Part 9

Buffy opened her eyes. She had fallen asleep. She sat up and
looked at Spike. Still unconscious. It seemed Giles was right;
Spike wouldn't be waking up again. She remembered his journal and
the letter he wrote to her. He wrote it with his impending death
in mind. Spike had given up all hope of ever seeing through this
alive. He was ready to die. Buffy quickly wiped the fresh tears
that made their way down her cheeks. Spike might be prepared, but
she wasn't. She was determined Spike wasn't going to die. Not if
I can help it, she thought. No more of this tiptoeing around the
situation with Riley. She knew he was back in Sunnydale only
because of Spike's chip. What else could it be?

Buffy continued to watch Spike's, was it sleeping body? He looked
so peaceful and vulnerable, laying there, not moving even a little.
She looked out the window. The sun had set. She had been asleep
for a while. Buffy decided she needed to go patrol. She knew she
would come across Riley if she did. And as much as she didn't want
to talk or see him, she knew it was necessary if Spike was going to
survive this. She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on his cool
lips before going downstairs.

When she entered the kitchen, she was immediately cornered by Will,
Dawn, and Tara, all of who had questions they demanded answers to.

"Is he awake?" Dawn asked.

Buffy shook her head solemnly.

"How can we be sure he's not already dead....er?" Will asked.

"If he was, he would have turned to dust. You know, the way
vampires do," Buffy methodically said.

"Are you alright? We head you crying earlier," Tara asked.

"I'm fine." Tara gave her a look. "Okay, maybe not really. I'm
better. I've be even better once I save him."

Tara nodded sympathetically.

"I'm going to go patrol. Maybe I'll run into Riley. I really need
to talk to him right now. See you guys later."


Buffy twirled a stake in her hand absently. She really wasn't
patrolling like she said she was going to do. She was mostly just
walking around the cemetery. Oh, sure, if a vampire showed up,
she'd dust him. Just patrolling wasn't the thing on her mind. She
was really waiting for Riley to make his 'grand' appearance. She
knew he would show up. It was just a matter of time.

She paused when she came across a tombstone and sat down on it.
She surveyed the area. Come out, come out, wherever you are, she
thought. She sighed. Where is he? She so didn't want to be out
in the graveyard tonight. She wanted to be where Spike was. She
wanted to spend as much time as she could with him...even if he
wasn't awake. That didn't matter to her. What mattered was that
she was there for him in what could possibly be his last days.

"Hey."

Buffy jumped, startled. She spun around. Riley stood in front of
her.

"Sorry for scaring you," he said.

"You didn't scare me," she replied, crossing her arms.

"Sure. Okay."

Buffy regarded him. His posture and behavior seemed to be different
than last time she saw him. He looked...a little angry...maybe even
hurt? But why?

"What's wrong?" Buffy asked.

"'What's wrong?' You've been lying to me. That's what's wrong,"
Riley said.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know Spike's at your place."

Buffy's body went rigid. How did he know? Was he spying on her?
Snooping around when she wasn't paying attention? What?! But
Buffy thought for a second. His knowing actually makes this easier...

"Why didn't you tell me, Buffy?" he asked, hurt.

"How did you find out? Were you spying on me?" Buffy solicited
angrily.

"The powers of technology. It's amazing what a simple laptop can
do these days."

"I see."

"That's all you've got to say? 'I see?'"

"What do you want me to say? Thanks for questioning me? Here,
have Spike; do whatever you want with him?"

"That'd be a start."

She glared at him.

Riley continued, "I don't understand why all of a sudden you're
protecting him. Why? Last time I checked you hated him. And
now...now you're liking like the two of you are lovers or something."

"You have no right. You have no right to analyze my life. You
left. And as I told you before, a lot has changed since you've
been gone. And Spike's one of them."

Riley shook his head angrily, "Have you forgotten? He's a vampire.
Vampires don't change. They can't. They're evil."

"If that's true, then why did Spike save my life when he did? If
he's evil, why does he love me, a Slayer, his mortal enemy? That
goes to show how much you know."

"He still doesn't deserve your protection. Or the right to live."

"Well, he's dying. He's dying thanks to you and your stupid secret
government branch or whatever. And right now, he's probably never
going to wake up again. So, are you happy? Spike'll be out of your
hair soon."

"It's already progress this far? This soon?" Riley asked quietly
as though he was talking to himself.

But Buffy's Slayer hearing caught every word he uttered. "I'm
sorry. Have something you'd like to share with the rest of the
class?"

Riley shook his head.

Buffy's rigid posture dissolved into a scared, almost vulnerable
appearance. "How much longer does he have?" she asked quietly.

Riley softened at her stance. "A day. Two at most."

Buffy choked a sob. "Is there any way to help him?"

Riley sighed. He couldn't believe he was about to tell her this.
"Yes."

Buffy released the breath she was holding. "How?"

Riley looked down at the ground, "You have to take the chip out."

"Can anyone do it?"

Riley looked back at her, shocked that she would even consider that
option. "Buffy. You can't take the chip out. He'll be a killer
again."

Buffy shook her head. "No. He won't. He gave me his word."

Riley gawked at her, "'His word.' So let me get this straight.
You're willing to have the chip removed so he can be free again,
but he won't kill again because he gave you his word. Since when
did a vampire's word hold any weight?"

"Since it was Spike."

Riley sighed. There was no talking her out of it. She was
determined to get that retched chip out of Spike's brain. But why?
Of course. Riley could almost slap himself because of his blindness.
"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

Buffy hesitated before answering, "Yes."

Riley felt as if something had died inside him. Sure, he suspected
it, but to actually hear her say those words.... He felt betrayed
somehow. Why? He didn't seriously think she'd be waiting for him
with open arms when he came back, did he? Of course, you did, he
chided himself.

"I'm sorry, Riley. I really am. I didn't plan on it happening.
It...just did."

Riley nodded, "I know a doctor. One of the one's that use to work
in the Initiative. He can take the chip out."

"When can he do it?"

"I'll have to call him first, but I think he'd be available tonight."

"Thank you, Riley. Really."

Riley nodded. Buffy gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Call me.
When he's ready," she said before bounding for her house, feeling
much more relaxed. Spike was going to make it through this. He
was going to live.


End Part 9

A/N: YEA! Only one more part left to go. It should be up day
after Christmas...assuming I don't suddenly come down a case of
writer's block.