By: Lynn
Rating: PG-13
"Goodnight, Buffy."
"Night, Dawn. Sleep well."
Dawn turned around and ran back up the steps. Closing the door to her room, she went to the chest at the foot of the bed. Like Buffy's, her chest had a secret compartment, but, unlike Buffy's, hers did not hold weapons. It held something far more precious to her: an old, beat-up, leather duster.
Buffy didn't know Dawn had rescued it from the garbage. She knew she shouldn't have; Spike deserved to lose his beloved coat after what he almost did to her sister. But the coat didn't remind Dawn of that Spike; it reminded her of the Spike of the summer after Buffy's death. And that was also the Spike she missed dearly.
She had been sleeping in it since he left. Having it on made Dawn feel better – like Spike's hugs did that summer. She didn't know if she'd be able to sleep without it anymore.
Snuggling down into bed her nose searched for the cigarette and alcohol smell, but the coat no longer smelled like Spike.
He's never coming back. He's gone!
Bursting into sobs, Dawn cried herself to sleep.
After Dawn went upstairs to bed, Buffy quickly changed and went out for a quick patrol. She was restless, but, unfortunately, she didn't run into any trouble. Sighing, she turned to for home, almost missing the excitement-packed nights of a year ago.
That's not all you miss about the nights from a year ago…
A nasty voice in Buffy's head teased her.
"Shut up! I will not think about him!"
Buffy started sprinting, trying in vain to outrun her thoughts.
* * *
Willow laid on her bed, phone to ear. She desperately needed to talk to Giles, long-distance bill be damned! On the second ring, she heard a click.
"'ello?" Willow frowned – that voice was familiar, but it wasn't Giles'…
"Uh…yeah…is Rupert Giles there?"
The person on the other end didn't say anything, but, a second later, Giles' voice came on. Now, Willow was even more confused.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Giles. It's me."
"Oh…ah, Willow. How are you?"
"Fine. Who was that?"
"Oh…ah…a colleague."
"Oh." Somehow Willow couldn't shake the funny feeling the first voice had given her.
"So, what can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to talk to you."
"Oh!" For the next couple of minutes, the two caught up. They didn't talk about
anything big, which is what Willow wanted – to be able to forget for a while that her friends were still a little afraid of her, no matter how well they tried to hide it.
Finally, they hung up. Giles was guilt-ridden for lying to her. No longer able to stand it, he picked up the phone, quickly dialing her number.
"I'm sorry, Spike," he said as it was ringing. "I just can't let her think I don't trust her. I'll ensure her confidence."
Spike just nodded. Getting the story from Giles a few weeks ago, Spike had been tempted to fly out to California to help the witch. He had always felt a connection with Red, and his heart ached for her.
"Hello?"
"Willow? It's me again."
"Giles? What's wrong?"
"I need to apologize and to ask you a favor."
"Huh?"
"One, I'm sorry. I lied to you. Two, will you keep a secret for me."
"Ah….sure?"
Giles took a deep breath and caught Spike's eye.
"About my colleague…"
* * *
"Yeah, so Giles and I decided to work together." Spike said into the phone. He had been talking to Red since she found out – and demanded to speak with him. At first she was mad at him about what he did to Buffy, but she, of all people, knew how hard it is to earn forgiveness – and how valuable it was. Soon, they were chatting like old friends.
When she found about his soul, she was ecstatic. Her reaction gave him hope.
"Well, Will. I better get goin'. Giles will 'ave an aneurism when 'e sees the phone bill."
Just as he was finishing up on the phone with Willow, the front door burst in. Alea crossed the room in a blaze of fury and pain before the two men even processed she was there.
She had Spike bent backwards on the table, stake to heart.
"Bastard! Jerk! Liar! I can't believe you – the both of you. Hope you enjoyed laughing at me!" By this time, Giles recovered and pulled her off of Spike. She turned and started hitting Giles' chest, but he refused to let go. Holding her close, he tried to get through to her. She had burst out crying shortly after Giles pulled her away. The anger had quickly turned into sadness at their betrayal. She had thought they cared for her, that they were friends, but she realized now that neither one of them had trusted her. This is what really bothered her. William being Spike didn't bother her after the first couple of minutes. Despite what her Professor had said, she didn't think he was evil. She knew him.
Or at least she thought she knew him.
Slowly, the tears lessened. Soon all there was were sniffles and whimpers. No words had been spoken for quite some time. Spike decided to break the silence.
"I'm going to go out on a limb here, pet, but I take it you know?"
Alea turned her head and glared at Spike. She couldn't keep up the angry façade against the expression on his face.
"Why didn't you guys tell me?"
"We're idiots."
"Duh."
"Silly bint."
"Wanker."
Spike gasped, clutching at his heart and falling back over the couch. All three started laughing. Afterward, they talked long into the night, the two men trying to make amends and the girl trying to convince them it wasn't necessary.