Author: Summer
Rating: R?
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters and all here are on loan for this fic. They belong to Joss, Warner Bros and Fox as well as Mutant Enemy.
Summary: Spike has been turned human because of the Ghorac Demons bite but is seriously ill. Will he tell Buffy? Can they get together before the end?
Authors note: Buffy never died. Set sometime in between seasons 5&6 but after Joyce died.
Feedback: That would be excellent I'd love it!
Chapter Nine - Worries
Spike looked at the clock beside his bed 3:37am. He'd been awake all day and he still couldn't get to sleep. He had a tight sort of feeling in his chest and that headache was threatening to come back. Not wanting to bother Buffy or the Lil'Bit he quietly got out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom.
Once inside he opened the cabinet over the sink and began searching for some painkillers.
"Nothing" he sighed. He was about to close the cabinet when he noticed a prescription bottle hiding at the back. Taking it he closed the cabinet and made his way downstairs.
Walking into the kitchen he stopped at the refrigerator, needing something to combat the heat he was feeling he pulled out a can of soda. He was just about to open the can when he looked up and saw Dawn standing in the doorway.
"Nibblet you scared me"
"Sorry Spike" she said coming further into the kitchen and sitting down on a stool.
"What you doing up so late?" he asked opening the can and getting two glasses from the cupboard. Filling up both glasses from the cola can he came back to kitchen counter and gave one Dawn.
"Thanks" she said taking the coke from his hand "I couldn't sleep, how bout you?"
"Nah Lil'Bit I've been awake for hours wondering what I'm gonna do for the rest of my life. It's weird, I've never really thought about dying or anything maybe it's because I was immortal I don't know".
"Hey if you want a job you could always ask Xander. You never know there might be a job going at the construction site".
"Me? Work with that Whelp? All day? thanks but no thanks!"
They were silent for a few minutes drinking their coke and thinking. Suddenly Dawn spoke up "Hey" Spike looked up at her "I know where you can get a job".
"Where?" Spike asked her unsure.
"It's well paying, paid holidays, good environment, friendly staff...................."
"Where?"
"....and I'm well in with the manager".
"Where Nibblet?" Dawn paused for a moment and looked up at Spike smiling broadly.
"The Magic Box"
"The Magic Box?" Spike repeated
"Yeah" said Dawn somewhat over enthusiastically.
"Nah I don't think so Nibblet"
"Why not?, Giles....he's a great guy, he'll understand.
"Yeah but I'm not exactly his favourite person. I 'm not exactly anybody's favourite person!"
"Your my favourite person" she replied very quietly. He smiled at her "Oh come on Spike Giles does like you and who knows if you work there he can get to know you a lot better".
Spike looked doubtful "I don't know Nibblet".
"Spike" she said defiantly "I know I can get him to give you a job you don't even have to ask" she waited for an answer for a few seconds.
"Oh come on please? I just want to do something nice to say thank you and also sorry.................about the Ghorac egg thing".
"Don't be sorry Pet, it wasn't anybody's fault I got bitten" They stayed silent again for a few more seconds "All right Lil'Bit, I'll see".
A smile appeared on Dawns face as she went over to hug Spike "I'll talk to Giles tomorrow, you'll see, don't worry". She gave Spike one last hug before moving to the door "I'll see you in the morning" she called out.
"You bet" and with that Dawn raced off back upstairs leaving Spike sitting at the kitchen counter.
Carefully depositing Dawns glass in the sink he took his empty one and proceeded to fill it with cold water. Taking the pill bottle from his pocket and began to examine the label. 'CO-DYDRAMOL TABLETS take two tablets every four to six hours when required for pain relief'.
Emptying the pill bottles contents into his hand he proceeded to take two tablets washing them down with the glass of water. Actually he hadn't been feeling well ever since he'd got home not that he'd tell anyone. He didn't want to worry Dawn or Buffy and he certainly new the Whelp wouldn't be worried.
Taking the bottle he headed back upstairs. There to lie on his bed and hopefully catch a few hours sleep.
*******
When Dawn awoke for School that morning she could distinctly smell the burning odour of another of Buffy's failed attempts at cooking. *God, I wonder what she's ruined this time?* she thought as she made her way to the bathroom.
After having washed and changed Dawn made her way downstairs. Following the smell of burnt food she made her way to the kitchen.
"God, what's that awful smell? What are you cooking? Rubber?" Buffy turned to look at her sister who just entered the kitchen.
"It's supposed to be pancakes, sausage and eggs. It's supposed to be................" she trailing off and looking down at the near charcoal remains of breakfast.
"Yeah well I think I'll stick to cereal, thanks anyway" Dawn sat down on a kitchen stool as Buffy tipped the remains or shall I say ashes of what would have been breakfast into the waste disposal unit.
"What do we have?" Handing Dawn a cereal box Buffy turned her attention back to the frying pan.
"Lucky Charms" Dawn moaned "What else do we have?"
"Nothing! The only other thing we had to eat was the meal I cooked and that's in the garbage!"
Dawn sighed "Well.......anythings better than your cooking" she said opening the packet and pouring some in a bowl.
"Excuse me?" Buffy turned around from the sink to face her sister.
"God, I don't know why whenever mom was out of town she didn't just leave food and water for me in a dish".
Buffy stared at her sister pen mouthed, obviously offended by her comments "Dawn I try the best I can you know".
Dawn looked up at her sister "I know Buffy but.........that's the problem you do try the best you can. You're not mom...and your never going to be" she said sadly.
Buffy was kind of hurt by what her sister just said. Coming to sit beside her she put her arm round hr shoulder "Dawn........I know I'm never going to be able to replace mom in your life and I'm not trying to" she paused for a second "I'm just trying to do the best I can, like I know you are. But I'm responsible for you now........"
They both were silent for a moment before Dawn spoke up "It's difficult huh?"
"More than I'd ever imagined" Buffy said "I think maybe it's a god thing I'll never have children of my own" she said with a sigh "One's enough".
"Hey!" Dawn replied " I'm not a child".
"Sorry, sorry" Buffy said holding up her hands in a surrender "young adult"
"That's better" Dawn smiled "And who knows maybe if the right guy comes along you might just end up with a couple of kids after all!".
Dawns smile broadened at the thought of little miniature Buffy and Spikes running around the house. Reluctantly pulling out of her daydream she noticed that her sister was staring at her. "What you smiling about?"
"Oh.........nothing" Dawn replied secretly hoping that one day her fantasy would come true and she'd get to see the real thing. "Got milk?" she asked changing the subject.
"Sure" Buffy replied handing her the carton of milk from the counter. Looking up at the clock Buffy saw it was 7:45am. Turning back to Dawn she asked "did you see Spike this morning?"
"No I don't think he's up yet" she replied eating a spoonful of cereal "He didn't sleep too well last night".
"How do you know?"
"Well..............I kind of heard someone walking around on the landing last night and well............I kind of went to investigate........"
"You went to investigate?" she repeated "Dawn that was kind of dangerous, it could have been anybody!"
"But it was Spike". Buffy sighed. It was obvious she was never gonna win this argument.
"What was he doing?" she asked curious.
"I don't know" she lied "I guess he wanted a drink".
"And you joined him I see" Buffy said noticing the two empty glasses in the sink.
"Yeah. He wanted to talk I guess. It was only for a few minutes".
"Whatever" Buffy sighed moving to put the milk back in the fridge "Just go see if he's awake, if he isn't he's gonna miss breakfast"
"Not your breakfast" she said under her breath heading for the stairs.
"I heard that" Buffy said over her shoulder.
*******
Racing upstairs Dawn arrived at Spike's door. Knocking loudly and calling out "Spike, are you awake?" she open the door a crack.
"Spike?" she called out again a bit louder.
Taking it upon herself to enter she looked around the room for a clue of Spike's whereabouts. Noticing a pill bottle on the bed she picked it. It was empty.
She stood there for a moment looking down at the bottle and thinking * Did Spike take all of these? where is he?*
Storing the bottle in her pocket she ran back downstairs to Buffy.................
TBC...............................................
A/N: Sorry if this chapters a little weird I've been ill lately. Next chapter will be up soon though. I promise. Please please review. Thanks!