Chapter Fourteen – The End
It was thirty-six hours later when the gang found what had happened to Buffy. They'd started to look as soon as they realised she was missing, but she'd been found next morning by someone walking a dog and was taken to hospital. The problem was, there were so many cases now, that records weren't being kept up to date. It was only when Giles took matters into his own hands and went to the hospital to look for Buffy that they found her. Dawn was stunned and refused to leave Buffy's bedside. Tara agreed to stay with her while the others went back to the Magic Box to research. They didn't have much hope. If things went the way they did with others, she only had a few hours left.
Spike had spent the time he had to wait pacing his flat like a caged animal. He only remembered to phone in and report to the Council a few hours before he had to leave. Fortunately, by that time, the office was empty and he was able to leave a message, "Nearly got myself killed last night going into that nest alone. Just made it out. I'll give some thought to a better plan, but there's something I need to do first. I'm heading back to Sunnydale for a while – not sure how long. You can contact me through Giles."
The first part of the journey was fairly straightforward. He was due to take the overnight flight to New York. He reached Security at Heathrow and walked towards the detector gate. To his surprise, he was stopped and told to wait. An official came towards him and explained, "Nothing to worry about, sir, it's just a routine check. We just need to take you somewhere private."
Alarm bells were ringing in Spike's head, but what could he do? "Still chipped, even if I want to do something about it, I'm stuck," he thought. He was taken to a small tiled room. There was only one door.
After a few minutes, Lydia walked in. "What do you think you're doing, Spike?" she asked.
"Look, I explained on the phone. Something's happened to Buffy and I've got to get back," he answered.
"You're going nowhere," she replied.
At Sunnydale hospital, Dawn sat by Buffy's bedside. "She's so still, almost dead already," she thought. "It's a pity Spike's not here, he'd think of something. Wait...." Aloud she added, "Tara, we've got to let Spike know. He'll be able to help. There's a phone number – Buffy's got it at the house. She kept it in her top drawer, there's a letter from Spike too, she showed me once."
Tara stood up. "I'll get it and call. Will you be ok here?"
Dawn nodded.
"Be back as soon as I can," called Tara as she walked out of the door.
Back at the airport, Spike could see the time for his flight approaching. "What is this Lydia?" he asked. "You can sort out that nest without me, I've got to get back. If you still need me later, I'll do what I can."
"Didn't you hear?" her voice now dripped menace. "You're going nowhere. If I can't have you, your stupid Slayer certainly can't. Stupid girl, not realising what she had."
The truth dawned on Spike. Lydia wasn't used to men saying "no" to her. She was serious. He started to the door but she interrupted, "I wouldn't, Spike, there are thirty Council operatives out there, all armed with stakes. You'll never make it."
Spike thought for a fraction of a second. His only thought was that Buffy needed him. He jumped for the doorframe, hitting the door with his feet and burst out of the room. As she said, there were operatives everywhere. He aimed a kick at the closest one and his head exploded in pain. "The bloody chip," he realised, "it's been so long since I tried to hurt a human, I'd almost forgotten it was there."
The pain had been enough for him to lose concentration for just a fraction of a second. He saw the stake heading for his heart in what seemed like slow motion.
Tara found the contact details and made a call. The voice on the other end was polite and efficient, but informed her that Mr. Stevas was incommunicado. Tara returned to the hospital looking worried. "I found the number and called. I'm afraid they can't contact Spike at the moment. They promised to get him to call as soon as he's back in touch with them."
"But it'll be too late, she'll be dead!" sobbed Dawn. Tara just nodded.
Tempers were frayed at the Magic Box. Everything they found about the Halkrew pointed to the same thing. There was no cure. Eventually it would just go away, but there was no hope for those who had been attacked.
As Spike felt the stake piercing his chest he let out an agonised cry, "Buffy, I tried to get to you, I'm sorry, so sorry....." The cry ended abruptly and the only sound to be heard was a clink as a tiny bundle of silicon, metal and plastic hit the floor in a sudden cascade of dust. Lydia stepped forward and picked it up. "A pity," she said. "He could have been so useful. Still, with this, perhaps we can try again.