A lifeless heart should not hurt this much

Title:  Aftermath (1/?)

Author: Roxane

Feedback:  Is the best thing ever!  Send to roxsedai@nycap.rr.com

Archive: Sure, take it…just let me know where.

Spoilers: Up to and including The Gift

Rating: R

Disclaimer:  If I owned Spike, I would not be wasting my time writing fiction! g

Summary: This takes off  where the finale ended. 

Author's note:  This is my first ever Buffy fic.  I hope I do this wonderful show justice.

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A lifeless heart should not hurt this much.

Spike lowered his hands and looked towards the Slayer's body, once again feeling a hard iron fist grip his heart, squeezing tight.  He swung away, feeling a great need to run, to get as far away as possible, but a movement in the shadows caught his eye.   A low growl sounded in his throat as he saw three of Glory's minions gathering around Ben's body, and in a flash, his grief funneled into a thundering rage, pain giving way to a familiar, welcome blood lust, and the demon within transformed his face as he launched himself at the minions with a howl, grabbing the first one by the head and snapping his neck with one vicious twist.  The second died just as quickly, and Spike slowly turned his feral eyes towards the third, baring his fangs in a snarling simulation of a smile.

 "You picked the wrong god to worship, little beastie."

With sinuous grace, he stalked the quivering creature, backing him into a wall. 

The doomed toady's eyes darted around, frantically searching escape, and they brightened at seeing the strong rays of morning sunlight beaming down less than a yard from where he stood.  He shuffled sideways, keeping one wary eye on the beast who menaced him, then lunged out of the shadows.

Unfortunately for him, death followed him into the light.

                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn stared numbly at her sister's body.  Alone.  She was all alone now.  No Mom.  No Buffy.  No one. 

Who was going to take care of her?  What if someone else wanted the Key?  How could she ever feel safe again?  The only other person she'd ever felt safe with since this whole Key thing started was…

Spike.  Oh, my God.    Where's Spike?

She moved down the last few steps from the tower as fast as her wounds would allow, scanning the area for the vampire.  She reached Giles and jerked on his arm. 

The man stared at Buffy without responding

She jerked harder.  "Giles."

He turned empty eyes toward her.

"Giles, where's Spike?"

"Spike?"  The name was little more than a breath.

"Where is he?  Giles!"

Panic welled in her chest as she looked around at the rest of Buffy's friends, but none of them seemed to care that the vampire was missing.

A shriek sounded to her left and she gasped as she saw Spike standing in a patch of sunlight holding one of the minions by the throat.  As she watched, smoke began to curl from Spike's exposed skin, but he just held the minion there, smiling as it writhed and whimpered in terror. 

"No," Dawn moaned.

She hobbled towards him, sobbing his name.   Seconds later, fire sprouted on the skin of Spike's hands.  She screamed.

"Spike!"

His head snapped towards the sound of her voice, his face smoothing into his human one, giving the minion a brief flare of hope before Spike almost absentmindedly cracked his neck and flung him aside.  Spike opened his arms as Dawn charged into him, knocking him backwards out of the shafts of light, and he cushioned her body with his as they fell to the ground.  Dawn scrambled off of him as soon as they hit the ground and reached for his hands to inspect the burns.

"Leave off, Little Bit." Spike brushed her hands away from him, avoiding her eyes as he got to his feet.

"Spike, you were on fire."

"Doesn't matter…"  Spike's voice trailed off and he sniffed the air.  His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the slashes in the gown Glory had made her wear. "You're bleeding."

"That…"  Her lips trembled and she squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath before continuing. "That man cut me."

He crouched down next to her and eased her into his arms, a reassuring smile appearing on his blood- and tear-streaked face.  "We'll get you fixed up, poppet.  Not to worry."

Dawn wrapped her arms around his neck and lowered her head to his shoulder as he rose and strode towards the others, keeping to the shadows and coming to a halt several yards from where Giles knelt next Buffy.  Spike trained his eyes on Giles's hunched back.

"Giles." 

Giles slowly took one of Buffy's hands in his and stroked the back.

"Watcher."  Spike bit the word out.

Giles stiffened his back, but didn't turn around.  "Yes?"

"The little one here needs medical attention.  Now."

Giles stood and faced them.  "Yes.  Dawn.  Of course."

Xander stepped forward.  "Anya, too."

Anya shook her head and buried her face against his neck. "I would like to go to our home now, Xander."

He frowned.  "But, you're hurt…"

Her face crumpled.  "Please.  Take me home."

He nuzzled his face against hers and nodded in understanding.  "Okay."  He looked at the others.  "Will you guys…?"

Willow, still supported by Tara, moved closer to him.  "We'll take care of things.  You take her home, okay?"

Her eyes met his and she tried to smile.  Still holding Anya, Xander leaned towards Willow.  With one gulping breath, she stood on tiptoe and wrapped one arm around his shoulders, holding him tight and blinking rapidly.  Xander closed his eyes and pressed his cheek to hers.

"I love you, Will," he said, his voice low.

Her body shook and she clutched him tighter as she choked out,  "Love you, too."

She took a deep breath and stepped back, pausing to clasp Anya's hand in hers.  "Take care."

Anya nodded and with one last look at Buffy, Xander carried her away.  Willow turned back to Giles, sparing a glance for Spike, who was rapidly growing impatient.

"Giles?"  He looked blankly at Willow.  "Tara and I can…we'll stay here, okay?"

"Yes.  I suspect there will be questions to answer."

Spike shifted Dawn in his arms, and seeing her wince, he lost what little patience he had had.  "Well, you can answer the bleedin' questions later.  The girl is hurt here."

Giles's eyes finally focused and he nodded.  "Yes.  All right then.  I'll…I'll take Dawn to the hospital."

Spike agreed with a sharp nod.  "And be quick about it."

Giles held out his arms, and Spike started to hand the girl over, but she resisted, curling her fists into his coat.  "No, wait…Spike…"

Eyebrows raised, he looked down into her anxious face.  "What's all this?"

"Couldn't you take me to the hospital?"

"Can't."  He cocked his head in the direction of the encroaching sun.  "Not unless you'd care to see me burn for good this time.  Off you go."

He transferred her to Giles's waiting arms and strode away through the rapidly receding shadows.

"No, wait."  Dawn pushed against Giles's chest until he set her on her feet.  "Spike!  Wait!"

He halted, stiffening his neck and closing his eyes for just a second before heaving a sigh and facing her with a blank expression. 

She held one arm across her wounded stomach, gripping the skirt of her gown with the other.  "You could come later, though, right?"

He looked at her without answering, and she walked forward to stare up at him with pleading, tear-drenched eyes.

"Please?"

He squinted at her and chewed on his lower lip before shaking his head.  "The fighting's all done now, Bitelet.  No need for me to be hanging about anymore."

"I need you."

His eyes widened, and that fist gripped his heart again, only this time it wasn't quite so painful.  He blinked and tried to ignore the lump in his throat.

"You'll be fine.  Giles here'll take good care of you."

She stepped even closer, clenching her jaw to keep it from trembling.

"Please."

He looked over her shoulder at Giles, and the Watcher gave him a slight, resigned nod. "All right.  Tonight.  After dark.  Now go."

He nudged her gently towards Giles, but she held her ground, chin thrust in the air.

"Promise?"

His eyes darkened.  "Yeah, I promise."  He looked away, shrugging.  "For what that's worth."

The tension left her body and she nodded.  "Okay.  Tonight."

Giles cupped Dawn's shoulders in his hands.  "Come along, Dawn."

She allowed him to lead her away, looking over her shoulder at Spike as she went.  Spike watched until she disappeared from sight then heaved a huge sigh.

"Bloody hell."