Kat was worried. More than worried, she was terrified. She couldn't stop pacing the magic shop as Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya argued between each other. Buffy and Giles were away, some kind of spiritual quest Kat wouldn't pretend to understand. But that was the least of their worries. Xander had gone to get Spike for an impromptu Scooby meeting and when he'd returned, he'd let them all know that Glory had kidnapped Spike, thinking he was the key. Kat felt sick with worry. He wasn't the key but she could only imagine what Glory was doing to him to get him to talk. And with Buffy not here, they had no idea what to do.
"We need to go to Buff's, grab some weapons and go in guns blazing. We need to get Spike out of there before he blabs his big mouth," Xander's arms wildly gestured about with agitated energy.
"He won't blab," Kat bit out for the millionth time.
"He doesn't have a soul, of course he will. He'll do what's best for him and if that means no torture, you bet he's talking!" Xander argued.
"He won't talk! He cares about Dawn and he's changed now!" Kat argued back angrily. She understood why they had no faith in him after all he'd done, but he'd changed and it drove her crazy that other people couldn't seem to see it.
"Guys, let's not argue. We need a plan," Willow murmured softly, a frown on her face. Kat agreed about getting Spike out of there but not because he might talk. She knew he wouldn't. She didn't want him being tortured over this. She couldn't stand the thought of him being in pain.
The plan was simple. They gear up and head out to Glory, getting Spike back. They weren't stupid enough to think they'd be able to take the Goddess down, but they just needed enough time to grab Spike. They'd have to deal with the consequences later. They were about to go into battle and Kat was a bundle of nervous energy. Not only was she doing this for Dawn, like the others, but she was doing this for Spike. Her emotions and worry about Spike possibly losing his life were locked tightly in a chest in her mind. She couldn't even think about that right now. They were just about to head out when a miracle in the form of Buffy and Giles appeared.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked as she eyed them all up with their weapons. Everyone spoke at once as Kat felt relief seep into her bones. It wouldn't matter to her that she thought Spike might talk. It just meant she'd be more eager to get him out of there. The only downside was when Buffy told her to stay there with Dawn. Kat didn't want to sit here and wait. Not knowing if Spike was alive or not. But she had no choice and it wasn't like she could offer much to the fight either.
It felt like hours before Buffy came strolling back in the house, a little beat up. Dawn was safely tucked up in bed. Kat jumped off the sofa where she'd been still as a statue the whole time.
"Is he…?" She trailed off, voice wobbling. Buffy gave her a sympathetic look.
"He's fine. Pretty beat up, but he's still alive. Or not alive… whatever," she shook her head, running a hand through her hair. Kat nodded, her whole body relaxing at the news.
"He didn't tell Glory… about Dawn. He said he'd never do that to Dawn… or you. So I guess you were right," she admitted sheepishly.
"I told everyone he wouldn't say anything," Kat huffed weakly. Buffy nodded, taking her hand.
"I know. And we didn't see it, but now we do. He really has changed. I think you're a good influence on him," she smirked wryly. Kat acted like she didn't feel her cheeks heat up.
"Anyway… he's uh… pretty roughed up. Maybe a visit from his new bestie will help," Buffy suggested. Kat wasn't sure if Buffy had sussed out her feelings or not. The girl could be wicked perceptive when she wanted to be. She really hoped she hadn't.
"Yeah, I'll go see him," Kat murmured. She was already planning on it. She needed to see with her own eyes he was okay. And if Buffy was saying he was pretty beaten up, she knew it wasn't good.
She grabbed her jacket before heading out into the chilly nighttime air. She got to his crypt in no time. Feeling too impatient, she didn't even knock as she opened the door. A soft gasp left her lips as she saw Spike sitting on the tomb, glancing at her as she stood there. He was covered in blood and bruises and one of his eyes was swollen so much she was sure he couldn't see out of it. What had Glory done to him? She felt her lower lip tremble a little, her throat tightening as she slowly walked towards him.
"Spike…" she breathed, her voice catching in her throat.
"I'm alright," he muttered weakly. She shook her head before she rushed over to him, her eyes hovering over all of his wounds. He did this for Dawn.
"No, you're not," she frowned sadly.
"I already told the Slayer, I didn't say a sodd-" he started bitterly.
"I know. I already knew you wouldn't. I told the others too, but now they know. I always had faith in you, Spike," she said softly. He blinked his good eye at her for a moment before he looked down, swallowing thickly.
"You really believed in me?" He asked, a touch of vulnerability in his voice.
"Of course I did. I told you, you're a good man. I never doubted you," she said sincerely. A small smile graced his face as he reached a hand out. She presumed he was going to tuck her hair behind her ear, a habit he'd seemed to pick up. Instead, he winced with a groan as his hand fell back to his side.
"Alright, come on," she muttered firmly, helping him off the tomb.
He followed her slowly as she maneuvered him to the sofa. He watched as she flitted off to find the supplies and medical kit she needed. He felt like death warmed over, and that was saying something. He'd endured a lot in his unlife but Glory was a sadistic bitch. He was hurting like a mother. All he could do was watch as Kat came hurrying back over to him. She'd seemed worried about him and he felt touched. Felt touched at the fact she knew he wouldn't tell the Glory bitch about Dawn. Such blind trust, it made his insides ache. She rushed back to sit next to him on the sofa, the med kit in one hand and a bottle of whisky in the other. He'd heal a hell of a lot faster than a human would but he was still badly beaten up. He was just glad Kat hadn't been with him. The thought made fear stab at him as anger built up inside too. He'd burn the whole world to the ground if anything happened to her.
"This is gonna sting," she murmured, her face the picture of guilt, as if she'd been the one to beat him to a bloody pulp in the first place.
"It's alright," he soothed. He couldn't help it. She'd been so upset about the state of him, he'd forgotten what it was like to have someone truly care about him like this. She got to work cleaning his wounds, apologizing profusely at every wince and grimace he made. He'd tried not to let it show but it was hard. He watched her face as she helped patch him up. How her brows were furrowed, a look of concentration marred with sadness on her pretty face. He'd never liked being pandered to. Never much liked needing to be looked after. He'd loathed it when Buffy had put him in a wheelchair. There was nothing worse to him than feeling helpless. But this he didn't mind so much. Having Kat tenderly take care of him like this, her concern visible and making him feel like he mattered. He idly wondered if this was what it would be like if they ever got together, Tara's words still fresh in his mind. He hadn't told Kat, of course. He wasn't sure how she'd react. Not only about the fact he had feelings for her and he was a vampire, but he also knew her well enough to know the girl had some commitment issues. Kat hadn't ever really spoken about her one and only relationship, but he'd caught snippets here and there and heard her cryptic comments. The guy sounded like a right sod and Spike wanted to get his hands on him. Either way, it left Kat jaded about love it seemed, so he knew to tread lightly. It would be much easier to try to get her to fall in love with him first. He knew she was attracted to him, although she tried to act differently. But he'd hear her heart pick up, see her cheeks flush and smell her arousal when he'd make a comment or get too close. And then there was the almost kiss at the cemetery. He'd been about to throw caution to the wind and kiss her senseless after her soft and tender words, only to be interrupted by the whelp and his ex-demon lover. It was a good thing though. He'd chided himself the whole walk back to her house. Maybe she would have kissed him back, but then she would have freaked out and she'd never speak to him again. She wasn't ready. Not yet.
He felt his good eye drooping as she gently cleaned his wounds and bandaged what needed covering. She was humming a soft tune and he was sure she didn't even know she was doing it. It was making him sleepy though and he felt his body relaxing, being pulled into the darkness waiting for him. He wasn't sure how long he slept for, but when he woke up, he groaned, sitting up fully and feeling all the aches in his body. He'd started healing, but the worst injuries would take a while. He glanced around with his unswollen eye, the other starting to be a little less swollen. He'd presumed Kat had gone home, disappointment swelling in his chest, but it was swept away quickly when he spotted her. Poor girl was curled up on the tomb while he'd been snoozing on the sofa. He wouldn't have minded her waking him to make room, or for her to just wander downstairs and sleep in his bed. While he didn't mind the tomb so much, he knew it wasn't comfortable.
He stood, wincing and rolling his shoulder as he tried to push the pain away. He'd had many years of practice to try and ignore pain when he felt it. He padded over to her, seeing her fast asleep. He couldn't let her sleep here like this. He carefully lifted her in his arms, ignoring the searing pain in his ribs as he did. She didn't even stir, not when he not so gracefully made his way down the ladder with her. He mused she hadn't been sleeping much lately. She'd been pretty upset when she'd confessed her nightmare and he was curious what else was in it that plagued her. He doubted a few tarot cards were enough to drive her to almost tears. He gently lay her on the bed, carefully maneuvering the blankets until he could cover her with them. She rolled onto her side but didn't wake up, snuggling inside his blankets. He took note he needed to get a duvet or something for if she stayed again, the place could get cold. Didn't bother him, but it'd bother her. He moved around to the other side of the bed, groaning under his breath as he took off his boots. He didn't bother to undress as he lay facing her on top of the covers. He couldn't help but take stock of how truly beautiful she was. Her long dark lashes framing her face, her soft pouty lips all pink and plump. He didn't think he'd ever seen anyone so beautiful in his entire life, and he'd lived a long time. It wasn't just her looks, though. He'd always been attracted to her. But once she allowed him to really see inside of her, to really get to know her, he lost himself entirely. She was beautiful inside and out. Carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and acted like she didn't. Took on everyone else's problems so she didn't need to deal with her own. His hand reached out on its own accord, tucking her hair behind her ear. She stirred a little and his hand stilled next to her face. She didn't wake up though, just rubbed her cheek against his hand with a soft sigh before she started snoring lightly. Bloody hell, he loved her. Loved her like he'd never loved anyone before. Loved her so much that he'd be content with just being her friend if it meant he got to keep her in his life. Selflessness had never been a trait he possessed until she came into his life. She was changing him. And while in the past he would have been angry about it, thinking she was turning him into a soft pansy, now he didn't even mind it. He wanted to be better, to be a good man for her. He needed to be worthy of her affections because she deserved nothing less than a good man that could love every part of her. He really hoped that maybe one day he'd be able to be that man for her.