To Part Now-

To Part Now- Last Part of "What We Lost Collection"

by: Isabelle

-Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they are all Joss. Lyrics Whenever You Call by Mariah Carey.

-Summary: Sequel to "In Exile", Spike races against time to save Buffy's life.

-Distribution: People who have contacted me and I've given them an ok, other than that please ask!

-Rating: PG-13 (Language, Violence)

-Author's Note: Feed me FEEDBACK!!!! :) bih80@yahoo.com

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Love wandered inside

Stronger than you, Stronger than I

And now that it has begun

We cannot turn back

We can only turn into one

She wandered alone, late night, dark night, cold night. Drifting off in her thoughts, at times she could almost hear him coming, nearer and nearer. But the feeling would disappear, fade away into the late, dark, cold night.

Holding tight to her sword at hand, all senses alert, just waiting for that precise moment that the creature would dare show its face.

She hated killing demons, they were so messy, leaving a corpse behind and their blood usually did not go with her outfits. So she had dressed down, nothing fancy, it's not like she was out to impress anybody.

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I won't ever be too far to feel you

And I wont hesitate at all

Whenever you call

And I'll always remember the part of you so tender

I'll be the one to catch your fall

Whenever you call

Spike raced through town, breaking all speed limits, eating all stop signs, going through every red light. He didn't care, his entire thoughts were concentrated in the petite woman who was currently patrolling all alone and in great danger.

He could hear the mock laughter of the crazy man ringing on his ear "You'll be too late, vampire". He'll never forgive himself if he let anything happen to her when he was able to prevent it.

He knew exactly were she'd be at, he knew all her nightly patrols, he could even picture what she was wearing, probably something casual, specially this late into the morning hours. He knew he would be risking it, but he would rather fry in the sunlight than let her die.

Approching the cementary were she was at, he parked his car as far as it could go in and jumped out not even turning the engine off. He flew over the hood and began running, running as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran like the wind, like this entire universe depended on his destination, well it did. At least his universe, she died and so did he.

He stopped and smelled the night air and found it, her scent. He picked up his pace again and he followed the scent of the woman he loved.

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And I'm truly inspired, finding my soul

There in your eyes

And you have opened my heart

And lifted me inside

By showing me yourself, undisguised

Buffy felt when the creature approached but she was ready for the bastard. She abruptly turned to stare at her opponet and there it was, six feet tall, poo-poo brown, and one horn coming out the middle of his forehead.

"Well hello, beautiful, glad you could join me." She said standing on her fighting pose.

The demon lashed out at her and she ducked it, landing behind him and rapidly kicking him hard on his spinal muscle. The creature roared in annoyance with the slayer, she smiled playfully. "Did I do that?" she asked innocently.

The creature attacked her again hitting her face and sending her flying, bumping against a tree.

She quickly got up and lashed at it with her holy sword, it slashed his arms. The demon cried out in pain but wasted no time and grabbed her neck, lifting her up into the air.

Buffy thought quickly, bringing her heavy sword she ran it through the creature as she tried not to choke.

The animal let her go and stumbled on to the ground, falling in a heap of green blood and guts.

"Now that was disgusting!" She thought as she lifted herself from the ground, she looked over to the monster, he was dead.

She led out a large sigh, all in a nights work.

She bend down and pulled the large sword from the creatures chest, she liked that sword, it reminded her of Simbad. Buffy looked down at the disfigured corpse and grimaced.

Spike would have liked to kill this one. She thought saddly. Damn, happy thoughts, think happy.....

"BUFFY!!"

Her boy froze.

"Slayer!"

She turned, could it be him? Was she dreaming?

But she saw him, running to her as fast as he could. She dropped her sword as her heart lifted with hapines. He was back!

"Buffy!" he cried out as he saw, she was alright. Thank God!

I wont ever be too far to feel you

And I wont hesitate at all

Whenever you call

And I'll always remember, the part of you so tender

I'll be the one to catch your fall

Whenever you call

A large smile grew on her face, cause by pure delighted happiness, she did not care why he was back or that she must look of fright, but that he was back. She wanted to run to his arms, those arms that had held her so many times and protected her in the nights, from those demons she could not fight. And there he was!

"Spike!" she whispered in contentment.

He saw her smile and wanted to grab her and never let her go. He had missed that smile so much, the perfect teeth, the lines that her face made near her eyes, indicating signs of aging too mature for her indicated age. His Buffy. His Slayer. His girl.

As relief turned into horror as he saw the beast that was lying on the floor by her feet jump up at supernatural speed and horn his love through her stomach.

"NO!!!!" He screamed to the top of his lungs as his feet could not carry him fast enough and she was too pre-occupied with him to notice the demon rise.

She felt hot-cold pain go through her body, but she did not take her eyes off Spike. All her senses screamed that this was her moment. And she knew it, but she wanted to look at him one last time. She wanted to tell him that she loved him but as she spoke only blood came out of her mouth, she could feel the coppery taste bubbling through her teeth and down her soiled shirt.

It felt like being lifted, as if the last words were not meant to be, like all the moments that flashed before her were enough to tell all tales off fallen slayers and lost loves.

Spike launched foward as the slayer's body lumped to the ground, he ran to the weak demon and lashing out with all his furry grabbed its head and twisted it off.

He felt the strength and power running through his veins, it was born out of pain, anger and vengeance. The dead body of the demon fell to his feet.

Spike wasted no time and croached next to his love. He craddeled her on his arms, but couldn't say a word. Afraid that if he asked she would not answer, and if he stayed silent perhaps he could prevent the entire thing from happening, making it less real, making it a dream.

"Spike?" she whispered through bloody lips.

He swallowed hard and heavy, he could hear her heart beat dropping and slowing to a peaceful state.

"Yeah, pet?" He asked realizing that there were water dropplets falling on her face, clear dropplets that marked her pure face with his anguish and pain, his realization of failure, his inability to save the one thing he loved more than anything in this world.

And I will breath for you each day

Comfort you through all the pain, gently kiss you fears away

You can turn to me and cry

Always understand that I

Give you all I am inside

"Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time." she whispered to him as her eyes fluttered open with much difficulty.

He let out a sob as he lowered his face and genlty kissed her blood-bathed lips.

The kiss was gentle, the kiss was a goodbye, a thank you for all those times I will not mention, and a 'I will always remeber you' kiss.

"Buffy, please hang on, I'm gonna get you help. You're gonna be alright." he cried as she gently smiled at him.

"I...I love you." she whispered.

He composed his emotional strength and lifted her easily into his arms and started running towards his car.

"Hold on, baby. You're gonna make it."

He raced through the shirt path that led to his Desoto and gently placed her in the passenger seat. She was unconscious but alive, he could still hear her faint but strong heartbeat.

He jumped behing the well and drove out. "You're gonna make it, luv. I'll be dammed if you die on the seat of my car."

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I wont ever be too far to feel you

And I won't hesitate at all

Whenever you call

And I'll always remember the part of you so tender

I'll be the one to catch your fall

Whenever you call

The black vintage classic made an abrupt halt at the doors of the emergency room and a pale young man jumped out of the drivers seat and raced to the passenger side and took out a frail bloody body of blonde girl. He gathered her as if she were the most important thing in his unlife.

The stormed into the room and yelled for help. Nurses came immedietly to loom at the condition of the semi-conscious girl and thier faces fell in realization that this one was not going to make it.

She's strong he said, she'll make it, she just needs blood, she's lost too much, he kept saying. They brought out a stretcher and he rapidly placed her on it.

She opened her eyes as he let her go.

"Don't leave me." she whispered to him.

"Never." he replied quickly kissing her forehead before they raced with her body down the long white hall.

He watched helpless as she disappeared through the corridors and it took all his strength not to run after hr and hold her in his arms.

He felt like his heart was being ripped to pieces, as if the moment they took her, they took him too.

He looked at the nurse that was talking to him asking him unimportant questions about family name and things he really didn't know. He only knew one thing the girl was his life and he loved her and she was going to live. That's all he knew, he forgot everything, he didn't remember his name, her name, what happened.

Why couldn't they ask simple questions, questions he knew the answers to without doubt. Answers he should have told the dying girl before it was too late, before his lips were dripping with her blood, before his car stunk of dead spirits, before she whispered things to him that he had never told her.

He looked down at his bloody hands, hands that missed pure substances of life, blood, tears, and dirt.

He looked up to the dark nurse that was asking him if he was alright. He looked at her with tears running down his cheeks and blood dripping from his lips.

"Please don't let her die." he whispered to the kind face.

She looked at him for a moment and gently squeezed his upper arm, giving him an understanding smile and walked away.

He didn't get no "She'll be alright, We'll do the best we can, She's strong she'll pull through, It wasn't that bad, She'll be good as new in no time." He only got a smile, That smile that meant we have no control.

He had no control. If she was fated to die, then powers that were above had made that decision and no matter how fast he ran, how much he shouted her name into the dark cold night, the silent thunder of heaven had given its veredict.

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I wont ever be too far to feel you

And I won't hesitate at all

Whenever you call

Spike had sat stoned face for about half and hour when he saw a doctor emerge from the doors they took Buffy through.

He walked up to Spike and looked him over carefully.

"Were you the one who came in with the young lady and the stomach wound?" the elder man asked.

"Is she alright, is she dead, can I see her?" Spike spit out too quickly as he stood to meet the man.

The man took off his glasses and sighted. "She's alive and recovering. The girl had surprising healing abilities, astounding..."

"Yes, yes, I know, but is she alright?" Spike asked impatiently.

The man smiled. "She's unconscious right now, but in a couple of hours she'll be alright."

Spike without thinking lashed out and hugged the man, who froze and awkwardly patted the young man on the back.

Spike pulled back embarrassed by his performance and looked to the floor. "Can I see 'her?" he asked.

The doctor looked at his face carefully and replaced his glasses. "For a couple of minutes, she needs her rest, you understand?"

Spike nodded in thanks and followed the man down a series of corridors that led to the critical condition private rooms.

He stopped in front of the door and opened it carefully. "You have five minutes." he told Spike quietly.

"Thank You." Spike replied gratefully as he waled through the door and into the darked room.

The door shut gently behind him as he looked up to the bed were she slept peacefully.

She looked angelic, placid, tranquil. The dim light on the nightstand gave the room a halcyon look that screamed all the opposites traits of a slayer and her worries.

He slowly walked to the bedside to look at her. She was pale, but her heartbeat was steady, which was a good sign. A small tube went through her nostrils and an angry neadle was securely tapped on her small swollen hand.

He wanted to rip it all away and take her out of there. He knew she hated hospitals, she would not be happy when she woke up.

Gently he held her small hand, carefully not to touch the IV and kissed it and he bend down to look at her better.

"I'm sorry, pet." he whispered. His eyes traveled to her face and he frowned when he realized she couldn't hear him.

He gently brushed a fallen strand of hair from her face. He loved her so much he could just combust of feeling at this moment.

"I love you, baby." he whispered as he gently kissed her swollen lips. He could feel the warmth of her skin burning his pale lips and with all the strength he could muster he let her go.

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I won't ever be too far to feel you

And I wont hesitate at all

Whenever you call

And I'll always remember the part of you so tender

I'll be the one to catch your fall

When ever you call

The black clad figure walked up to the nurses desk in a slow central motion. The tired woman looked at him and frowned. Here comes another one.

"Please make sure that Miss. Summers receives this." he said as he handed her an envelope.

She looked at him indifferently and nodded as she took the white envelope that read "Slayer".

He looked at her and walked away, not pausing, no turning, just walking away.

He bumped into a man in the hall and without looking back he excused himself and walked down his lonely path.

The man he bumped into looked at the mumbled apologetic man and stopped as he recognized the bleached blonde head.

The brunette looked from the nurses station to the black duster and rushed to the tired woman on the desk.

"Excuse me? What did that man want?" he asked.

She looked at him through her thick glasses. "Who are you?" she asked tiredly.

"Alexander Harris, what did that man with the blonde hair want?" Xander asked impatiently.

"Leaving something for Miss. Summers." she replied and looked back down at her paper work.

"Can I see what he left?" he asked thirstily.

She looked at him skeptically and raised a doubtful eyebrow.

"Listen I am her best friend and I NEED to know what he left." he said sternly.

The woman couldn't care less and reached out and handed the man the envelope that had been left.

Xander took the envelope and opened it quickly, not bothering with being kind or gentle.

He took a relatively short note out and read the well scripted ancient writing.

Buffy,

I really don't know what to say except that I love you. I've always loved you and I swear on all that I hold dear that I will always love you. But We cannot be.

No matter how much I love you and you love me I will always be a vampire and you will always be the slayer. And all we have to keep are those short yet priceless moments of happiness that will live in my memories for an eternity.

I know you will hate me for what I am doing, I know you'll think that you'll never survive, but I know you Summers, you will get through this and you will survive.

Tonight you were not meant to die but I was mean to leave. Please don't think of it as if I left you, but more like we let each other go. Your fairy tale has not ended, your prince will come someday, and someday you will understand.

You will not see me again, but I will. I will see you in every corner at every moment in time. I will never leave you. When you feel alone and sad, unsure and depressed remember this: I am there, with you, in spirit and in soul.

Take care my love,

Until Forever,

William

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"Then it don't matter. I'll be all aroun' in the dark. I'll be ever'where--wherever you can look. Wherever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there, I'll be in the way guys yell where they're mad--an' I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise, an' livin' in the houses they built, I'll be there too. "

from The Grapes of Wrath

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THE END.