Repercussions, part 15





Buffy padded down the stairs in bare feet, lifting her damp hair off her neck and tying it back in a ponytail. It was all she could do to tear herself away from him, but she knew he wouldn't be sleeping long, and time was precious. The attacks, episodes, whatever you wanted to call them, were growing more frequent, and he was growing weaker with each one. She had to talk to Giles. They needed to do something, and soon.

As Buffy reached the landing, she saw Willow at the dining room table, biting her nails and clicking her mouse furiously. Xander and Dawn were playing video games. When they heard her coming, they looked up guiltily.

"I know I should be doing something more constructive," Xander apologized, "but, observe the wonder that is me, without a clue."

Buffy smiled and took his hand, pulling him toward the staircase. "You're keeping Dawn occupied, and that's of the good. Frankly, none of us has a clue." She lay her head on his chest and he wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you," she said.

"For what? Not being an asshole for once?"

Buffy smiled and looked up at him. "Well, there's that. And for helping him." She pulled out of his arms. "Can you go up and just sit in my room with Spike? I didn't want to leave him alone, but I have to talk to Giles and find out what's the what. Spike is getting worse, and we need to do something like yesterday."

"Sure, Buff." He loped up the stairs.

Buffy walked over to Willow, who was concentrating so hard that she didn't notice Buffy until she touched her on the shoulder. "Whatcha doin'?" Buffy sat down at the table and rested her head on her folded arms.

"I'm trying to see if I can find anything on the Initiative, something Riley maybe didn't know about, or, you know..."

"Didn't tell us about? He swore to me he was telling me everything, but it's worth looking."

"It's a long shot, but I thought maybe a former someone who has some information? I'm looking into quasi-government and medical research websites, message boards, newsgroups, seeing if there's any gossip floating around, maybe. I don't know." Her voice wavered with uncertainty, and when Buffy raised her head she saw that Willow's eyes were filled with tears. "What's going to happen to him?" she asked. "What if we can't fix it?"

Buffy sat up straight and took Willow's hands in both her own. "We're going to fix it. We have to."

Buffy left Willow to her surfing and curled up in the chair by the phone. She dialed Giles's number, and he picked up right away.

"Giles, tell me you have good news."

"Well, yes, they're working on it."

"We don't have much time." The coven had only been working on the spell for a short time, but minutes seemed like hours to her now.

"I'll send Anyanka back with the spell as soon as it's available, within the hour, I've been assured. But there's another problem."

"I don't need any more problems." She massaged her temples and tried to remain calm.

"I know, and I'm sorry. It's just, the performance of the spell. It requires a witch of considerable power."

Buffy had been so excited about the prospect of a spell that she hadn't thought about who would actually *do* the spell. "Can't one of the coven just pop over here?"

"No, it's much too far. They don't teleport as Anyanka does; it's much more complicated. When they teleported me, it took a great deal out of them, and took a long time to recover. They really can't afford to do that again so soon. I could put someone on a plane, but..."

"No, that'll take too long. What about Anya? She can do magic."

"Unfortunately, she doesn't have the skill level required for this particular spell. Buffy, I've done some checking, and there isn't a witch within 300 miles of you who can do this kind of magic. Except for Willow."

"You're sure."

"I'm afraid so."

Buffy looked over at her friend, peering into the computer screen, trying desperately to find an answer for the man they both loved.

"Then, it'll have to be Willow."

**********************************************************************

Buffy pulled Willow out on the back porch, away from Dawn, and explained what Giles had said about the spell. Willow hugged herself nervously.

"Are you sure you want me to do this? After...you know."

Buffy met Willow's gaze. "No, to be honest with you, I'm worried," Buffy said softly. "I know you're afraid to do magic again, and I hate to ask you to do this. But I'm desperate. I don't know what else to do," she admitted. "Will you do the spell?"

"That's a no brainer, Buffy. If this is the only way, then I'll do it. I love him too." Willow gave Buffy her brave smile, squeezed her hands and got up to walk back into the house. Buffy hoped she wasn't making a big mistake. But it was a risk she was willing to take.

A crash sounded from inside the house. Buffy looked up to where the sound was coming from, which seemed to be her bedroom. The first crash was followed quickly by two more, along with the sound of Xander yelling her name. She raced with slayer speed into the house, past Dawn and Willow and up the stairs, telling them to stay put as she passed. She paused momentarily outside the door of her room and opened it carefully.

Spike stood in the middle of the room in full game face, fighting stance, chest heaving. Her bed had been tossed aside and now sat at a strange angle up against the wall. Her nightstand had been thrown to the opposite side of the room, and now lay against the other wall. Next to Xander.

"You o.k.?," she asked him, never taking her eyes from Spike.

"I think so. I was the first thing he threw. Good thing he was just warming up." Xander struggled to his feet and rubbed his shoulder. "It's the chip. It's on overload - constant firing, I think."

"Oh, God. Xander, go get the..."

"...tranquilizer gun? I'm way ahead of you." Xander moved cautiously toward the door. "Uh, maybe you should come with me. He's, like, in full demon mode now, Buff."

"I know, it's probably the only part of him that can deal with this. But I'm not leaving him alone. It's o.k., he won't hurt me. Go on." Xander reluctantly left, closing the door behind him. Buffy took a step toward Spike. "Spike?"

"Stay away. You're right, I don't *want* to hurt you," he said through clenched teeth.

"You won't," she said, taking another step toward him, "I trust you."

He turned around and pounded the nearest wall, roaring in agony and rage, his fist going through the plaster. He leaned his forehead against the wall. "Your soul boy has gone underground slayer."

"I can see that," she said, her voice as calm as she could make it. She was right next to him now, and put her hand on his back. He whirled around and grabbed her by the upper arms, pulling her hard against him. "Then you should know you can't trust me, because I *have* hurt you. I'm just a monster, remember?"

She looked into his eyes, golden eyes full of pain and fury. "But you're my monster," she whispered. His gaze faltered, confusion clouding his face. "You won't hurt me," she continued, "because you're the one that loves me." His grip on her loosened, and she reached one hand up to touch his face. " And, despite everything, I love you, too." She held his gaze as his eyes searched hers, seeking out the truth.

He seemed to find what he was looking for, and his hands released her arms and clutched her around the waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Make it stop," he whispered into her hair. "Please make it stop."

"I will, I promise I will," she said, stroking his hair. Xander entered the room, holding up the gun. "Xander's going to use the tranquilizer gun on you now. Are you ready?"

He nodded. The first shot hit him in the back, and he barely registered it. They waited a few moments and it seemed to have no effect. "Again," Buffy said, her arms still around Spike. Xander hit him with another dart, and then she felt his knees start to buckle. She helped him to the bed, which Xander righted, and he lay down with his head in her lap.

Buffy covered Spike's ears with her hands and looked skyward. "Anyanka!" she shouted.

Anya appeared almost instantaneously, a scroll in her hands. She held it up triumphantly. "Got it!"

TBC