anything either.

Buffy clung onto Spike with every ounce of strength she had as he helped her hobble back home. That damned vampire. She was smashed over a freakin' headstone, like some kind of baby slayer out on her first patrol.

"Just embarrassing." Buffy said aloud.

"Coulda happened to anyone, Slayer." Spike promised.

"I blame the nerds, occupying all my brain lately. Gotta worry about their cameras and their Klingon and about how I'm gonna replace that jacket they ruined! I paid full price for that, not even in the sale!" Buffy scowled.

"You'll get 'em, luv. You hero types always do."

"I'm not waiting around anymore. No more Mrs Nice Slayer. If they want a fight, we're gonna give them one."

"With all the stuff Red found?" Spike guessed.

"Oh yeah. Those little dweebs don't even know what a Slayer is yet." Buffy said triumphantly, before looking down at her current state, struggling to open her own front door. "That would've been way more intimidating if I wasn't seriously wondering if my back is broken."

"It's not broken." Spike chuckled. "Reckon it's a nasty bruise though."

"Can you just help me upstairs?" Buffy mumbled, pushing open the door. Even though he was her boyfriend, she hated asking people for help.

"Surprised you even have to ask."

Spike ended up carrying her up the stairs and running her a bath, much to Buffy's dismay. When he finally settled her into the tub, the bruising on her back had started to come out. Mottled and black, spreading across her shoulder blades.

"Bloody hell."

"That bad, huh?" Buffy gave a small smile.

"I've definitely seen your back look prettier." Spike trailed kisses across the wounds tenderly.

"It'll heal. Perks of the job." Buffy assured him.

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"Wow. That almost hurt, kitten." Warren leered at Buffy.

Buffy kicked and punched and even clawed a bit at Warren, hoping anything would hurt him. She aimed a kick straight for his head, that seemed to have the most effect of anything so far, though all it did was make him tilt slightly.

Warren knocked Buffy's legs out from under her and she clattered onto her back. "Kill her! Kill her!" Andrew chanted.

"You know who I am? Huh, Slayer?" Warren loomed over her.

Buffy flipped back onto her feet. "You're a murderer."

"I'm the guy that beat you."

The Slayer swung for him again, he blocked and sent a fist careening into her jaw. "And it's not the muscles. It's the brains."

"I'll remember that when I knock them clean outta your-" Buffy suddenly felt a weight land on her back, she bucked like a bronco trying to shake Jonathan off.

"The orbs. Smash his orbs." Jonathan hissed in her ear.

Buffy tossed him aside, sending him a knowing look before allowing Warren to get one more punch in. The man hovered over her, where she crouched on the ground- waiting.

"Say goodnight, bitch."

She lunged forward, snatching the glowing blue bundle from his belt. In one swift move, Buffy smashed them against the concrete, grinding them with her palm. She flashed him a smile, "Goodnight bitch."

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"I thought I saw you out here." Tara smiled as she ducked out into the yard.

"I just woke up. Slept for hours after that fight with Warren." Buffy smiles tiredly. "Goodnight bitch, indeed."

"Huh?"

"Oh nothing." Buffy shrugged. "Getting more nocturnal than my vampire boyfriend. He's in bed upstairs."

"He was really worried about you, you know." Tara handed Buffy a mug of cocoa.

Buffy gratefully took the mug of cocoa Tara offered and took a deep gulp. "I know. It's just the chip, he couldn't have done anything anyway."

"You're completely right, but he's still allowed to worry."

"Don't tell him but..I kinda like it when he worries about me. A big scary slayer killer getting all in a twist about his girlfriend. It's cute." Buffy admitted.

"God he'd hate it if he found out you'd said that." Tara chuckled.

"Oh I know." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"He's so-"

"You think you could just do that to me?" A yell came from the side gate. "You think I'd let you get away with that?"

It was Warren, crazier than they'd ever seen him. He was fidgety and wild, brandishing a gun about threateningly.

"Buffy. He has a gun." Tara breathed.

"Don't panic I'll-"

BANG BANG

Thoughts unfinished. Breaths yet to take. The witch and the slayer dropped to the grass. Mugs smashed. Cocoa spilled. Red seeping into the green below them. Tara's scream woke Revello Drive.