Part Four
Buffy slowly pulled herself out of the deep sleep she had been in and the first thing she noticed was the cold surface her head was resting on. Not cold exactly, more like cool. Spike. Oh God. Buffy's eyes flew open yet she remained lying there with her head on Spike's chest reluctant to move. For the first time since she had come back, Buffy had finally been able to sleep through the night with no terrifying nightmares ripping her from slumber and at this moment she just wanted to relish the feeling.
Buffy looked over at Spike's wound which was on the side of him he hadn't used for a pillow and saw that it looked much the same as it had when Tara bespelled it. Buffy felt her throat tighten in guilt at the thought of how Spike always seemed to get hurt helping her and Dawn. You'd think that a person would give up after all the abuse he had taken. But he wasn't a person he was…Spike and Spike was different from any other being she had known. An enigma really. It was hard to guess at what his motivations were. According to the vampire himself, he was in love with her and that was what kept him coming back for more but to Buffy this had always been suspect. It wasn't possible for monsters to love or feel any of the more tender feelings that humans or one particular souled vampire did.
Buffy felt gentle fingers burrowing into her hair, massaging her scalp and her eyes drifted closed at the sensual assault. Reluctantly she lifted her head from his chest and got caught in his intense blue gaze. God he had beautiful eyes.
"How'd you sleep?" The intimacy implied in the question made Buffy acutely aware of their close proximity and she abruptly shifted into a sitting position facing him.
"Good actually. Feeling any better or worse?"
"Like shit." Spike looked down at his maltreated side and winced.
Buffy's gazed searched the room for a clock and found none, how she longed for the simple luxury of wearing a watch without worrying about her hand getting ripped off during a fight. "What time is it anyway?"
Spike's demon was usually able to make a good estimate, "Early afternoon thereabouts. Won't the lil' bit be worried?" Spike's range of human emotions made her distinctly uncomfortable, reminding her of how different Spike was from the rest of the vile monsters in Sunnydale.
"Dawn is spending the next week or so with our father. In L.A. After everything with Willow and me I think she needed a break from the drama." The matter of fact tone of her voice covered how hurt she was by this but the sigh that followed her words spoke volumes that were left unsaid.
Spike nodded his head in understanding, "Sometimes people just need to get away."
"Well I had better get home before Willow sends for reinforcements. After the sun goes down I'll be back with Xander and Tara to pick you up." What was this new horror coming out of her mouth?
Spike looked as confused as Buffy felt. "Why? In my current condition I won't be much help with the fightin'."
"No, not for patrolling. I think that you should stay at my house for the time being. U-until you fixed that is." The words came out so fast her brain was having difficulty keeping up. She thought about taking it back, uninviting him, but her mouth was unable or unwilling to form the words.
"Your house? Slayer, I'm not the one that demon was after so I don't think that he'll come back here for me. And don't think I need a sitter either. I can take care of myself. Guilt absolved. Go home." The last thing he wanted was her pity or her feelings of misplaced obligation, he wanted to be invited to stay because she wanted him there.
"No. Not until you agree to stay with us. Dawn's out of the house so you can stay in my room and I'll sleep in her room. That way I can keep an eye on your wound in case the poison starts to spread again. Besides you shouldn't move around and at my house someone will be there to help."
"Sod off! I'm not an invalid who needs a bloody nursemaid!" Buffy appeared unfazed by Spike's defensive outburst.
"Please, Spike." Buffy spoke quietly. This was the right thing to do. He should be with her so that she could watch over him in case he got sicker. It was her fault this all happened anyway.
Buffy's tone undid him. "Fine then." Somehow this was going to come back and bite him on the ass. It always did. Yet how could he refuse her anything?
Buffy could see that he wasn't happy about this turn of events and she wondered at that. Shouldn't he be jumping at the chance to be under the same roof with her?
"Sundown. Xander, Tara, me and a vehicle to pick you up." Decision made, she left without another word.