Authors Note: Very big thanks you to everyone who has reviewed this story. I'm glad everyone is enjoying it!
Andra
Dawn woke early tne next morning, her legs were cramping from the positition she was in on the
small couch in the waiting room. Xander had one arm around her as he slept, Anya was across
from them curled up in a chair. She was still sleeping too. Dawn slipped away from Xander and
found her way to Buffy's room.
She peeped in the door and found Buffy alone still sleeping. She went to stand by her bed, reaching
under the plastic tent and carefully taking Buffy's hand in hers. She had never seen Buffy look so
vulnerable in her entire life, except .....well she didn't want to think about that tower ever again. Buffy
was back and she was going to be better. Dawn wondered if Spike had helped Buffy get free before
he died, she was well aware of everything that had gone on between her sister and the vampire
and she knew there was a lot of feelings on both parts there, she felt a tear roll down her cheek,
for Buffy, for Spike. Dawn was going to miss him, no more stories, no more Niblet.
Buffy stirred and opened her eyes, she coughed several times before she turned to Dawn, "Hey."
She said softly moving the plastic so she could talk better.
"Hey you. How are you feeling this morning, you were kind of out of it last night." Dawn pushed
Buffy's hair away from her face.
"I feel better. Doctor Grant says it will be a few days, but I'll be okay. This cough may hang around
awhile, but my fever is going down steadily and my chest isn't hurting as much and oh yeah, that
breathing thing is easier too." Buffy squeezed her sister's hand, "It's so good to see you. I was
afraid I was never going to see you again."
"Me too. But I kept telling everyone that I knew you were alive somewhere, I could just feel it." Dawn
grinned at Buffy, then softly asked, "Was it very bad?"
Buffy coughed again and reached for the tissues beside her bed. "It was bad, but Spike well he kind of
helped, knowing he was there too." Buffy got very quiet, then added, "Yeah, it was bad."
"But you're here now. Maybe its too soon to talk about this, but maybe we, just you and me could do
something for Spike, I mean maybe we could just go to that little place he showed us out in the woods
behind his crypt, where the moon shines through the trees and makes it look like a fairyland at night,
maybe we could go have a moonlight picnic in his honor. Just you and me." Dawn forced a small
smile.
"Yeah, maybe. That would be nice, I think he would like it." Buffy smiled at Dawn through tears,
"You can cry if you want Dawn, he was your friend."
Dawn nodded as tears ran down her cheeks, "I'm gonna miss him, and I feel bad that he died
without knowing that I cared."
"He knew, Dawn." Buffy gave her sister a genuine smile, "Where are all the others?"
"Still sleeping down the hall." Dawn answered as the nurse brought in a breakfast tray for Buffy.
"I wonder if these eggs are as good as Maralee's." Buffy said aloud as she picked up her fork.
'"Maralee?" Dawn asked from her chair.
"Yeah, she fed me while I was captive and listened to me, I could tell she didn't like what was happening,
but I think she was scared to do anything about it. In the end she and James are the ones who
brought me home, I do remember that much." Buffy explained between bites.
****
"I'm packed, we can leave tonight, after he goes to bed." Maralee told James as she poured him
a cup of coffee.
"Maralee, we have a problem." James sipped the hot coffee.
"What is it?" She asked worry lines creasing her forehead.
"Spike isn't dead. Quentin lied to us. After you went to bed, he took me back down to the basement.
Spike is still there. I only know bits and pieces of what your Uncle wants from him but it doesn't sound
good, I'm afraid he'll end up hurting more people. " James took a deep breath and sat down the
cup.
"What are we going to do then?"
"I don't know, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'm sorry." James stood and pulled her close to
him in a tight hug.
"Don't be sorry, Spike's alive, we don't have his death on our hands." Maralee sighed.
"Not yet." James replied wearily.
***
Quentin Travers wondered about the whispers between his neice and James. They were naive
enough to think that he didn't notice there relationship, stupid young people. After they were done
in Sunnydale, Maralee could run away with James for all he cared. They had served there purpose, just
as Spike would soon serve his. Travers was a cruel man, he had let Spike wait all day before he
went down to the basement prison to confront him about 'the key'.
"Are you ready to talk now, William?" Quentin asked as he walked into the cell. Spike was standing
in the corner of the room as Quentin pointed the tranquilizer gun at him, "Let me put these on you
so you dont' get any ideas." He quickly cuffed Spike's wrists and ankles yet again.
Spike looked defeated on the outside, but inside he was stronger then ever, he wouldn't let Buffy down,
she loved him. He would die keeping her secret, he would die gladly for the woman who loved him.
Travers stood in front of him, glaring down at him, "So tell me the real story of what happened at
that tower in Sunnydale."
"That Glory bint kidnapped Dawn and we tried to save her, Buffy died doing it. That's the story." Spike
smirked at Travers.
Travers backhanded Spike across the face, sending his head pounding against the wall. "Let's try again."
Spike straightened up and smiled at his jailer, "We were having a picnic up there and this Glory chic
interrupted it?"
Travers hit him hard again.
"We had a deal!!! I let that miserable excuse for a slayer go! Tell me what happened." Travers
punched him hard in the face again, Spike's eye's began to swell almost closed.
"I would think a man of your knowledge would know you don't make deals with vampires." Spike
slurred at him through the blood running out of his mouth.
"I'll be back." Quentin warned him as he left he cell.
For two days this went on, Travers beat him and Spike smirked at him. He wore each bruise with
pride, he was keeping Buffy and the Niblet safe, he was keeping his promise just like he said he would.
On the third day, Travers had enough, he ate his supper with Maralee and James then stood up
from the table and made an announcement, "You two may go back to England, wherever you want,
I don't need you here anymore." He opened the basement door to go down.
"What is he going to do?" Maralee asked fear creeping into her voice.
"I don't know, but it can't be good. He hasn't allowed me down there for a couple of days. I think
it's time for me to quit being a coward and face him." James stood up and went to the basement door.
"Be careful." Maralee called after him.
***
After a few days in the hospital, and no drugs to weaken her, Buffy's healing kicked in, she was
feeling much better, no fever and only a small cough now. The oxygen tent was gone and the Doctor
had told her she could go home the next day.
"Okay, it's time for Dawn to go home. She's got school tomorrow." Buffy instructed Xander as Dawn
rolled her eyes at her big sister. "It's already late and I'll be home tomorrow."
"Okay, okay." Dawn rolled her eyes again as she hugged Buffy. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Buffy. I'll be here to pick you up tomorrow." Xander kissed her cheek and left the room.
***
Spike tried to stand when he heard Quentin enter the cell again but he had no strength left.
"Have you decided to cooperate now?" He asked as he lay the tranquilizer gun next to the cell door.
"I'm never going to cooperate with you." Spike sighed as he tried to get comfortable for another round
of punishement, the last time Travers had been there he had left the ankle and wrist restraints on him.
"Then it's over." Quentin pulled a stake from his pocket and raised it.
James crept quietly to the cell door, he quickly realized what was happening and without a second
thought picked up the gun from the floor. His aim was true as Quentin Travers fell to the floor, the
stake still in his hand, a dart stuck firmly in the back of his neck.
"James?" Spike asked squinting through his swollen eyes.
"Yes it's me. Let's go." He searched Quentin's unconcious form for the keys to the restraints and
quickly let Spike free. He locked the other man in the cell and helped Spike out of the cell.
"Wait I need somethng." Spike limped towards the cell that had been Buffy's prison. He grabbed the
duster from the cot and followed James up the steps to the kitchen.
"Oh....." Was all Maralee could say when she saw the state of Spike. He was battered from head to
foot.
"I'm making a phone call and we are out of here." James told her as he helped Spike sit down
at the table, "Give him some blood."
Maralee got blood from the refrigerator and handed it to Spike, she turned her head as he began to gulp
it down, she couldn't remember the last time her uncle had allowed her to take food to Spike.
James made his call and turned to Maralee, "Your uncle is in the cell downstairs, he's alive. I've
called the Council and told them what was going on. Did you know that they weren't even aware of
what was going on? Travers had told them he was going on vacation and taking us with him. They'll
be here to take care of him - but we won't be here to greet them."
"Let me get my things." Maralee ran to her bedroom, she grabbed her bags and also a large blanket
she thought it might come in handy.
"What about me?" Spike asked as he finished his blood.
"We are taking you the same place we took Buffy." James answered as they walked to the garage
and got in the van.
"The hospital?"
"No, we didnt' take her there." Maralee looked ashamed, "We took her home, but they took her to
the hospital because I called to check to see if she had been admitted."
"We'll take you to her house." James told him as he started the van.
"I'm not sure anyone there will be happy to see me." Spike sighed as he took the blanket Maralee offered
him.
"I think you're wrong. I'm so sorry for the part we played in this. Can you forgive me?" Maralee asked
as they pulled outside Buffy's house.
"You're asking a vampire for forgiveness?" Spike looked surprised.
"Yes, I am. My father was right, it's not all black and white. I see that now. You find Buffy, you tell
her that you love her." Maralee smiled at him as James got out and opened the back door for him.
"Thank you." It didn't seem like enough but Spike was too overwhelmed to say anything else.
"Goodbye and good luck." James told him as got back into the van and drove off.
Spike was left on the front lawn staring at the dark house, everyone inside was probably sound asleep.
He walked to the front door and raised a tired hand to ring the bell, he was clutching the duster to
him like his life depended on it. Buffy had thought enough of it to keep it and wear it and he was
gong to give it back to her, it belonged to her now.
Dawn was in the kitchen mixing cereal again she was too excited about Buffy coming home to sleep much. She thought she heard
a car stop and the start again out front. She walked to the front door and looked out the peep hole,
her heart jumped in her throat as she opened the door. "Spike! You're alive!" She pulled him inside
and hugged him tightly.
Spike groaned at the pain from the hug but he held on to her anyway it was worth the pain, to have
her happy to see him. "Yeah, it's me Niblet. Where is Buffy?"
Dawn pulled back from him, "She's not here, Spike."
Spike misunderstood Dawn's meaning, "But you got her to the hospital, right? They told me she
was in the hospital."
"She is Spike, she's fine. Calm down, she'll be home tomorrow." Dawn smiled at him, "Looks like
you should be in a hospital." She helped him to the couch.
"I'll be okay." He settled on to the couch, his eyes grew heavy, "She's really okay?" He asked drowsily.
"Yes she's really okay. She's going to be so happy to see you!" Dawn leaned over and hugged him
again.
"You really think so?" Spike felt for the note in his back pocket and smiled. Now he could finally tell her
his news.....and it was even better because she had admitted she loved him before she knew about his
soul.
******
Dawn sat smiling at Spike for several moments, "You need to go stay in Buffy's room.
Anya will leave early tomorrow for the Magic Box. And Xander is at his place tongiht,
he is going to pick Buffy up in the morning, but she's insisted that he go to work
after he drops her off. I'll be at school and you and Buffy can talk uninterrupted."
Dawn grinned at her plan, "It's perfect."
"I'm just so glad she's okay, I need to talk to her. I have so much to tell her."
Spike stood up groaning, every muscle hurt, "I guess I'll go on up to Buffy's room."
"Oh, Spike! I forgot! Buffy thinks your dead. They told her you were." Dawn
followed him up to Buffy's room, "But don't worry, I'll take care of it. I'm so glad you're
back." She gave him a small hug and went back to her bedroom.
Spike walked into Buffy's dark room and didn't even bother to turn on the light.
He dropped the duster to the floor and then lay gently on the bed. It smelled like
her, he buried his nose in the pillow and was soon asleep.
i
She entered the room quietly. He opened one eye to see her smiling at
him.
"Buffy." He said her name soflty, she was there in front of him.
"It's me." She moved closer to him.
"I've got to talk to you, something important." He sat up and reached for her
hand.
Suddenly Quentin Traver's appeared in the corner of the room. "It doesn't matter,
your news, your soul, in the end it doesn't matter. Why should she ever love someone
like you?"
"No, she loves me." Spike pulled the note from his pocket, "She wrote it! She loves
me."
"A note written by a sick delirious girl? You are going to take that as her declaration
of love. My boy, she didn't have a clue what she was writing. When she comes
to her senses....she'll leave you... alone.... again." Quentin laughed long and hard.
"Tell him Buffy, tell him." Spike turned to see Buffy pulling away from him,
fading away from him. /i
"No!" Spike sat up in Buffy's bed. He looked around, he was still in her room.
It had been a dream, a very bad dream. He stood and pulled the note from his
pocket, he turned on the lamp and read it through once more. She loved him it was right
there in black and white, she knew what she wrote, didn't she?
***
Dawn peeked in the door of Buffy's room and saw Spike sleeping curled up on her sister's bed,
he had a piece of paper balled in his hand. She wondered what it was as she taped the note
with Buffy's name on it to her bedroom door. The note read simply,i Buffy - big surprise in your room.
Hope you are as happy about it as I am. love, Dawn./i
That should do it. Dawn told herself as Anya called for her, she was going to drop Dawn off at school on
her way to the Magic Box.
**
"Okay, here we are." Xander helped Buffy into the living room, 'You sure you don't want me to stay?"
Buffy shook her head at him, "No, you've missed enough work because of me. I'll see you later."
"Alright, if you need me you have my work number, don't forget your medicine." He handed her
a pill bottle and hugged her as he left, "I'm glad you're home."
"Me too." Buffy said aloud as she started up the stairs, she stopped and grinned at the note taped
to her door. What in the world had Dawn done now? She opened her bedroom door and her mouth
dropped wide open - Spike - an undusty Spike was asleep on her bed. His face and chest were
covered with bruises and cuts in various stages of healing. In his hand was a piece of paper crumpled
from many readings, it was her note.
She watched him for several minutes, closing her eyes then opening them again just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Then
she felt her forehead, no fever there. Her stomach twisted in delicious nervous knot - he was really here!
Slowly she walked towards her bed, gently she reached out her hand and stroked his forehead. He
moved a little and opened his eyes slightly, a smile crossed his lips and he opened his eyes fully.
"Buffy?" He asked happily.
"It's me." She replied in a sing song voice, smiling broadly at him.
"I thought you might not make it, I was so scared for you." He sat up ignoring the aches and pains.
"I thought you didn't." She whispered her voice thick with emotion.
He put his hand out to her and she sat down beside him, he pulled her close to his chest, her
soft hair tickling him despite the bruises. "Dawn told me, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. Quentin
Travers is a dead man if I ever find him."
"Quentin Travers? That's who was behind all of this?" Buffy pulled away to look up at Spike.
"That's who he said he was, he wanted me to tell him all about the key, he knew more happened then
what Gile's told the Council." Spike stroked Buffy's hair, "I didn't tell him anything though."
"I knew you didn't." Buffy said softly, "You would never let anyone hurt Dawn, you're good at keeping
your promises."
"So tell me exactly what happened after they took you away from me? I could hear you through the
wall, pacing and talking to Maralee and then coughing all the time. I was so afraid for you." Spike
kissed the top of her head.
"I was afraid I was going to die in that cell, thats when I wrote the note." Buffy nodded at the folded
paper lying on the bed. "I see you got it." She smiled shyly at him.
"James gave it to me after he and Maralee helped you out." Spike sighed as he remembered his
earlier dream, "That note helped me stand up to Travers. But I realize that you were very sick when
you wrote it, desperate even and if you really didn't mean it, I won't hold you to it."
Buffy frowned at him as she pulled away and sat up next to him on the bed, "You think I didn't mean it?"
"I'm not sure, I just don't want to force you.......those are definitely the wrong words," Spike slid off of the
bed and stood up, "I don't want you to feel like you have to honor those words now, if you don't really
want to."
Her frown softened now, "I meant what I said in that note. Don't you ever think that I didn't." She leaned
towards him and brushed the softest of kisses against his swollen lips, "I love you, Spike." She
whispered the words against his lips as she deepened the kiss.
It was Spike's turn to be speechless, he returned her kisses for several moments before she
pulled away laughing softly, 'I've only started breathing good again, I need some air."
He smiled at her twisting a lock of hair between his thumb and forefinger, "I love you too."
"Now that we have that settled, what was the important news you had for me? What happened in
Africa?"
Spike laughed, "It doesn't seem quite as important now, " He nuzzled the side of her face with
his cheek, "I hope it will make you happy though, I went to Africa to earn my soul...for you."
Buffy's eye's widened, "You have a soul? How?" Her smile was so warming he was unsure of how he had
ever survived without it.
After another hour of being curled up together in Buffy's bed, he had explained the whole Africa trip.
"So you went through all of that torture for me?" She asked as she raised his hand to her lips
and kissed it softly.
"For you and for me, to make me the kind of man you deserve." Spike leaned over and kissed her
cheek.
"Buffy!" Xander called as he walked down the hallway to her bedroom, '"You in here? I came to
check on you on my lunch hour" He stood in the doorway, his mood turned sour, "I thought he was dead!"
"So did I, but he wasn't! It's a very long story. Have a seat and we'll explain." Buffy motioned towards
Xander to sit at the foot of the bed.
The first thing Xander noticed was that she was holding Spike's hand and she wasn't letting go go it.
"Okay, start explaining."
After Buffy finished the story, Xander seemed more angry then before, "So you're telling me that he
comes back in to town and because the Quentin Travers wants Spike, you end up kidnapped and
almost dying? If ever there is a better reason to stay away from him, I don't what it is." Xander stood
up from the bed, "What kind of hold do you have over women, Spike? I'd really like to know."
Before Spike could answer, Buffy stood up too, "Xander, Spike is the reason I'm alive now. And
he's took care of me on patrol countless times, he's helped us all. It's time to accept him." Buffy
pleaded with her friend.
"Buffy, I'll give him credit for having been helpful at times, but like I told you before, you can never
forget what he is! He's a evil, souless monster who just happens to want you." Xander turned to
walk from the bedroom.
"You're wrong, Xander. He's not a monster and more importantly, he has a soul now." Buffy reached
over and took hold of Spike's hand once more.
Xander stopped dead in his tracks, "What did you say?"
"He has his soul back." Buffy repeated.
"And you believe that?" Xander rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I do. And you better start believing it too. Do you love me Xander? Do you want me happy?"
Buffy's voice rose slightly.
"Yes, you know I want you happy." Xander replied sullenly.
"Then you better get used to Spike, because he is what makes me happy. Can you do that for me,
please?" Her voice softened and she gave Xander her famous half smile.
Xander looked between the battered vampire on the bed and back to Buffy, he realized
she was serious, and she was indeed happy, he walked towards her and hugged her to him, "I'll try.
I can't promise anything though."
She smiled at him, "I can't ask for more then that."
"I've got to get back to work, you going to be okay?" Xander cut his eyes towards Spike.
"I'll be fine. I'll talk to you later?" Buffy called after him.
"Yes, you'll talk to me later." Xander called back over his shoulder as he left the room, "And take your
medicine!"
"This isn't gonna be easy is it?" Spike asked as she settled back next to him on the bed.
"Nothing worth having is ever easy." She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, Spike's strong arms
around her.
TBC
Andra
Dawn woke early tne next morning, her legs were cramping from the positition she was in on the
small couch in the waiting room. Xander had one arm around her as he slept, Anya was across
from them curled up in a chair. She was still sleeping too. Dawn slipped away from Xander and
found her way to Buffy's room.
She peeped in the door and found Buffy alone still sleeping. She went to stand by her bed, reaching
under the plastic tent and carefully taking Buffy's hand in hers. She had never seen Buffy look so
vulnerable in her entire life, except .....well she didn't want to think about that tower ever again. Buffy
was back and she was going to be better. Dawn wondered if Spike had helped Buffy get free before
he died, she was well aware of everything that had gone on between her sister and the vampire
and she knew there was a lot of feelings on both parts there, she felt a tear roll down her cheek,
for Buffy, for Spike. Dawn was going to miss him, no more stories, no more Niblet.
Buffy stirred and opened her eyes, she coughed several times before she turned to Dawn, "Hey."
She said softly moving the plastic so she could talk better.
"Hey you. How are you feeling this morning, you were kind of out of it last night." Dawn pushed
Buffy's hair away from her face.
"I feel better. Doctor Grant says it will be a few days, but I'll be okay. This cough may hang around
awhile, but my fever is going down steadily and my chest isn't hurting as much and oh yeah, that
breathing thing is easier too." Buffy squeezed her sister's hand, "It's so good to see you. I was
afraid I was never going to see you again."
"Me too. But I kept telling everyone that I knew you were alive somewhere, I could just feel it." Dawn
grinned at Buffy, then softly asked, "Was it very bad?"
Buffy coughed again and reached for the tissues beside her bed. "It was bad, but Spike well he kind of
helped, knowing he was there too." Buffy got very quiet, then added, "Yeah, it was bad."
"But you're here now. Maybe its too soon to talk about this, but maybe we, just you and me could do
something for Spike, I mean maybe we could just go to that little place he showed us out in the woods
behind his crypt, where the moon shines through the trees and makes it look like a fairyland at night,
maybe we could go have a moonlight picnic in his honor. Just you and me." Dawn forced a small
smile.
"Yeah, maybe. That would be nice, I think he would like it." Buffy smiled at Dawn through tears,
"You can cry if you want Dawn, he was your friend."
Dawn nodded as tears ran down her cheeks, "I'm gonna miss him, and I feel bad that he died
without knowing that I cared."
"He knew, Dawn." Buffy gave her sister a genuine smile, "Where are all the others?"
"Still sleeping down the hall." Dawn answered as the nurse brought in a breakfast tray for Buffy.
"I wonder if these eggs are as good as Maralee's." Buffy said aloud as she picked up her fork.
'"Maralee?" Dawn asked from her chair.
"Yeah, she fed me while I was captive and listened to me, I could tell she didn't like what was happening,
but I think she was scared to do anything about it. In the end she and James are the ones who
brought me home, I do remember that much." Buffy explained between bites.
****
"I'm packed, we can leave tonight, after he goes to bed." Maralee told James as she poured him
a cup of coffee.
"Maralee, we have a problem." James sipped the hot coffee.
"What is it?" She asked worry lines creasing her forehead.
"Spike isn't dead. Quentin lied to us. After you went to bed, he took me back down to the basement.
Spike is still there. I only know bits and pieces of what your Uncle wants from him but it doesn't sound
good, I'm afraid he'll end up hurting more people. " James took a deep breath and sat down the
cup.
"What are we going to do then?"
"I don't know, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'm sorry." James stood and pulled her close to
him in a tight hug.
"Don't be sorry, Spike's alive, we don't have his death on our hands." Maralee sighed.
"Not yet." James replied wearily.
***
Quentin Travers wondered about the whispers between his neice and James. They were naive
enough to think that he didn't notice there relationship, stupid young people. After they were done
in Sunnydale, Maralee could run away with James for all he cared. They had served there purpose, just
as Spike would soon serve his. Travers was a cruel man, he had let Spike wait all day before he
went down to the basement prison to confront him about 'the key'.
"Are you ready to talk now, William?" Quentin asked as he walked into the cell. Spike was standing
in the corner of the room as Quentin pointed the tranquilizer gun at him, "Let me put these on you
so you dont' get any ideas." He quickly cuffed Spike's wrists and ankles yet again.
Spike looked defeated on the outside, but inside he was stronger then ever, he wouldn't let Buffy down,
she loved him. He would die keeping her secret, he would die gladly for the woman who loved him.
Travers stood in front of him, glaring down at him, "So tell me the real story of what happened at
that tower in Sunnydale."
"That Glory bint kidnapped Dawn and we tried to save her, Buffy died doing it. That's the story." Spike
smirked at Travers.
Travers backhanded Spike across the face, sending his head pounding against the wall. "Let's try again."
Spike straightened up and smiled at his jailer, "We were having a picnic up there and this Glory chic
interrupted it?"
Travers hit him hard again.
"We had a deal!!! I let that miserable excuse for a slayer go! Tell me what happened." Travers
punched him hard in the face again, Spike's eye's began to swell almost closed.
"I would think a man of your knowledge would know you don't make deals with vampires." Spike
slurred at him through the blood running out of his mouth.
"I'll be back." Quentin warned him as he left he cell.
For two days this went on, Travers beat him and Spike smirked at him. He wore each bruise with
pride, he was keeping Buffy and the Niblet safe, he was keeping his promise just like he said he would.
On the third day, Travers had enough, he ate his supper with Maralee and James then stood up
from the table and made an announcement, "You two may go back to England, wherever you want,
I don't need you here anymore." He opened the basement door to go down.
"What is he going to do?" Maralee asked fear creeping into her voice.
"I don't know, but it can't be good. He hasn't allowed me down there for a couple of days. I think
it's time for me to quit being a coward and face him." James stood up and went to the basement door.
"Be careful." Maralee called after him.
***
After a few days in the hospital, and no drugs to weaken her, Buffy's healing kicked in, she was
feeling much better, no fever and only a small cough now. The oxygen tent was gone and the Doctor
had told her she could go home the next day.
"Okay, it's time for Dawn to go home. She's got school tomorrow." Buffy instructed Xander as Dawn
rolled her eyes at her big sister. "It's already late and I'll be home tomorrow."
"Okay, okay." Dawn rolled her eyes again as she hugged Buffy. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Buffy. I'll be here to pick you up tomorrow." Xander kissed her cheek and left the room.
***
Spike tried to stand when he heard Quentin enter the cell again but he had no strength left.
"Have you decided to cooperate now?" He asked as he lay the tranquilizer gun next to the cell door.
"I'm never going to cooperate with you." Spike sighed as he tried to get comfortable for another round
of punishement, the last time Travers had been there he had left the ankle and wrist restraints on him.
"Then it's over." Quentin pulled a stake from his pocket and raised it.
James crept quietly to the cell door, he quickly realized what was happening and without a second
thought picked up the gun from the floor. His aim was true as Quentin Travers fell to the floor, the
stake still in his hand, a dart stuck firmly in the back of his neck.
"James?" Spike asked squinting through his swollen eyes.
"Yes it's me. Let's go." He searched Quentin's unconcious form for the keys to the restraints and
quickly let Spike free. He locked the other man in the cell and helped Spike out of the cell.
"Wait I need somethng." Spike limped towards the cell that had been Buffy's prison. He grabbed the
duster from the cot and followed James up the steps to the kitchen.
"Oh....." Was all Maralee could say when she saw the state of Spike. He was battered from head to
foot.
"I'm making a phone call and we are out of here." James told her as he helped Spike sit down
at the table, "Give him some blood."
Maralee got blood from the refrigerator and handed it to Spike, she turned her head as he began to gulp
it down, she couldn't remember the last time her uncle had allowed her to take food to Spike.
James made his call and turned to Maralee, "Your uncle is in the cell downstairs, he's alive. I've
called the Council and told them what was going on. Did you know that they weren't even aware of
what was going on? Travers had told them he was going on vacation and taking us with him. They'll
be here to take care of him - but we won't be here to greet them."
"Let me get my things." Maralee ran to her bedroom, she grabbed her bags and also a large blanket
she thought it might come in handy.
"What about me?" Spike asked as he finished his blood.
"We are taking you the same place we took Buffy." James answered as they walked to the garage
and got in the van.
"The hospital?"
"No, we didnt' take her there." Maralee looked ashamed, "We took her home, but they took her to
the hospital because I called to check to see if she had been admitted."
"We'll take you to her house." James told him as he started the van.
"I'm not sure anyone there will be happy to see me." Spike sighed as he took the blanket Maralee offered
him.
"I think you're wrong. I'm so sorry for the part we played in this. Can you forgive me?" Maralee asked
as they pulled outside Buffy's house.
"You're asking a vampire for forgiveness?" Spike looked surprised.
"Yes, I am. My father was right, it's not all black and white. I see that now. You find Buffy, you tell
her that you love her." Maralee smiled at him as James got out and opened the back door for him.
"Thank you." It didn't seem like enough but Spike was too overwhelmed to say anything else.
"Goodbye and good luck." James told him as got back into the van and drove off.
Spike was left on the front lawn staring at the dark house, everyone inside was probably sound asleep.
He walked to the front door and raised a tired hand to ring the bell, he was clutching the duster to
him like his life depended on it. Buffy had thought enough of it to keep it and wear it and he was
gong to give it back to her, it belonged to her now.
Dawn was in the kitchen mixing cereal again she was too excited about Buffy coming home to sleep much. She thought she heard
a car stop and the start again out front. She walked to the front door and looked out the peep hole,
her heart jumped in her throat as she opened the door. "Spike! You're alive!" She pulled him inside
and hugged him tightly.
Spike groaned at the pain from the hug but he held on to her anyway it was worth the pain, to have
her happy to see him. "Yeah, it's me Niblet. Where is Buffy?"
Dawn pulled back from him, "She's not here, Spike."
Spike misunderstood Dawn's meaning, "But you got her to the hospital, right? They told me she
was in the hospital."
"She is Spike, she's fine. Calm down, she'll be home tomorrow." Dawn smiled at him, "Looks like
you should be in a hospital." She helped him to the couch.
"I'll be okay." He settled on to the couch, his eyes grew heavy, "She's really okay?" He asked drowsily.
"Yes she's really okay. She's going to be so happy to see you!" Dawn leaned over and hugged him
again.
"You really think so?" Spike felt for the note in his back pocket and smiled. Now he could finally tell her
his news.....and it was even better because she had admitted she loved him before she knew about his
soul.
******
Dawn sat smiling at Spike for several moments, "You need to go stay in Buffy's room.
Anya will leave early tomorrow for the Magic Box. And Xander is at his place tongiht,
he is going to pick Buffy up in the morning, but she's insisted that he go to work
after he drops her off. I'll be at school and you and Buffy can talk uninterrupted."
Dawn grinned at her plan, "It's perfect."
"I'm just so glad she's okay, I need to talk to her. I have so much to tell her."
Spike stood up groaning, every muscle hurt, "I guess I'll go on up to Buffy's room."
"Oh, Spike! I forgot! Buffy thinks your dead. They told her you were." Dawn
followed him up to Buffy's room, "But don't worry, I'll take care of it. I'm so glad you're
back." She gave him a small hug and went back to her bedroom.
Spike walked into Buffy's dark room and didn't even bother to turn on the light.
He dropped the duster to the floor and then lay gently on the bed. It smelled like
her, he buried his nose in the pillow and was soon asleep.
i
She entered the room quietly. He opened one eye to see her smiling at
him.
"Buffy." He said her name soflty, she was there in front of him.
"It's me." She moved closer to him.
"I've got to talk to you, something important." He sat up and reached for her
hand.
Suddenly Quentin Traver's appeared in the corner of the room. "It doesn't matter,
your news, your soul, in the end it doesn't matter. Why should she ever love someone
like you?"
"No, she loves me." Spike pulled the note from his pocket, "She wrote it! She loves
me."
"A note written by a sick delirious girl? You are going to take that as her declaration
of love. My boy, she didn't have a clue what she was writing. When she comes
to her senses....she'll leave you... alone.... again." Quentin laughed long and hard.
"Tell him Buffy, tell him." Spike turned to see Buffy pulling away from him,
fading away from him. /i
"No!" Spike sat up in Buffy's bed. He looked around, he was still in her room.
It had been a dream, a very bad dream. He stood and pulled the note from his
pocket, he turned on the lamp and read it through once more. She loved him it was right
there in black and white, she knew what she wrote, didn't she?
***
Dawn peeked in the door of Buffy's room and saw Spike sleeping curled up on her sister's bed,
he had a piece of paper balled in his hand. She wondered what it was as she taped the note
with Buffy's name on it to her bedroom door. The note read simply,i Buffy - big surprise in your room.
Hope you are as happy about it as I am. love, Dawn./i
That should do it. Dawn told herself as Anya called for her, she was going to drop Dawn off at school on
her way to the Magic Box.
**
"Okay, here we are." Xander helped Buffy into the living room, 'You sure you don't want me to stay?"
Buffy shook her head at him, "No, you've missed enough work because of me. I'll see you later."
"Alright, if you need me you have my work number, don't forget your medicine." He handed her
a pill bottle and hugged her as he left, "I'm glad you're home."
"Me too." Buffy said aloud as she started up the stairs, she stopped and grinned at the note taped
to her door. What in the world had Dawn done now? She opened her bedroom door and her mouth
dropped wide open - Spike - an undusty Spike was asleep on her bed. His face and chest were
covered with bruises and cuts in various stages of healing. In his hand was a piece of paper crumpled
from many readings, it was her note.
She watched him for several minutes, closing her eyes then opening them again just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Then
she felt her forehead, no fever there. Her stomach twisted in delicious nervous knot - he was really here!
Slowly she walked towards her bed, gently she reached out her hand and stroked his forehead. He
moved a little and opened his eyes slightly, a smile crossed his lips and he opened his eyes fully.
"Buffy?" He asked happily.
"It's me." She replied in a sing song voice, smiling broadly at him.
"I thought you might not make it, I was so scared for you." He sat up ignoring the aches and pains.
"I thought you didn't." She whispered her voice thick with emotion.
He put his hand out to her and she sat down beside him, he pulled her close to his chest, her
soft hair tickling him despite the bruises. "Dawn told me, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. Quentin
Travers is a dead man if I ever find him."
"Quentin Travers? That's who was behind all of this?" Buffy pulled away to look up at Spike.
"That's who he said he was, he wanted me to tell him all about the key, he knew more happened then
what Gile's told the Council." Spike stroked Buffy's hair, "I didn't tell him anything though."
"I knew you didn't." Buffy said softly, "You would never let anyone hurt Dawn, you're good at keeping
your promises."
"So tell me exactly what happened after they took you away from me? I could hear you through the
wall, pacing and talking to Maralee and then coughing all the time. I was so afraid for you." Spike
kissed the top of her head.
"I was afraid I was going to die in that cell, thats when I wrote the note." Buffy nodded at the folded
paper lying on the bed. "I see you got it." She smiled shyly at him.
"James gave it to me after he and Maralee helped you out." Spike sighed as he remembered his
earlier dream, "That note helped me stand up to Travers. But I realize that you were very sick when
you wrote it, desperate even and if you really didn't mean it, I won't hold you to it."
Buffy frowned at him as she pulled away and sat up next to him on the bed, "You think I didn't mean it?"
"I'm not sure, I just don't want to force you.......those are definitely the wrong words," Spike slid off of the
bed and stood up, "I don't want you to feel like you have to honor those words now, if you don't really
want to."
Her frown softened now, "I meant what I said in that note. Don't you ever think that I didn't." She leaned
towards him and brushed the softest of kisses against his swollen lips, "I love you, Spike." She
whispered the words against his lips as she deepened the kiss.
It was Spike's turn to be speechless, he returned her kisses for several moments before she
pulled away laughing softly, 'I've only started breathing good again, I need some air."
He smiled at her twisting a lock of hair between his thumb and forefinger, "I love you too."
"Now that we have that settled, what was the important news you had for me? What happened in
Africa?"
Spike laughed, "It doesn't seem quite as important now, " He nuzzled the side of her face with
his cheek, "I hope it will make you happy though, I went to Africa to earn my soul...for you."
Buffy's eye's widened, "You have a soul? How?" Her smile was so warming he was unsure of how he had
ever survived without it.
After another hour of being curled up together in Buffy's bed, he had explained the whole Africa trip.
"So you went through all of that torture for me?" She asked as she raised his hand to her lips
and kissed it softly.
"For you and for me, to make me the kind of man you deserve." Spike leaned over and kissed her
cheek.
"Buffy!" Xander called as he walked down the hallway to her bedroom, '"You in here? I came to
check on you on my lunch hour" He stood in the doorway, his mood turned sour, "I thought he was dead!"
"So did I, but he wasn't! It's a very long story. Have a seat and we'll explain." Buffy motioned towards
Xander to sit at the foot of the bed.
The first thing Xander noticed was that she was holding Spike's hand and she wasn't letting go go it.
"Okay, start explaining."
After Buffy finished the story, Xander seemed more angry then before, "So you're telling me that he
comes back in to town and because the Quentin Travers wants Spike, you end up kidnapped and
almost dying? If ever there is a better reason to stay away from him, I don't what it is." Xander stood
up from the bed, "What kind of hold do you have over women, Spike? I'd really like to know."
Before Spike could answer, Buffy stood up too, "Xander, Spike is the reason I'm alive now. And
he's took care of me on patrol countless times, he's helped us all. It's time to accept him." Buffy
pleaded with her friend.
"Buffy, I'll give him credit for having been helpful at times, but like I told you before, you can never
forget what he is! He's a evil, souless monster who just happens to want you." Xander turned to
walk from the bedroom.
"You're wrong, Xander. He's not a monster and more importantly, he has a soul now." Buffy reached
over and took hold of Spike's hand once more.
Xander stopped dead in his tracks, "What did you say?"
"He has his soul back." Buffy repeated.
"And you believe that?" Xander rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I do. And you better start believing it too. Do you love me Xander? Do you want me happy?"
Buffy's voice rose slightly.
"Yes, you know I want you happy." Xander replied sullenly.
"Then you better get used to Spike, because he is what makes me happy. Can you do that for me,
please?" Her voice softened and she gave Xander her famous half smile.
Xander looked between the battered vampire on the bed and back to Buffy, he realized
she was serious, and she was indeed happy, he walked towards her and hugged her to him, "I'll try.
I can't promise anything though."
She smiled at him, "I can't ask for more then that."
"I've got to get back to work, you going to be okay?" Xander cut his eyes towards Spike.
"I'll be fine. I'll talk to you later?" Buffy called after him.
"Yes, you'll talk to me later." Xander called back over his shoulder as he left the room, "And take your
medicine!"
"This isn't gonna be easy is it?" Spike asked as she settled back next to him on the bed.
"Nothing worth having is ever easy." She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, Spike's strong arms
around her.
TBC
