Chapter 3
"Spike? Are you here?" Dawn asked as she walked into the vampire's crypt, carefully closing the door behind her. She was scared and confused. Nobody told her what was going on. All she knew what that Giles had gone to his house to "talk" to Travers, Willow and Anya were in full research mode, Xander was running around Sunnydale buying food and supplies and gathering books, and Buffy was sitting in her room, sobbing.
Buffy had been sobbing all night. She thought it was because Spike was dead, so her own sobs echoed Buffy's. When she emerged from her room late that morning, her eyes red and swollen, Willow took one look at her and rushed to hold her. For once Dawn didn't pull away from Willow's embrace.
"Dawnie," Willow said gently, "Spike's not dead."
At first she was speechless with joy and quickly looked around the room to see his familiar blonde head. Willow noticed her darting eyes. "He's not here either."
"Where is he?" Her voice was trembling.
"We think he's in his crypt."
"Why isn't he here?"
"That's what we're trying to find out, Dawn," Anya said, coming from behind her.
"Why is Buffy still crying? Didn't you guys win?"
Willow nodded, "We won. We think we did anyway. Dawn, I promise we'll explain everything as soon as we understand it."
Dawn finally pulled away, "I'm going to go see him."
"Dawnie, we don't know if that's safe," Willow was still using the same gentle tone.
"I have to see him." She ran through the house and out the backdoor. Willow moved to follow her, but Anya put a hand on her shoulder.
So that's why she found herself standing in the empty, upper level of Spike's crypt, her stomach tied in a bundle of nerves. She climbed down the ladder and her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness of the room.
She saw him lying on the partially destroyed bed, his eyes closed. He was completely still. He looked horrible. Dawn walked over to the bed as quietly as possible. She wouldn't wake him up, she just needed to touch him and make sure he was real.
Spike cracked one eye open slightly and watched her slowly and carefully make her way across the room.
"Whatcha doin' Niblet?"
She jumped nearly a foot. "You scared me Spike." He raised an eyebrow. "I wanted to make sure you are ok."
"I'm fine, Bit. How's your sister."
Dawn shrugged. "When I left she was still in her room crying. She's been crying all night."
Spike frowned. He knew she was crying, he could feel her sobs through his entire body. "Did they tell you what happened last night Bit?"
She shook her head. "Buffy won't answer me, Giles and Xander are not there, and Willow and Anya are researching."
Spike sighed. "I can't tell you much. I was unconscious most of the fight. I can tell you though that I won't be able to see Buffy for awhile." Maybe forever.
"Why?"
"I really, really think Buffy should explain everything to you. Please, Dawn, let her explain."
"Nobody will tell me what's going on!" She shouted in frustration.
Spike put a comforting hand on her arm, "Only because we don't know what's going on."
With a small whimper Dawn flung herself into Spike and wrapped her arms around his neck. Spike pulled her into a brotherly embrace and let her cry tears of relief. "You should know that it would take a hell of a lot more than bitch to kill me, Bit."
She sniffed, "I know."
He held her for several minutes, until she calmed down and pulled away. "Is there anything you need? Do you have enough blood?"
Spike grimaced, "I don't think I have any blood here." "I'll bring you some. We have some at home, and I can stop at the butcher's," she offered eagerly.
"Thanks Niblet. Can you get a message to your sister for me?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, wait here and I'll write it down for you."
Dear Slayer, I know you've been crying. I can feel it. I know things look bad right now, but we'll figure something out. We always do. I didn't tell the Niblet anything, I told her you would explain it. I'm fine. I'm under control. I miss you and I will find a way to see you soon. I love you Buffy. Spike.
"Give this to your sis."
"Ok Spike, I'll see you later."
"Be careful, Bit."
***
"Where were you?" Buffy demanded as soon as Dawn walked in the door.
Buffy's eyes were swollen and very red. She had huge bags under her eyes and her skin was extremely pale, except for hectic red splotches on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess pulled into an untidy pony tail. She was wearing an old pair of sweats and a ratty t-shirt, and her mouth was set in a straight, firm line.
In short, she looked like hell.
"I was visiting Spike," Dawn said, raising her chin defiantly.
Buffy's features softened slightly, "How is he?"
"He feels about as bad as you look."
Buffy sighed, "Cute. Does he need anything?"
"I'm bringing him some blood. Here, he told me to give you this," Dawn said, handing the small scrap of paper to Buffy.
She read it then carefully folded the note and put in her pocket. "Tell him I'll send Xander over with some blood from Willy's tonight, ok?"
"No problem."
Buffy didn't say anything, just turned around and sat down on the couch next to Willow. Willow patted her knee, trying to comfort her. Buffy offered her friend a slight smile. Their eyes had hope in them, but deep down inside they both knew that they would not be able to find a solution for this particular problem.
Dawn sensed this and did her best to control to stop the tears from falling as she walked into the kitchen to get the blood from the fridge. "Dawn!" Buffy called as she opened the back door.
"Yeah?"
Buffy walked into the kitchen. "Come here." Buffy grabbed Dawn in a tight hug. "I know that you're confused. I promise I'll tell you everything as soon as you get back."
Dawn nodded. "I'm just so happy he's not gone." She heard a sob start in Buffy's throat, but her sister didn't have any more tears left in her.
"Me too, Dawnie, me too."
***
"Buffy, did you get any sleep last night?" Willow asked, concerned.
"No, did you?"
Willow shrugged, "Yeah, a few hours or so."
"Where's Giles?"
"He says he has some things to discuss with Travers. I'm thinking not much talking is going on."
Buffy snorted, "Good. I think I should let Spike have a chance to talk to him to too."
Willow smiled. "Anya is talking to some of her demon friends, finding out what they know."
"What are you doing?" "I'm trying to figure out a way to get Spike's soul back. Buffy, what happened? What's wrong with Spike?"
"You remember when Quentin said that Spike would not be strong enough to face Lilith without a soul? Well, he's not. His demon instantly responds to Lilith, and the only thing that stopped him from biting me is the claim."
Willow's mouth dropped open. "So that means you guys can't see each other."
Buffy nodded. "We have to figure out what happened and how to reverse it."
"Buffy," Willow said tentatively, "What if this is what is supposed to happen?"
Buffy looked up sharply, "What?"
"What if this is how you become, like, the Ultimate Slayer? What if it's the next step of your 'sacred calling'?"
Buffy rubbed her eyes. "So you think that in order for me to complete my sacred calling, I need to completely abandon the person I love?"
Willow rushed to reassure her, "But I don't know anything. I was just speculating. I'm sure that's not what's going on at all. Come on, let's get something to eat.
***
"What is the exact phrasing of the prophecy?" Giles demanded.
Travers squinted at him, "You have it."
Giles didn't punch him, though he wanted to badly. "No, the prophecy doesn't say anything about the demon entering Buffy."
"Prophecies are tricky things, you know that Rupert. Wasn't there one about your Slayer dying? More often than not they are self-fulfilling, and often one reads them completely wrong."
"What are you talking about?"
Travers sighed and rolled his eyes. "Ok, didn't it say that all the vampires would die when Lilith was defeated?"
"Yes, but they didn't."
"Yes, they did. Your Slayer killed them all."
Giles couldn't argue with that logic. "What about Spike?"
"I told him he needed a soul to fight Lilith. I didn't say anything about defeating her, did I? He can't fight her, or his demon, without a soul. He can't control himself."
"What else you holding out on us?" Giles demanded.
"Don't get mad at me. I told you guys not to fight her. I tried to stop you. But your stubborn Slayer and her arrogant vampire didn't listen."
Giles counted to ten to control his temper. It wouldn't due to pound Travers to a pulp, as satisfying as that would be. "Ok, how do we get Lilith out of Buffy?"
Travers laughed, and Giles' fists clenched at his side. "You don't. Don't you understand? All the vampires die and the Hellmouth closes because the Slayer is finally strong enough to defeat them. This is the Slayer's destiny. If Buffy doesn't succeed, the next Slayer called with have Lilith's power."
"Spike? Are you here?" Dawn asked as she walked into the vampire's crypt, carefully closing the door behind her. She was scared and confused. Nobody told her what was going on. All she knew what that Giles had gone to his house to "talk" to Travers, Willow and Anya were in full research mode, Xander was running around Sunnydale buying food and supplies and gathering books, and Buffy was sitting in her room, sobbing.
Buffy had been sobbing all night. She thought it was because Spike was dead, so her own sobs echoed Buffy's. When she emerged from her room late that morning, her eyes red and swollen, Willow took one look at her and rushed to hold her. For once Dawn didn't pull away from Willow's embrace.
"Dawnie," Willow said gently, "Spike's not dead."
At first she was speechless with joy and quickly looked around the room to see his familiar blonde head. Willow noticed her darting eyes. "He's not here either."
"Where is he?" Her voice was trembling.
"We think he's in his crypt."
"Why isn't he here?"
"That's what we're trying to find out, Dawn," Anya said, coming from behind her.
"Why is Buffy still crying? Didn't you guys win?"
Willow nodded, "We won. We think we did anyway. Dawn, I promise we'll explain everything as soon as we understand it."
Dawn finally pulled away, "I'm going to go see him."
"Dawnie, we don't know if that's safe," Willow was still using the same gentle tone.
"I have to see him." She ran through the house and out the backdoor. Willow moved to follow her, but Anya put a hand on her shoulder.
So that's why she found herself standing in the empty, upper level of Spike's crypt, her stomach tied in a bundle of nerves. She climbed down the ladder and her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness of the room.
She saw him lying on the partially destroyed bed, his eyes closed. He was completely still. He looked horrible. Dawn walked over to the bed as quietly as possible. She wouldn't wake him up, she just needed to touch him and make sure he was real.
Spike cracked one eye open slightly and watched her slowly and carefully make her way across the room.
"Whatcha doin' Niblet?"
She jumped nearly a foot. "You scared me Spike." He raised an eyebrow. "I wanted to make sure you are ok."
"I'm fine, Bit. How's your sister."
Dawn shrugged. "When I left she was still in her room crying. She's been crying all night."
Spike frowned. He knew she was crying, he could feel her sobs through his entire body. "Did they tell you what happened last night Bit?"
She shook her head. "Buffy won't answer me, Giles and Xander are not there, and Willow and Anya are researching."
Spike sighed. "I can't tell you much. I was unconscious most of the fight. I can tell you though that I won't be able to see Buffy for awhile." Maybe forever.
"Why?"
"I really, really think Buffy should explain everything to you. Please, Dawn, let her explain."
"Nobody will tell me what's going on!" She shouted in frustration.
Spike put a comforting hand on her arm, "Only because we don't know what's going on."
With a small whimper Dawn flung herself into Spike and wrapped her arms around his neck. Spike pulled her into a brotherly embrace and let her cry tears of relief. "You should know that it would take a hell of a lot more than bitch to kill me, Bit."
She sniffed, "I know."
He held her for several minutes, until she calmed down and pulled away. "Is there anything you need? Do you have enough blood?"
Spike grimaced, "I don't think I have any blood here." "I'll bring you some. We have some at home, and I can stop at the butcher's," she offered eagerly.
"Thanks Niblet. Can you get a message to your sister for me?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, wait here and I'll write it down for you."
Dear Slayer, I know you've been crying. I can feel it. I know things look bad right now, but we'll figure something out. We always do. I didn't tell the Niblet anything, I told her you would explain it. I'm fine. I'm under control. I miss you and I will find a way to see you soon. I love you Buffy. Spike.
"Give this to your sis."
"Ok Spike, I'll see you later."
"Be careful, Bit."
***
"Where were you?" Buffy demanded as soon as Dawn walked in the door.
Buffy's eyes were swollen and very red. She had huge bags under her eyes and her skin was extremely pale, except for hectic red splotches on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess pulled into an untidy pony tail. She was wearing an old pair of sweats and a ratty t-shirt, and her mouth was set in a straight, firm line.
In short, she looked like hell.
"I was visiting Spike," Dawn said, raising her chin defiantly.
Buffy's features softened slightly, "How is he?"
"He feels about as bad as you look."
Buffy sighed, "Cute. Does he need anything?"
"I'm bringing him some blood. Here, he told me to give you this," Dawn said, handing the small scrap of paper to Buffy.
She read it then carefully folded the note and put in her pocket. "Tell him I'll send Xander over with some blood from Willy's tonight, ok?"
"No problem."
Buffy didn't say anything, just turned around and sat down on the couch next to Willow. Willow patted her knee, trying to comfort her. Buffy offered her friend a slight smile. Their eyes had hope in them, but deep down inside they both knew that they would not be able to find a solution for this particular problem.
Dawn sensed this and did her best to control to stop the tears from falling as she walked into the kitchen to get the blood from the fridge. "Dawn!" Buffy called as she opened the back door.
"Yeah?"
Buffy walked into the kitchen. "Come here." Buffy grabbed Dawn in a tight hug. "I know that you're confused. I promise I'll tell you everything as soon as you get back."
Dawn nodded. "I'm just so happy he's not gone." She heard a sob start in Buffy's throat, but her sister didn't have any more tears left in her.
"Me too, Dawnie, me too."
***
"Buffy, did you get any sleep last night?" Willow asked, concerned.
"No, did you?"
Willow shrugged, "Yeah, a few hours or so."
"Where's Giles?"
"He says he has some things to discuss with Travers. I'm thinking not much talking is going on."
Buffy snorted, "Good. I think I should let Spike have a chance to talk to him to too."
Willow smiled. "Anya is talking to some of her demon friends, finding out what they know."
"What are you doing?" "I'm trying to figure out a way to get Spike's soul back. Buffy, what happened? What's wrong with Spike?"
"You remember when Quentin said that Spike would not be strong enough to face Lilith without a soul? Well, he's not. His demon instantly responds to Lilith, and the only thing that stopped him from biting me is the claim."
Willow's mouth dropped open. "So that means you guys can't see each other."
Buffy nodded. "We have to figure out what happened and how to reverse it."
"Buffy," Willow said tentatively, "What if this is what is supposed to happen?"
Buffy looked up sharply, "What?"
"What if this is how you become, like, the Ultimate Slayer? What if it's the next step of your 'sacred calling'?"
Buffy rubbed her eyes. "So you think that in order for me to complete my sacred calling, I need to completely abandon the person I love?"
Willow rushed to reassure her, "But I don't know anything. I was just speculating. I'm sure that's not what's going on at all. Come on, let's get something to eat.
***
"What is the exact phrasing of the prophecy?" Giles demanded.
Travers squinted at him, "You have it."
Giles didn't punch him, though he wanted to badly. "No, the prophecy doesn't say anything about the demon entering Buffy."
"Prophecies are tricky things, you know that Rupert. Wasn't there one about your Slayer dying? More often than not they are self-fulfilling, and often one reads them completely wrong."
"What are you talking about?"
Travers sighed and rolled his eyes. "Ok, didn't it say that all the vampires would die when Lilith was defeated?"
"Yes, but they didn't."
"Yes, they did. Your Slayer killed them all."
Giles couldn't argue with that logic. "What about Spike?"
"I told him he needed a soul to fight Lilith. I didn't say anything about defeating her, did I? He can't fight her, or his demon, without a soul. He can't control himself."
"What else you holding out on us?" Giles demanded.
"Don't get mad at me. I told you guys not to fight her. I tried to stop you. But your stubborn Slayer and her arrogant vampire didn't listen."
Giles counted to ten to control his temper. It wouldn't due to pound Travers to a pulp, as satisfying as that would be. "Ok, how do we get Lilith out of Buffy?"
Travers laughed, and Giles' fists clenched at his side. "You don't. Don't you understand? All the vampires die and the Hellmouth closes because the Slayer is finally strong enough to defeat them. This is the Slayer's destiny. If Buffy doesn't succeed, the next Slayer called with have Lilith's power."