Hope struggled against whoever had grabbed her shoulders, preventing her
from going the remaining fifteen feet between her and the door to Buffy's
room. There were numerous nurses and doctors coming in and out of the room,
shouting things that she couldn't make out.
"Lemme go!" She managed, tearing one arm away from the nurse. Any other day she would have been able to wiggle away easily, but now she was just tired. Her legs felt heavy from the short sprint from the waiting room. Letting out an aggravated scream, she pulled completely away from the woman, nearly losing her balance as she began to run once more.
It didn't take much more to get to Buffy's room. Hope slid to a stop, staying along the wall opposite the door. She craned her neck, trying to peer past the people huddled at the door and into the room. Her view was obscured even more by the people inside the room, gathered around the Slayer's bed.
"You can't go back there!"
Hope's head snapped to the side. Willow and Dawn were walking quickly towards her, the nurse that had been holding her back trailing behind then, shouting for them to stop. Her head spun back to look at the door in front of her. Pushing away from the wall, she squeezed her way between the doctors, ignoring their protests and shoving the ones that refused to move out of her way.
When she was finally in the room, she darted away from the hands that tried to nab her and raced to the side of the bed, squeezing between a doctor and nurse who were shouting back and forth.
She froze, her eyes going wide.
"Ms. Summers. Ms. Summers!" The doctor was shouting, trying unsuccessfully to pry the Slayers arms from around Spike's neck. She was sitting up, clinging to him like he was her only tie to this earth. Her eyes were flitting about frantically, confused, afraid.
Spike was being just as difficult, refusing to let go of the now conscious blonde. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, his head buried in her shoulder. Despite the numerous shouts, Hope could here him mumbling under his breath, tiny words only the Slayer was meant to hear.
"I love you, Buffy."
"Someone call security!" The doctor nearest Spike shouted, looking over his shoulder at one of the nurses. Hope looked back as well. Dawn and Willow were standing in the doorway, trying unsuccessfully to push past the nurses standing there. "Now would be good!" The doctor barked. The nurse fumbled her hands and turned for the door.
"No, wait!" Hope managed, turning back to the vampire and Slayer huddled on the bed. Security was a bad thing, she knew. "Move." She ordered, ducking under the doctor's arm as he continued to unsuccessfully try to pull Spike's arms from Buffy. She pushed it away, placing her own hand on the vampire's shoulder.
"Spike?" She questioned, shaking him a bit. He didn't answer. She rolled her eyes. "Spike, come on. They can't help her if you don't let go."
He sat there for a moment, still, but then reluctantly loosened his hold on the Slayer's waist, pulling back a bit.
"Mmm." Buffy managed, the only sound she was able to make with the tube still down her throat was a pitiful, raspy whimper.
"Buffy!!"
The Slayer's eyes shot to the door as her sister rushed in, Willow close on her heals. Her eyes darted around wildly, trying to take in all the faces around her.
"Guys, stay back." Hope said simply, holding up her hand at Willow and Dawn. "Spike, come on. The doctors need to look at her." She said quietly, placing her hand back on Spike's shoulder.
"S'ok luv. It'll all be okay." He said softly, pulling away from her grasp and standing alongside Hope. His hand lingered on the side of her face before dropping limply to his side.
"Hmm mmm.." Buffy mumbled, her eyes watering up.
"Alright, everyone. Let's give her some room. You can come back in when we're done examining her." The doctor said, holding a finger up in front of the Slayer's eyes and moving it back and forth. Her eyes followed for a moment before she looked back over to where the others were standing, her eyes pleading.
"It's okay, Buffy. We'll be back in a little bit. The doctors are going to help you." Dawn managed, talking over her shoulder as one of the remaining nurses ushered them out the door and back into the hallway.
The quartet stood silently in the hallway, watching absently as the door to the Slayer's room was closed and the unneeded doctors and nurses dispersed down the halls. Dawn and Willow exchanged a quick uneasy look while Hope looked down at the floor, but their eyes all locked on Spike as the vampire walked up to the room, placing the palm of his hand against the door.
----------
"Ms. Summers, Ms. Rosenburg?"
Dawn and Willow looked up as the doctor walked towards them, his eyes glued to the clipboard he held in his hands. The two girls stood, eager to hear what he had to say.
"Is she okay?" Spike question, sliding Hope from his lap as he stood from his seat as well. The girl had fallen asleep again, but who could really blame her? "Is she gonna be alright?"
"As far as we can tell." The doctor replied, finally looking up to meet the concerned faces in front of him. "Her vital signs are all good, she's breathing on her own, and despite the massive lack of oxygen that was getting to her brain, there doesn't seem to be too much memory loss."
"Memory loss?" Willow questioned, sounding worried. "No one said anything about memory loss."
"It's common in situations like these. She may not remember some dates, birthdays, anniversaries, things like that. And I wouldn't be surprised in the least if she didn't remember anything that happened to her, why she's here. We questioned her about it, but she's still a little dazed. It's best just to let her rest for the time being."
"Can we go see her?" Dawn asked eagerly.
The doctor nodded, tucking the clipboard under his arm. "But like I said, don't expect her to remember what happened. She's still a bit confused, but seeing some familiar faces should do her good."
"Thank you." Willow said, watching as the doctor retreated down another hallway. She glanced at Dawn for a moment, then at Spike. "Should we wake her up?" She questioned, nodding towards Hope. The girl was still curled up on the chair, sleeping soundly.
Spike looked back at her, then back to Willow, shaking his head. "Let 'er sleep."
Willow nodded. "Well, I guess we should go then."
Dawn nodded, following after the redhead. Spike followed behind her, casting one last look over his shoulder at the sleeping Slayer.
"Buffy?" Willow called quietly, slowly pushing the door to her room open. A smile crept to her face when she saw the Slayer sitting in bed, looking over at her. "Hey."
"Willow?" Buffy asked, giving the redhead a confused look.
"Yeah, it's me. A-and Dawn." Willow said, smiling as she sat down on the side of the bed.
"And Spike." Dawn added, walking up and hugging her sister tightly. Buffy looked up at Spike as her sister released her. He was lingering near the wall, just watching them. Her eyes quickly went back to Willow and Dawn.
"What happened?"
Dawn and Willow exchanged looks before turning back to the razzled Slayer. "You should get some rest, Buffy. We can talk about it later." Dawn said, giving her sister a small smile.
The Slayer looked hurt, her eyes looking between the trio before resting on the vampire. "Spike?"
Spike shifted a bit, leaning away from the wall. "Uh." He mumbled, looking nervously over at Willow and Dawn.
"Buffy, I really don't think." Willow began.
"They said they put your coat over there." Buffy interrupted, pointing to the corner of the room. "It's in that bag. There was a lot of blood, I guess."
Spike smirked, earning a small smile from the Slayer.
"Oh, coat. Right." Willow muttered, giving Buffy a small smile.
"So, uh. How do you feel?" Dawn asked tentatively.
"Like someone drove a sword through my gut." Buffy grumbled, lifting her shirt to reveal the bloodied wrap around her middle.
"Was a fire poker." Spike said conversationally. Willow and Dawn glared at him while Buffy just looked confused. He sighed, dropping his arms to the sides. "Pet, what do you remember?" He asked softly, his eyes not leaving the blonde.
Bufy looked down, fidgeting with her hands. "I don't know. I remember the mansion, a-and then. uh, the dog. And Dru. Dru was there." Buffy stated, speaking in short sentences. She was staring at the ground, as if she were digging deeply for the bits of information. "I. I killed her. Hope showed up, and then I killed Dru."
"That's it? You don't remember what happened after that?" Dawn asked, looking sympathetic.
Buffy thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "No."
"So, you don't remember Spike?" Willow asked softly, giving the vampire a quick glance.
Buffy shook her head again, looking over at him as well. "What happened?"
He swallowed, shifting his weight. He looked over at Dawn and Willow, swallowing down the lump in his throat. "Do you think."
"We'll be back in a little bit." Dawn said, cutting him off. She gave her sister a small smile before heading towards the door.
"You want us to get you anything, Buff? Food?" Willow asked, tailing after the brunette. Buffy shook her head. Willow smiled, nodding, before disappearing out the door.
An uneasy silence fell over the pair as the door shut, leaving them alone in the dim light of the hospital room. Spike took a deep breath before looking up, eyes locking with the Slayers. "We fought. Me an' you. We fought.. and I won."
Buffy's eyes narrowed a bit, her brain trying to remember anything about he was saying. It didn't work. "Why?"
Spike sighed, pulling his hands from his pockets and walking over to the bed. He took a seat at the end of it, resting his hands in his lap and looking to the floor. "The dog thing. made me a bit crazy."
"The demon.." Buffy said softly, confirming that she knew what he was talking about. "But I thought that only worked on humans?" She questioned, her confused expression returning.
"So did I." He muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"But then why."
The vampire shrugged, remaining silent.
"Spike?" Buffy questioned, looking skeptical. "What is it?"
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes a bit, watching him intently. "You know why, don't you?" He remained quite. "Spike. Why?" she said flatly, her voice stern.
"Human characteristics, maybe." he mumbled, his voice nearly silent.
"It worked because you look human?"
He shook his head. "No. Not on the outside.. on the inside."
"Lemme go!" She managed, tearing one arm away from the nurse. Any other day she would have been able to wiggle away easily, but now she was just tired. Her legs felt heavy from the short sprint from the waiting room. Letting out an aggravated scream, she pulled completely away from the woman, nearly losing her balance as she began to run once more.
It didn't take much more to get to Buffy's room. Hope slid to a stop, staying along the wall opposite the door. She craned her neck, trying to peer past the people huddled at the door and into the room. Her view was obscured even more by the people inside the room, gathered around the Slayer's bed.
"You can't go back there!"
Hope's head snapped to the side. Willow and Dawn were walking quickly towards her, the nurse that had been holding her back trailing behind then, shouting for them to stop. Her head spun back to look at the door in front of her. Pushing away from the wall, she squeezed her way between the doctors, ignoring their protests and shoving the ones that refused to move out of her way.
When she was finally in the room, she darted away from the hands that tried to nab her and raced to the side of the bed, squeezing between a doctor and nurse who were shouting back and forth.
She froze, her eyes going wide.
"Ms. Summers. Ms. Summers!" The doctor was shouting, trying unsuccessfully to pry the Slayers arms from around Spike's neck. She was sitting up, clinging to him like he was her only tie to this earth. Her eyes were flitting about frantically, confused, afraid.
Spike was being just as difficult, refusing to let go of the now conscious blonde. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, his head buried in her shoulder. Despite the numerous shouts, Hope could here him mumbling under his breath, tiny words only the Slayer was meant to hear.
"I love you, Buffy."
"Someone call security!" The doctor nearest Spike shouted, looking over his shoulder at one of the nurses. Hope looked back as well. Dawn and Willow were standing in the doorway, trying unsuccessfully to push past the nurses standing there. "Now would be good!" The doctor barked. The nurse fumbled her hands and turned for the door.
"No, wait!" Hope managed, turning back to the vampire and Slayer huddled on the bed. Security was a bad thing, she knew. "Move." She ordered, ducking under the doctor's arm as he continued to unsuccessfully try to pull Spike's arms from Buffy. She pushed it away, placing her own hand on the vampire's shoulder.
"Spike?" She questioned, shaking him a bit. He didn't answer. She rolled her eyes. "Spike, come on. They can't help her if you don't let go."
He sat there for a moment, still, but then reluctantly loosened his hold on the Slayer's waist, pulling back a bit.
"Mmm." Buffy managed, the only sound she was able to make with the tube still down her throat was a pitiful, raspy whimper.
"Buffy!!"
The Slayer's eyes shot to the door as her sister rushed in, Willow close on her heals. Her eyes darted around wildly, trying to take in all the faces around her.
"Guys, stay back." Hope said simply, holding up her hand at Willow and Dawn. "Spike, come on. The doctors need to look at her." She said quietly, placing her hand back on Spike's shoulder.
"S'ok luv. It'll all be okay." He said softly, pulling away from her grasp and standing alongside Hope. His hand lingered on the side of her face before dropping limply to his side.
"Hmm mmm.." Buffy mumbled, her eyes watering up.
"Alright, everyone. Let's give her some room. You can come back in when we're done examining her." The doctor said, holding a finger up in front of the Slayer's eyes and moving it back and forth. Her eyes followed for a moment before she looked back over to where the others were standing, her eyes pleading.
"It's okay, Buffy. We'll be back in a little bit. The doctors are going to help you." Dawn managed, talking over her shoulder as one of the remaining nurses ushered them out the door and back into the hallway.
The quartet stood silently in the hallway, watching absently as the door to the Slayer's room was closed and the unneeded doctors and nurses dispersed down the halls. Dawn and Willow exchanged a quick uneasy look while Hope looked down at the floor, but their eyes all locked on Spike as the vampire walked up to the room, placing the palm of his hand against the door.
----------
"Ms. Summers, Ms. Rosenburg?"
Dawn and Willow looked up as the doctor walked towards them, his eyes glued to the clipboard he held in his hands. The two girls stood, eager to hear what he had to say.
"Is she okay?" Spike question, sliding Hope from his lap as he stood from his seat as well. The girl had fallen asleep again, but who could really blame her? "Is she gonna be alright?"
"As far as we can tell." The doctor replied, finally looking up to meet the concerned faces in front of him. "Her vital signs are all good, she's breathing on her own, and despite the massive lack of oxygen that was getting to her brain, there doesn't seem to be too much memory loss."
"Memory loss?" Willow questioned, sounding worried. "No one said anything about memory loss."
"It's common in situations like these. She may not remember some dates, birthdays, anniversaries, things like that. And I wouldn't be surprised in the least if she didn't remember anything that happened to her, why she's here. We questioned her about it, but she's still a little dazed. It's best just to let her rest for the time being."
"Can we go see her?" Dawn asked eagerly.
The doctor nodded, tucking the clipboard under his arm. "But like I said, don't expect her to remember what happened. She's still a bit confused, but seeing some familiar faces should do her good."
"Thank you." Willow said, watching as the doctor retreated down another hallway. She glanced at Dawn for a moment, then at Spike. "Should we wake her up?" She questioned, nodding towards Hope. The girl was still curled up on the chair, sleeping soundly.
Spike looked back at her, then back to Willow, shaking his head. "Let 'er sleep."
Willow nodded. "Well, I guess we should go then."
Dawn nodded, following after the redhead. Spike followed behind her, casting one last look over his shoulder at the sleeping Slayer.
"Buffy?" Willow called quietly, slowly pushing the door to her room open. A smile crept to her face when she saw the Slayer sitting in bed, looking over at her. "Hey."
"Willow?" Buffy asked, giving the redhead a confused look.
"Yeah, it's me. A-and Dawn." Willow said, smiling as she sat down on the side of the bed.
"And Spike." Dawn added, walking up and hugging her sister tightly. Buffy looked up at Spike as her sister released her. He was lingering near the wall, just watching them. Her eyes quickly went back to Willow and Dawn.
"What happened?"
Dawn and Willow exchanged looks before turning back to the razzled Slayer. "You should get some rest, Buffy. We can talk about it later." Dawn said, giving her sister a small smile.
The Slayer looked hurt, her eyes looking between the trio before resting on the vampire. "Spike?"
Spike shifted a bit, leaning away from the wall. "Uh." He mumbled, looking nervously over at Willow and Dawn.
"Buffy, I really don't think." Willow began.
"They said they put your coat over there." Buffy interrupted, pointing to the corner of the room. "It's in that bag. There was a lot of blood, I guess."
Spike smirked, earning a small smile from the Slayer.
"Oh, coat. Right." Willow muttered, giving Buffy a small smile.
"So, uh. How do you feel?" Dawn asked tentatively.
"Like someone drove a sword through my gut." Buffy grumbled, lifting her shirt to reveal the bloodied wrap around her middle.
"Was a fire poker." Spike said conversationally. Willow and Dawn glared at him while Buffy just looked confused. He sighed, dropping his arms to the sides. "Pet, what do you remember?" He asked softly, his eyes not leaving the blonde.
Bufy looked down, fidgeting with her hands. "I don't know. I remember the mansion, a-and then. uh, the dog. And Dru. Dru was there." Buffy stated, speaking in short sentences. She was staring at the ground, as if she were digging deeply for the bits of information. "I. I killed her. Hope showed up, and then I killed Dru."
"That's it? You don't remember what happened after that?" Dawn asked, looking sympathetic.
Buffy thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "No."
"So, you don't remember Spike?" Willow asked softly, giving the vampire a quick glance.
Buffy shook her head again, looking over at him as well. "What happened?"
He swallowed, shifting his weight. He looked over at Dawn and Willow, swallowing down the lump in his throat. "Do you think."
"We'll be back in a little bit." Dawn said, cutting him off. She gave her sister a small smile before heading towards the door.
"You want us to get you anything, Buff? Food?" Willow asked, tailing after the brunette. Buffy shook her head. Willow smiled, nodding, before disappearing out the door.
An uneasy silence fell over the pair as the door shut, leaving them alone in the dim light of the hospital room. Spike took a deep breath before looking up, eyes locking with the Slayers. "We fought. Me an' you. We fought.. and I won."
Buffy's eyes narrowed a bit, her brain trying to remember anything about he was saying. It didn't work. "Why?"
Spike sighed, pulling his hands from his pockets and walking over to the bed. He took a seat at the end of it, resting his hands in his lap and looking to the floor. "The dog thing. made me a bit crazy."
"The demon.." Buffy said softly, confirming that she knew what he was talking about. "But I thought that only worked on humans?" She questioned, her confused expression returning.
"So did I." He muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"But then why."
The vampire shrugged, remaining silent.
"Spike?" Buffy questioned, looking skeptical. "What is it?"
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes a bit, watching him intently. "You know why, don't you?" He remained quite. "Spike. Why?" she said flatly, her voice stern.
"Human characteristics, maybe." he mumbled, his voice nearly silent.
"It worked because you look human?"
He shook his head. "No. Not on the outside.. on the inside."