Chapter 13
Spike please...
She shuddered in the embrace that gently rocked her as the sobs came forward. She had never seen anything like that. He was dead, before his body used to arch electricity, now just a corpse. He was in so much pain, nothing she'd seen before. Then nothing, he faded from her, right before her eyes.
Dawns hands had gripped Spikes arms trying desperately to wake him up. Yelling, crying, even frantically shaking him, but nothing had worked. It cracked her heart to see someone she loved like this. Finally after yelling his name her body succumb to her sobs that had formed a lump in her throat.
She didn't know or care who's arms had encircled her and carried her to the table. Dawn just clutched her hands against the warm arms that supported her as tears overflowed. She didn't want to remember. The way his eyes glazed over, how his voice sounded void. What could have done this to him?
Her sobs worsened when the events of the past few hours came crashing down on her. Buffy scaring her, news of Spikes torture, Janice's horrible death, the sight of Spikes wounds, The horrible scene that finally reduced her to a blubbering mess. It overwhelmed her, and she just cried harder. She felt the familiar want to run into herself, to block out what was happening.
As the sobs died down to whimpers when she felt a tingling around her. She suddenly a wave of calm assurance washed over her. She hadn't noticed the intelligible murmuring coming from the person holding her. She also hadn't noticed that the tingling was coming the hands that held her to the warm body. She slowly stopped whimpering and let go, let the feelings wash over herself.
The tears had stopped flowing, and finally she was starting to doze. Hoping for a dreamless sleep. But her wishes were interrupted by a ringing phone. The sound was harsh and grating, but was quickly silence. Dawn didn't lift her face from its position, resting on Willows chest.
Willow
Her body flinched slightly when she recognized who was holding her, at first she hadn't cared, but she had expected her sister to scoop her up and sooth her. Surprisingly it didn't phase her that much, didn't really mattered who helped, just as long someone was helping.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Buffy had dropped the phone and was hugging Xander for dear life. She also noticed Giles walking towards Willow with a determined look.
"Willow, may I speak to you."
Sounding a bit curt, he turned and walked toward a corner near the door. Lifting her head to show the confused look that crossed her face. Willow felt the movement and looked down at Dawns expecting face. She nodded and Let go, seating herself. Willow got up and followed Giles to the corner. She couldn't hear what they were saying. The emotions played on both there faces in a flurry of movement.
Tarring her eyes from the heated discussion in the corner, she looked around at the dramatic changes in her surroundings. Buffy was harshly whispering to Anya. Spikes prone form was nowhere to be seen. And Xander just looked lost. What do they do now.
Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a movement in the far corner of the room. She turned to look, but there was nothing. Nothing but shadows.
Slipping away from everyone Dawn walked into the training room, oblivious to Xander's notice. Her steps were soft and wary as she approached the still form. Teary eyes looked over his limp body slowly, observing the mess that once protected her from a hell god
Sinking to her knees, she placed a small hand on his scarred chest. A part of her mind desperately hoped the warmth of her small hand might wake him up. But that part was crushed when the chest did nothing. Dawn's hand slipped off his chest to her knee when the coldness was too much. The way her mom had felt after Buffy found her on the couch that day.
He's gone
Standing, she flatly looked at the pearly white body and turned away. Brushing past Xander who had been standing in the doorway. Long after she was gone, He just stared at the body on the floor. A slight smirk of remembrance hit his lips. It soon faded into a frown, causing him to turn and leave.
***********
God...there faces...he saw there faces...
Her mind rambled as she poured her magic to sooth the shaking form in her arms. Willow knew that Dawn was about to recede, and soon that would be too much for all of them, for Buffy. A feeling of sadness went through her mind. Buffy had just stood, helpless. For the first time she saw Buffy vulnerable, unable to do anything. And she had looked to her for help.
The sadness was replaced by a painful sorrow when she was reminded why Buffy had become so helpless.
Spike.
She hadn't severed her mental connection with him during the whole horrible scene. She saw and felt everything he had. The only difference is that she knew they were alive, that he hadn't done those gut wrenching things. Her heart cried out at the sight of Dawns body. Her pain was augmented at the emotion that hit her afterward. Spikes emotions almost made her pass out they were so terrible and strong. Such pain. It made her wish that she hadn't pulled him out.
Her magic started to waver at the loss of concentration. Wiping away stray thoughts and focusing on Dawn. She had stopped whimpering and started to doze off. She had gone through so much. And seeing her protector completely withdraw didn't help keep her sanity. Definitely helped push her to want to withdraw herself. But Willow couldn't let that happen.
Her concentration was completely shattered when she heard Giles speak to her. She hadn't even noticed him coming.
"Willow, may I speak to you."
She was surprised by the harshness of the tone. She felt Dawn move. Looking down to be met with a confused face, she silently asked. Dawn read perfectly and nodded. Pulling away so Willow could follow Giles into the corner. She back peddled a bit when she saw his face. Full of determination.
"What the bloody hell was that!"
His voice was in a rough whisper. She desperately tried to find a safe place to start. Here eyes could tell Giles was on his edge, he was one of the strongest of them all, but even this had gotten to him.
"W-when I got to him...He was...witnessing a memory...it wasn't a real one, but...It seemed real enough."
Giles face was still set. He wasn't going to budge with just that small explanation.
"What do you mean, what memory?"
Shuddering she remembered with too much clarity.
"He saw...He was forced to see himself..."
Her throat clenched, she felt so much pain with trying to say it. To remember the horror he had felt when he saw himself do those things. Giles though wouldn't wait for her to collect herself.
"Willow what did Spike see?"
His voice was rising. But all she could muster was a whisper herself.
"See himself kill Dawn and Buffy."
Giles face dropped into one of terrifying realization. But Willow continued, in a flat, almost dazed voice.
"When I pulled him out, he remembered...He didn't really do it...But the memory was there, he remembered how it felt. The smell and feel of it. God...He doesn't think he killed them, he knows it, he remembers it."
She was on the verge of tears again. Giles face just grew paler and paler. Raspy desperation was in his voice.
"Can you help him, pull him out again."
Her eyes shut, letting the tears fall. The answer suddenly became real, she had to say it.
"No, before...he just witnessed it and didn't...didn't believe he did it. Now he knows he did...He's gone...completely. He can only come back if he wants to. "
Giles looked completely defeated. She knew how he felt, they were useless in this situation. They couldn't even help the vampire. Let alone the Slayer.
There conversation was interrupted when a loud yell ripped through the air.
"What do you mean HE'S not there."
There heads whipped around to see a very scared Buffy on the phone.
***********
His smile dropped, he heard the conversation. This was not part of the plan. This completely blew the plan to hell.
They were so close. After two hundred years they had never gotten this close. But now it was a dead end. The anger boiled through it. If there was one thing that would happen, someone was going to die, slowly, and horrifically painful.
The shadows slipped away and it advanced.
It's eyes fell apon the girl leaving the back room. His smile returned as his face shifted. Letting the darkness overcome him.
Time for Malnaroo to come out.
Authors Note:
A little confused. Good. Explanations are in the next chapter. Guess your just going to have to stay awake and read it when I post it next weekend.
Hope you all are liking it so far. Hopefully I can end this soon. Got other commitments. But I won't end this prematurely. If you like or dislike REVIEW
Spike please...
She shuddered in the embrace that gently rocked her as the sobs came forward. She had never seen anything like that. He was dead, before his body used to arch electricity, now just a corpse. He was in so much pain, nothing she'd seen before. Then nothing, he faded from her, right before her eyes.
Dawns hands had gripped Spikes arms trying desperately to wake him up. Yelling, crying, even frantically shaking him, but nothing had worked. It cracked her heart to see someone she loved like this. Finally after yelling his name her body succumb to her sobs that had formed a lump in her throat.
She didn't know or care who's arms had encircled her and carried her to the table. Dawn just clutched her hands against the warm arms that supported her as tears overflowed. She didn't want to remember. The way his eyes glazed over, how his voice sounded void. What could have done this to him?
Her sobs worsened when the events of the past few hours came crashing down on her. Buffy scaring her, news of Spikes torture, Janice's horrible death, the sight of Spikes wounds, The horrible scene that finally reduced her to a blubbering mess. It overwhelmed her, and she just cried harder. She felt the familiar want to run into herself, to block out what was happening.
As the sobs died down to whimpers when she felt a tingling around her. She suddenly a wave of calm assurance washed over her. She hadn't noticed the intelligible murmuring coming from the person holding her. She also hadn't noticed that the tingling was coming the hands that held her to the warm body. She slowly stopped whimpering and let go, let the feelings wash over herself.
The tears had stopped flowing, and finally she was starting to doze. Hoping for a dreamless sleep. But her wishes were interrupted by a ringing phone. The sound was harsh and grating, but was quickly silence. Dawn didn't lift her face from its position, resting on Willows chest.
Willow
Her body flinched slightly when she recognized who was holding her, at first she hadn't cared, but she had expected her sister to scoop her up and sooth her. Surprisingly it didn't phase her that much, didn't really mattered who helped, just as long someone was helping.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Buffy had dropped the phone and was hugging Xander for dear life. She also noticed Giles walking towards Willow with a determined look.
"Willow, may I speak to you."
Sounding a bit curt, he turned and walked toward a corner near the door. Lifting her head to show the confused look that crossed her face. Willow felt the movement and looked down at Dawns expecting face. She nodded and Let go, seating herself. Willow got up and followed Giles to the corner. She couldn't hear what they were saying. The emotions played on both there faces in a flurry of movement.
Tarring her eyes from the heated discussion in the corner, she looked around at the dramatic changes in her surroundings. Buffy was harshly whispering to Anya. Spikes prone form was nowhere to be seen. And Xander just looked lost. What do they do now.
Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a movement in the far corner of the room. She turned to look, but there was nothing. Nothing but shadows.
Slipping away from everyone Dawn walked into the training room, oblivious to Xander's notice. Her steps were soft and wary as she approached the still form. Teary eyes looked over his limp body slowly, observing the mess that once protected her from a hell god
Sinking to her knees, she placed a small hand on his scarred chest. A part of her mind desperately hoped the warmth of her small hand might wake him up. But that part was crushed when the chest did nothing. Dawn's hand slipped off his chest to her knee when the coldness was too much. The way her mom had felt after Buffy found her on the couch that day.
He's gone
Standing, she flatly looked at the pearly white body and turned away. Brushing past Xander who had been standing in the doorway. Long after she was gone, He just stared at the body on the floor. A slight smirk of remembrance hit his lips. It soon faded into a frown, causing him to turn and leave.
***********
God...there faces...he saw there faces...
Her mind rambled as she poured her magic to sooth the shaking form in her arms. Willow knew that Dawn was about to recede, and soon that would be too much for all of them, for Buffy. A feeling of sadness went through her mind. Buffy had just stood, helpless. For the first time she saw Buffy vulnerable, unable to do anything. And she had looked to her for help.
The sadness was replaced by a painful sorrow when she was reminded why Buffy had become so helpless.
Spike.
She hadn't severed her mental connection with him during the whole horrible scene. She saw and felt everything he had. The only difference is that she knew they were alive, that he hadn't done those gut wrenching things. Her heart cried out at the sight of Dawns body. Her pain was augmented at the emotion that hit her afterward. Spikes emotions almost made her pass out they were so terrible and strong. Such pain. It made her wish that she hadn't pulled him out.
Her magic started to waver at the loss of concentration. Wiping away stray thoughts and focusing on Dawn. She had stopped whimpering and started to doze off. She had gone through so much. And seeing her protector completely withdraw didn't help keep her sanity. Definitely helped push her to want to withdraw herself. But Willow couldn't let that happen.
Her concentration was completely shattered when she heard Giles speak to her. She hadn't even noticed him coming.
"Willow, may I speak to you."
She was surprised by the harshness of the tone. She felt Dawn move. Looking down to be met with a confused face, she silently asked. Dawn read perfectly and nodded. Pulling away so Willow could follow Giles into the corner. She back peddled a bit when she saw his face. Full of determination.
"What the bloody hell was that!"
His voice was in a rough whisper. She desperately tried to find a safe place to start. Here eyes could tell Giles was on his edge, he was one of the strongest of them all, but even this had gotten to him.
"W-when I got to him...He was...witnessing a memory...it wasn't a real one, but...It seemed real enough."
Giles face was still set. He wasn't going to budge with just that small explanation.
"What do you mean, what memory?"
Shuddering she remembered with too much clarity.
"He saw...He was forced to see himself..."
Her throat clenched, she felt so much pain with trying to say it. To remember the horror he had felt when he saw himself do those things. Giles though wouldn't wait for her to collect herself.
"Willow what did Spike see?"
His voice was rising. But all she could muster was a whisper herself.
"See himself kill Dawn and Buffy."
Giles face dropped into one of terrifying realization. But Willow continued, in a flat, almost dazed voice.
"When I pulled him out, he remembered...He didn't really do it...But the memory was there, he remembered how it felt. The smell and feel of it. God...He doesn't think he killed them, he knows it, he remembers it."
She was on the verge of tears again. Giles face just grew paler and paler. Raspy desperation was in his voice.
"Can you help him, pull him out again."
Her eyes shut, letting the tears fall. The answer suddenly became real, she had to say it.
"No, before...he just witnessed it and didn't...didn't believe he did it. Now he knows he did...He's gone...completely. He can only come back if he wants to. "
Giles looked completely defeated. She knew how he felt, they were useless in this situation. They couldn't even help the vampire. Let alone the Slayer.
There conversation was interrupted when a loud yell ripped through the air.
"What do you mean HE'S not there."
There heads whipped around to see a very scared Buffy on the phone.
***********
His smile dropped, he heard the conversation. This was not part of the plan. This completely blew the plan to hell.
They were so close. After two hundred years they had never gotten this close. But now it was a dead end. The anger boiled through it. If there was one thing that would happen, someone was going to die, slowly, and horrifically painful.
The shadows slipped away and it advanced.
It's eyes fell apon the girl leaving the back room. His smile returned as his face shifted. Letting the darkness overcome him.
Time for Malnaroo to come out.
Authors Note:
A little confused. Good. Explanations are in the next chapter. Guess your just going to have to stay awake and read it when I post it next weekend.
Hope you all are liking it so far. Hopefully I can end this soon. Got other commitments. But I won't end this prematurely. If you like or dislike REVIEW