Spike was in a sandwich. At least, that's what it felt like. He was sitting in the booth, only because Dawn asked him to, squashed between Dawn and Buffy. Well, maybe 'squashed' was too strong a word. Sure, Dawn was leaning on him, and Buffy wasn't.. pulling away, but she wasn't touching him in a nonaccidental way, either.
Buffy was keeping normal conversation with the Scoobies, talking, laughing in all the right places. Spike was beside her. Crowding her. Well, not exactly, but he wasn't NOT touching her either. She smiled at Xander. "You're wrong. Lucky charms is the best cereal in the world."
Xander shook his head. "Nope. Sorry. Rice Krispies, any day. I hate marshmallows."
Spike cocked his head. "How can anyone 'hate' marshmallows?" Under the table, one hand found it's way to Buffy's knee. Rested there.
She was very still. She knew that Dawn was asleep on Spike's shoulder... but the contact still seemed illicit. She didn't remove his hand, though. "Really. Don't you like the marshmallows in cocoa?"
Xander shrugged. "Well, that's different. I like Rice Krispies Treats, too. Just not in cereal. It's just... not right."
"Why not? It's perfect. All wheaty and nutricious, and then sugary delicious."
Spike gave a quiet chuckle. "Hmm. Is someone trying out for a commercial?"
Xander just shook his head.
She almost blushed.
Spike's hand wandered more up toward her thigh. "I mean, really, luv. It's cereal. Not.. world peace, or something."
Tingles. The pleasant kind. All over. Nummy, and wha- World peace? "It... it doesn't matter. No one should hate marshmallow cereal. It's good for you."
"The cereal part is good for you. Marshmallows, no matter how good they taste, are not." Hand now at waist, and almost out from under the table.
Her hands slid discreetly down, batted at his hand.
Barely disguised snort. So, that's how it was going to be. Sure, when there was a locked door between them and the others, but not in 'public'. He could deal with that, for now. Keeping his hand hidden from everyone else, he let it go up to gently rub at her side in between them.
She arched her side slightly into his hand.
He licked his lips a little to hide a grin, and continued his rubbing. He knew she liked that. Ah, the things you learn about people when... well, ya know.
She let one hand stay down, the other casually on the table. Her hand played on the inside of his thigh.
Spike chuckled, seemingly at something that Xander had just said. So, Buffy wanted to play, too, huh? He allowed his hand to slid up under her shirt slightly, rubbing on her skin instead.
She smiled at Xander, asking him if he was excited, ya know, about going home. Her hand moved farther up. Just to see how he'd react.
Slight jump there. Spike had not been expecting that.
Xander, for his part, remained oblivious. "Yeah. I'm cool with goin' home. I mean, I kind of miss the old Hellmouth, ya know?"
She laughed. "Yeah... I really miss having my own bedroom now." Moved her hand back and forth slowly.
Xander chuckled. "Tell me about it. I mean, I love hotels, but this line of cots thing? I'm getting tired of being squashed between Anya and Giles."
Spike swallowed, and his hand on her side stopped it's motion.
Buffy smirked. "I gotcha. I gotta squish between Giles and Spike." Her hand moved back down to stroke at his thigh. Two could play...
A growl came from the vampire, too low for normal human ears to pick up. *That* was a sound that she'd heard before. Not wanting to be outdone, he moved his hand down her side and slid it under the waistband of her jeans, still rubbing gently.
Her hips rose involuntarily, a breath caught in her throat. Oh God... Her hand moved up, scratching softly at his abs, above his belt buckle.
He had to repress a purr at that action. Unlike his growl earlier, the purr *was* auditable. He tried to move slightly away from her hand, all the while keeping up his rubbing beneath her waistband.
She switched from scratching to a VERY firm rubbing with the pads of her fingers, dragging them slowly down as far as she could reach without being obvious, then back up.
His eyes closed for a moment. Swallowed. Realized that Xander had just asked him something, and he had no clue what the other man had said. "Huh?"
Xander shook his head. "Earth to Dead-boy Junior. I asked if you'd ever been in France."
"Oh. Uh.. Yeah. Once. For about a week. Got chased out by a mob."
"Oh."
"Why?"
"Why what?", Spike asked, trying not to be too distracted.
Slid her fingers back down and up, this time with almost no pressure. A stark and arousing contrast. "Why'd you get chased out by a mob?"
Swallowed. "Uh.. Well, let's just say that humans don't like it when numbers of the population keep turning up dead." His hand had stopped motion again.
Smiled. "Imagine that."
Damn it. She was not winning. He swallowed, then renued his focus, sliding his hand around to the back of her jeans, and rubbing her tailbone with varying pressure.
Pushed her back against his fingers. Mmm... Xander was... talking... about something. To her. "Huh?"
Xander laughed. "Are the two of you half asleep, or something? I asked if you could see anything in Europe, what would it be?"
"Paris. Shops." Her hand moved down his pelvis. He wasn't winning.
Spike jumped slightly. Very slightly. Not noticable, unless you had your hand on the area that had jumped. He licked his lips, and rubbed from her tailbone, up her spine and under her shirt, following her spine.
Broken off moan. She stopped it. Wondered what the hell she was doing. She had her hand down Spike's pants. Deep breath.
They'd inhaled at the same time. Xander chuckled. "Are you two in sync for some reason? You're breathing at the same time."
Spike froze for a moment, then tried for a chuckle. It came out more like a groaning purr. Thankfully, Xander didn't notice.
Buffy removed her hand slowly, folded them both in her lap like a girl at church. Smiled at Xander. "Dunno. Maybe cuz we're so close."
Xander laughed. "Yeah. Right. You and Spike. Close. Like a cactus and a starfish." He laughed again.
Spike growled quietly.
Buffy smiled. "Heh..."
The vampire sighed. "Yeah. Whatever." He slipped his arm around the sleeping Key next to him, and resting his head against her's. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. At least Dawn loved him.
She sighed in her sleep, nuzzled her head closer, pouted, scrunched her nose, then quieted, her features smoothing out into a smile.
Spike just chuckled a little, and shot Buffy a half grin.
She smiled softly. Even more so when Dawn's hand moved up his chest, to hook on the neckline, much like she might fist her hand in a blanket.
Spike gave a half shrug. A 'what can I do?' motion.
Dawn snorted in her sleep. "Sp...ke'll ge... you..." she muttered defensively.
Spike chuckled. "I even protect her in dreams, apparently."
Buffy started to frown. She knew... when Dawn would have nightmares... This was one, she was sure. And she was always unable to wake her up until the evil had made itself present. She tried everything, and nothing ever worked. She sat, focusing intently on her sister, and waited.
Dawn's eyes darted back and forth under her eyelids. Her hand clutched tighter at Spike's neckline, and she shrunk down into the seat.
Now Spike was getting nervous. He didn't like it when Dawn was uncomfortable, for any reason. He looked to Buffy, as if to ask what to do.
She shook her head. "Wait it out. It'll come." It always did.
He nodded, and kept his arm portectivly around the youngest Summers.
Her shoulders hunched, and she turned her face against Spike's shoulder more, his shirt absorbing the tears that were coming rapidly. "No..." Her body jerked.
Spike growled quietly. His instincts were to shake her awake, get rid of whatever was bothering his Niblet. He held her tight to him, nuzzling her head under his chin.
Buffy's always had been too, but she had learned that waking her up beforehand left Dawn in a jumpy fog for half the day, the dream haunting her at the oddest times, while doing laundry, watching TV, reducing her to tears, crouched on the floor, rocking back and forth. So Buffy waited till the time was right to slay her sister's demons.
Spike rubbed his hand up and down Dawn's arm gently. "S'ok, Bit," he said quietly. "We're here."
Xander, who had gone to the bathroom for awhile, came back and noticed Dawn's distress. He looked at Buffy. "Nightmare?"
She nodded. Xander had helped them out with her dreams before. "Spike. Stop. Let it come."
The vampire bit his lip, but did as the Slayer asked.
Dawn choked out a sob, shuddered. Whimpered. "Oh, God... Stop. Stop... leave her alone... Let her go..." She started to thrash around a bit, her head whipping from side to side.
Xander settled back in the booth, on Buffy's other side. Like Spike, he was fighting his instincts to wake Dawn up, but unlike him, Xander knew the routine. Let it come.
Spike held still, growling quietly, but growing louder with every terrified movement of Dawn's body.
Dawn cried a few more minutes, shaking, pleading with whatever it was. Whimpers, sobs, and a keening wail that chilled the marrow in her older sister's bones. But still. She waited.
Spike chewed his lower lip so hard, he tasted his own blood.
Finally, with a cry, Dawn's head jerked to the side. It had struck her. Buffy knew. Made her stomach roll. But she could start now. She crawled over Spike, to stroke at Dawn's face soothingly. "Baby, I'm here. I'm watching over you... I've got you..."
Spike took his cue from Buffy and started rubbing Dawn's arm again, purring softly, comfortingly.
Dawn began shaking, whimpering. But whatever was in her mind was receding, she was pretty sure.
From the other side of the table, Xander said, "We're here for you, Dawnie. We're here."
Spike held her close and nuzzled her again, murmuring comforts of his own combined with purring.
Buffy's hands were stroking her hair, petting her. Dawn's shaking had given way to a subtle trembling. The whimpering was gone, but tears still streamed down her face. She was almost out. "Xander.. orange. And water, please." She gave the quiet order.
Xander nodded and got up to retrieve the items.
Spike just held her close, his body stiff, an instinct to help him protect someone that he cared about.
"Dawn... come on... wake up... Come see me... I'll make it better..." It was as gentle as Spike had ever seen her with Dawn. Dawn's eyes opened slowly.
When he was sure that she could see him, Spike gave her a soft smile. "Hey, Bit."
She held him tightly, but looked at her sister. "M-mom," she pushed out. "They were... pulling her..." Heaving sob. "They were pulling her out of heaven."
Spike didn't know what to say. He just held the youngest Summers close and rested his chin atop her head.
Xander returned with the orange and a glass of water. The orange had already been peeled and sliced. "Someone want a snack?"
Buffy framed Dawn's face. "Never," she said fiercely at her sister. "Never. No one will ever hurt her again. Never... I swear to you, Dawn. I would stop them." And she would. Dawn nodded, hugged Spike.
Spike returned the embrace. Said with a growl in his voice, "And I'd help your sister."
She nodded. Moved off his lap to set in Xander's.
Xander gave her a grin and held the bowl with the orange slices in front of her. "Hey. Here you go." Put the glass of water on the table so that he could put one arm around her waist in a hug.
She leaned against his chest, biting at her slices. "Thank you." It was soft, her head down, hair curtaining her face off.
Xander just hugged her again in response.
Spike sighed. He didn't know why, but that had taken alot out of him. He slid out of the booth and headed for the back room slowly.
Buffy sat with her sister until she was sure she was fine with Xander, then with a small nod, slipped into the back room.
Spike was laying on his stomach, face down into the pillow.
She closed the door behind her. "Thank you."
He turned his head. "For what?"
"For helping her. For listening to me."
He shrugged. "I love her. And you," he said simply.
"I know." She fidgeted. "Spike.. If I'm ever- if anything...."
He rolled onto his side. "If anything what?"
She sighed. "If I'm... gone. And... and you're with her, and she has a bad dream... don't. Never wake her until it touches her."
"Why would you be-" He paused. "Oh." Licked his lips. "Why?"
"She... it messes her up. It'll... haunt her for the rest of the day. Like it stays dormant in her mind until it can touch her. It's..." She winced. "It's bad."
"Oh," he said again. "I used to have dreams like that, when I was human."
"Yeah?" She sat on the edge of the bed, every muscle in her body tense. She knew she'd be like this the rest of the day. But all that mattered was that Dawn was ok.
He chuckled. "Yeah. Thought there were monsters in my closet. Under the bed. Everywhere." Chuckled again. "I had no idea how right I was."
"Dawn's aren't... aren't... fake, I don't think. I honestly think something haunts her. Maybe a Key side-effect or something. But... they physically hurt her. You saw. Her cheek was red."
He nodded and growled softly. "Like Freddy Kreuger. That movie scared the hell out of me. Could barely sleep for a week." Snorted. "Now Dru, on the other hand, saw it the same time I did, and slept like a baby. I guess bein' insane has some advantages."
She smirked and tried to roll some of the tension out of her shoulders. "I'd hope so."
He cocked his head at her. "Could you lock the door, then come back and sit next to me?"
She gave him an odd look, then did as he asked.
By the time she'd sat back down, he'd sat up slightly. "Tell me if I hurt you." Started massaging the tension out of her neck and shoulders.
Winced slightly, tilted her head back. "Little..."
He lightened his touch, and kept working. "How 'bout now?"
Opposite reaction. Her head tilted forward, giving him more access. "Mm..."
He grinned. "I'll take that as a no." Moved a little lower to work her shoulderblades.
Soft sigh, pushed back into his hands.
He chuckled quietly. "You want to lie down? Might help a little. Since you seem to be nearly tipping over."
She flopped down to her stomach. When his hands didn't immediately follow, she pouted. "More." It was almost a grunt.
He stifled a laugh. He'd been resituating himself. "I'm coming, luv. Hang on." Started massaging again.
Happy sigh, but she pushed his hands away and sat up. Pulled her shirt off. Laid back down.
He grinned, and went back to work. It WAS easier to find the tense muscles without that annoying shirt in the way, anyway.
She arched into his hands again.
He bit his lip slightly. Wondered if she was even aware of the sounds that she was making. Moved lower on her back and to the sides where the ribs curved around.
Groaning sigh.
He shifted a little, using his knuckles on her spine and moving up and down the length of it. "I take it you're enjoying this, eh?"
Pleased, muffled noise. "Mm... Ooooohhhh......"
He chuckled softly, continuing with the massage. "So. When Dawn has a nightmare, does it always make you this tense?"
She sighed, and a consecutive string of muscles tightened again. "Yes."
"Oops." He worked the tension out of them again. "Let's talk about something else."
"... Kay..."
Instead of talking, the vampire busied himself with working the tension out of the muscle mass that was just above her waist and connected to her ribs.
Sigh. "Best..."
Rubbed a little harder, then smoothed it out. "Best what?"
It slipped out unchecked. "Everything."
He 'hmm'ed interestedly. "Oh really?" Moved up and down her sides where they curved to meet her back.
Low, drawn out, "Yeesss...."
"Well, I've heard *that* before," he said to himself with a chuckle. Didn't break his rhythm.
Moaned. "Shhh.... more touching and rubbing..."
"Whatever the lady wishes."
======================================================
Buffy shifted from foot to foot outside his door. They had pulled into the hotel hours ago, and she had sat with Dawn until she was sure no dreams would dare plague her sister tonight. She looked at the oil in her hands. She wasn't sure this was a good idea.
In his room, Spike layed on his back on the bed. Much better than those acursed cots. Though, he had begun to like Buffy snuggling up against him every night after she fell asleep. Only good thing about the cot arrangement, as far as he was concerned. Sigh. He was bored. Again.
Small, tentative knock. Like, if he didn't hear that, she was walking back to her room, and forgetting the whole thing.
"Who is it?"
"Buffy?"
He sat up immediatly. "Oh, uh, come in, luv. It's unlocked." Why the hell had he left it unlocked, anyway?
She walked in, the bottle against her chest, arms crossed over it. "Hey."
He grinned at her. "Hey, luv. Dawn doin' okay?"
She nodded. "No bad dreams tonight."
He sighed, genuinely relieved. "Good. I was really close to going and sleeping on the floor next to her bed tonight."
She smiled. "I can- I can usually tell when she's gonna have a nightmare. Her... presence changes."
He nodded. "Yeah. I feel it, too. And her scent changes a bit. More.. fear." Shook his head. "Makes me feel so bleedin' helpless when she gets upset like that."
She shrugged. "You just... have to wait for it to come."
He nodded with a low growl. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm not good at waiting. 'Specially when something's bothering someone I love." He made wringing motions with his hands. "Just want to.. Jump in there and.. and.. kill something."
Her eyes darkened, and she nodded her understanding. "I know. I shook her awake one time. It was... toying with her. Wouldn't touch her. I couldn't take it." Shuddered at the emotional breakdown she had watched twelve hours later. "Never again."
He got up, his body needing to move. Paced back and forth. "Bloody stupid.. whatever they are. Maybe Red and Tara can find some spell to make them go away."
"No," Buffy barked.
He jumped. "What? Why not?"
"No...." she said more softly. "I don't want... don't want her being used with magic. You don't know how it would react to her. She's different."
Spike sighed and sat back on the bed, a defeated air about him. "Yeah. You're right." Another deep sigh. "Damnit all to bloody hell. I want to help her. To do something. Anything." He ran a hand through his hair. "Damnit," he muttered again, ending in a snort.
Buffy sighed. "You did help her. I mean... that's all we can do."
"I hate that phrase. 'All we can do'. That's what they say when people die." He sighed again.
"Hey. No one died. All accounted for and breathing. Well... ya know."
He chuckled. " 'Cept me."
"Yeah..."
He looked at her, noticing the object in her hands for the first time. "What's that?"
She stared intently at the label, fiddling with it. "Sandalwood oil."
Gave her a half grin. "You wanting another massage so soon, luv?"
"Um... I... wanted to know if I could return the favor."
He looked at her confusedly. "What favor?"
Held the bottle up. "Massage favor."
He still looked confused, and then his eyes widened almost comicly. "Oh. Oh! Uh.. Yeah?"
"Yeah. Ok."
He nodded a little. "Uh, okay. What do I do?"
Shrugged. "Lay down."
He stretched out on the bed on his stomach. "Alright." This was a new thing, and it made him slightly wary. All predators are unnerved by new things.
"Um... shirt?"
"Oh, yeah." Sat up, took shirt off, layed back down.
She moved to the bed, kneeling over his back, her knees beside his hips. The oil was warm already. She had set it in a glass of hot water, as per the directions.
He was tensed up, purely out of instinct. It was one thing for him to massage her, but totally another for him to be in the subordinant position.
She slipped the oil open, dripping it slowly onto his back.
He twitched slightly. The oil was warmer than his body tempreture, but not uncomfortably so. Actually, it felt kind of good. He relaxed just the slightest bit.
She wasn't sure, but that seemed like a pretty good amount. She slid her hands over it, making them slick as she smoothed it over his back. She began to knead, manipulating the tense muscles by his shoulders.
Ooh. Okay. That felt really good. He could feel himself relaxing, and he purred softly.
She would rub at the muscle, then smooth her hands over his back, the oil making his alabaster skin shine, and the muscles move languidly under her small hands.
Spike let out a deep sigh, feeling like overcooked pasta. His eyes closed.
Her fingers slid firmly over the skin between his ribs, pressing. Slid the heels of her hands down his spine, massaging by his tailbone, sliding her hands around his hips, squeezing, kneading. Ran her hands back up over his skin to slide over his shoulders, down his arms, squeezing, rubbing, even scratching lightly.
Spike let out a moaning purr, followed by a sigh and pushed against her hands.
She shifted slightly. Reminded herself that she had nothing to do with this. All for Spike. Bad Buffy. Kept kneading, rubbing, rolling his muscles.
Spike tried to say something, but another happy moan came out. Licked his lips, tried again. "Thank you..."
Something in her contracted, released. On an outgoing breath,"You're welcome."
"I think... I'm going to sleep.. Luv, you'd better... stop for now.."
Nodded, slid off the bed, let him sleep. Washed her hands, and slipped from the room. Against her better judgement, and Dawn's insitance, she had gotten her own room. She opened her door, pulling her clothes off in favor of the blue boxers and a beater. Sighed. Time to lay here and want. Fun.
==================================================================================
Dawn stretched. Mmm... better than good dreams was no dreams. Go her. Moved out of her bed, her tousled hair and Hello, Kitty! jamma pants making her look young. Young, but hungry. Spike was always good about breakfast. She padded barefoot down the hall to his room. Knocked.
"Come in?", came the sleepy reply. Spike had actually spent the whole night stretched out across the bed wearing nothing but his jeans.
Dawn slipped in, smiled at him. "Mornin'."
He rolled onto his back and yawned. Then grinned. "Hey, Bit. How you doin'?"
Big grin. "Good. No dreams. You?"
Stretched slowly, yawning again. "Best sleep I've had in awhile."
Nod. "Good." Frowned. Sniffed. "Wha-" Sniffed again.
His eyes got wide, and he squirmed around on the bed, trying to rub the leftover oil off. Swallowed. "Somethin' wrong, Bit?"
Sniffed again, shrugged. "Your room smells nice. Guy-ish. But nice."
He sighed. "Oh. Must be something they... vaccumed with or something." He rolled over and got up. "You must be hungry, huh?" Get her mind *off* the scent. Before he had to explain any further. Not like she'd believe the truth anyway.
Funny grin, involving her biting her bottom lip and scrunching her nose. "Yuppers!"
He chuckled and got up, stretching again. "Order room service, Bit. I'm gonna take a shower." Before she identifies that scent.
Nodded, put a hand on his arm when he went to pass her.
He glanced down at her. "What's up, Bit?"
Sniffed again. "I'll ask for new sheets. Cuz you reek of this room. Honestly." Frowning pout. "I'll take care of it. Must be the blankets."
He hid a chuckle. "Could be." Headed for the shower.
When Spike got out of the shower, Dawn smiled at him over a plate of gigantic muffins, and two pitchers of orange juice. Moonlighting on the TV.
He chuckled and settled down on the bed next to her. Took a couple of bites of one of the muffins.
By the time the show was over, Spike was not feeling good. The slight twinges he'd been feeling in his stomach for the last couple of days had turned into a flock of bumblebees, buzzing around in his digestive tract. Not a good feeling.
"Housekeeping will be up in an hour," she mumbled around her mouthful.
"Good." He swallowed. Ooh. That was nausea. Another not good feeling. "Bit, does your stomach feel weird?"
Shook her head. "Empty, and rumbly."
He put his half eaten muffin off to the side of the plate. "Oh. Good. Then it's not the muffins." Swallowed again.
Cocked her head, unknowingly mimicking him. "What's wrong?"
Licked his lips. "I think you'd say... that I've got a tummy ache." Swallowed again. "Only it's more like a tidal wave."
Intense frown. "Gonna get sick?"
He shook his head. "Don't think so. At least, I hope not. I don't really know. It's been awhile since I've been nauseaous."
She made a sympathetic face. "Sucks, huh?"
Slow nod. He turned slowly, crawling up the bed and laying his head on the pillow. "Ooh. Not good."
Dawn gave a concerned pout, moved up to sit behind him, her hand rubbing circles on his back.
He gave a half moan. "How do I make it go away, if you know."
"Um... do you bring your first aid kit in with you?"
He motioned toward the bathroom. "In there."
She got up, and came back a minute later with some Tums. "Chew."
He did as she asked. Then settled back on the pillows, not wanting to move too much. "I do not feel good, Bit. Maybe you should go."
She made a noise at him. "Whatever." Started rubbing circles on his back again.
He sighed, going for exasperated, and not quite making it. "Fine, then. Stick around. Don't blame me if you wind up with a red stain on your pajamas."
Nodded. "Ok." Murmured to him for a while. Felt his back jerk. "Gonna get sick??"
In answer, he jumped up and ran for the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet.
She was on his heels, letting him heave as she soaked a washcloth with cool water. When she was done, she put a hand on his back. Her mom always did that when she got sick.
He moaned and leaned back against the side of the bathtub. "Alright.." Wiped at his mouth. "That is not something that I want to do again." Swallowed. "Feel like my stomach is inside out."
Handed him a cup of cool water. "Swish."
He did, and spit into the toilet rather than get up.
She knelt in front of him, used the wet rag to wipe at his face. Pressed it into his hand, flushed the toilet. "Suck on that. You shouldn't drink anything right now."
He put the washcloth in his mouth, sucked a little. It did make him feel better.
She smoothed her hands over his hair. Had seen the toilet before she flushed it. "You yakked a lotta blood."
He nodded, taking the washcloth out of his mouth. "Yeah. Animal blood, Bit. Not mine."
"I know. Want me to get Buffy or Giles?"
He shook his head, then changed his mind and nodded. "Get Buffy. Ask her to go check the fridge in the Ohana. Might be some bad blood."
She nodded and stood. "I'll be back in a few. Don't move. Just suck."
He put the washcloth back in his mouth and watched her leave.
Ten minutes later, Buffy was staring at the fridge of the Ohana in confusion. How the hell was she supposed to know what 'bad blood' was?? As far as she knew, that was something that inbreds in the hills of West Virginia had when one family hated another. Sniffed. God. That was awful. Pulled the milk carton out. Sniffed it, pulled back with a repulsed face. The milk had gone bad. Disgusting. No doubt the blood had, too, then. She felt the carton. It was barely even cool. Almost room temperature. She sighed, then went back upstairs to report. She slipped back in Spike's room, where Dawn was hovering around Spike. "Bad blood," she told him. "Bad milk, bad all perishables."
Spike moaned quietly. "Bad fridge, then. Thought that last batch tasted funny..." Swallowed hard, obviously trying not to puke again.
Dawn cooed sympathetically, still rubbing circles. Gave her sister a look. Fix it.
"What am I-" Sighed. "Fine." Picked up his phone, called Giles' room, explaining everything. A few minutes later she hung up. "Dawn. Get dressed. You and Giles are gonna go pick up a new fridge for the Ohana, and some blood."
The Key nodded, and kissed Spike on the forehead before she left, waving at the door.
He waved weakly, then moved to snuggle down against the pillows, keeping in mind the bucket that Dawn had put by the bed.
Buffy sat on the bed opposite him. "Feeling bad, then?"
Moaned in response.
Made a sympathetic face. "Washcloth warm yet?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Will this go away?"
She nodded. Took the cloth away from him, went to the bathroom, rinsed it, soaked it again with cold water, brought it back out. "In a day or two. Just gotta get the bad stuff out of your system."
Spike sighed. "I am not happy with this. Not at all."
She handed him the cloth. "I'd bet not. I'm sorry, if that helps."
He gave her a shaky smile. "It does. I don't know why, but it does." Put the cloth in his mouth, sucking a little.
She sighed, and laid down behind him, one hand wrapping around his side to rest on his stomach. Rubbed circles.
Spike moved a little, wanting to be closer to her, snuggled backwards up against her.
She let him, rested her nose at the hairline behind his ear. Sniffed.
He smiled a little. "Like what you smell, luv? I took a shower this mornin'."
Nuzzled a little there, soft bite. "Yeah..."
He purred quietly. "Good.. When I'm feelin' better, you can tell me just how much you like it." Semi-playful tone.
Wrapped one leg over his hip, rubbing against his back. "Really?"
Louder purr, another attempt to get closer to her. "Yeah.." Moaned at a twinge in his stomach.
Buffy dropped her leg, resumed her other, less-happy-involving comfort.
He sighed. "Sorry."
Licked, bit at his neck. "Not your fault. You'll make it up to me later."
"Sure will." He hoped it would be awhile before Dawn came back.
Dawn paused outside the door, shifting the bag of blood to her other hand. She didn't hear anything. Maybe he was sleeping. Being as silent as possible, she used the key she had swiped to open the door slowly.
She walked in and froze. There was a hand on Spike's stomach. And it was attached to Buffy's arm. And Buffy's body.
Spike's eyes were closed, so he didn't see her. There was a quiet purring coming from within him. A different pitch than the one she was used to hearing. It was lower. And she thanked God that HER purr wasn't that sexy, because.... euch.
Buffy's head tilted up as the door closed behind a heedless Dawn.
Spike opened one eye, and yawned a little, then moaned quietly. "Hey.. Bit."
She looked like a deer in the headlights. "S-s- Blood. I... I brought blood."
Buffy was frozen, gauging her sister's reaction. Her OWN reaction. God. Nausea.
Spike tried not to let the sisters reactions make him feel worse. It wasn't working. He swallowed hard. Moved away from Buffy, trying to help it. "Uh.. Buffy was just tryin' to help me, Bit.. It wasn't..uh.. what it may have looked like..."
Dawn shrugged and smiled brightly. The, "I'm-repressing-this-because-therapy-is-too-expensive" smile. "Oh, for sure. Just... blood. Good blood. Not bad blood. Well, I mean, I'm pretty sure all blood TASTES bad, but, bad blood in the sense that it's bad. As in... spoiled, and gone, well, bad, and-"
Spike rolled onto his stomach, whispered so low that only Buffy could hear. "Sorry, luv. I didn't mean to-"
Buffy nodded, cutting him off. "We gotcha, Dawn. Um... Why don't you go check if they have a pool?"
Dawn's fuzzy gaze snapped back from babble-land. "Pool? Oh. Mmm... Yeah. P-pool. Good, with the swimming." She set the packet of blood on a table, smiled warily, backing out the door. Not... exactly of the bad. But of the weird? Totally.
Buffy was keeping normal conversation with the Scoobies, talking, laughing in all the right places. Spike was beside her. Crowding her. Well, not exactly, but he wasn't NOT touching her either. She smiled at Xander. "You're wrong. Lucky charms is the best cereal in the world."
Xander shook his head. "Nope. Sorry. Rice Krispies, any day. I hate marshmallows."
Spike cocked his head. "How can anyone 'hate' marshmallows?" Under the table, one hand found it's way to Buffy's knee. Rested there.
She was very still. She knew that Dawn was asleep on Spike's shoulder... but the contact still seemed illicit. She didn't remove his hand, though. "Really. Don't you like the marshmallows in cocoa?"
Xander shrugged. "Well, that's different. I like Rice Krispies Treats, too. Just not in cereal. It's just... not right."
"Why not? It's perfect. All wheaty and nutricious, and then sugary delicious."
Spike gave a quiet chuckle. "Hmm. Is someone trying out for a commercial?"
Xander just shook his head.
She almost blushed.
Spike's hand wandered more up toward her thigh. "I mean, really, luv. It's cereal. Not.. world peace, or something."
Tingles. The pleasant kind. All over. Nummy, and wha- World peace? "It... it doesn't matter. No one should hate marshmallow cereal. It's good for you."
"The cereal part is good for you. Marshmallows, no matter how good they taste, are not." Hand now at waist, and almost out from under the table.
Her hands slid discreetly down, batted at his hand.
Barely disguised snort. So, that's how it was going to be. Sure, when there was a locked door between them and the others, but not in 'public'. He could deal with that, for now. Keeping his hand hidden from everyone else, he let it go up to gently rub at her side in between them.
She arched her side slightly into his hand.
He licked his lips a little to hide a grin, and continued his rubbing. He knew she liked that. Ah, the things you learn about people when... well, ya know.
She let one hand stay down, the other casually on the table. Her hand played on the inside of his thigh.
Spike chuckled, seemingly at something that Xander had just said. So, Buffy wanted to play, too, huh? He allowed his hand to slid up under her shirt slightly, rubbing on her skin instead.
She smiled at Xander, asking him if he was excited, ya know, about going home. Her hand moved farther up. Just to see how he'd react.
Slight jump there. Spike had not been expecting that.
Xander, for his part, remained oblivious. "Yeah. I'm cool with goin' home. I mean, I kind of miss the old Hellmouth, ya know?"
She laughed. "Yeah... I really miss having my own bedroom now." Moved her hand back and forth slowly.
Xander chuckled. "Tell me about it. I mean, I love hotels, but this line of cots thing? I'm getting tired of being squashed between Anya and Giles."
Spike swallowed, and his hand on her side stopped it's motion.
Buffy smirked. "I gotcha. I gotta squish between Giles and Spike." Her hand moved back down to stroke at his thigh. Two could play...
A growl came from the vampire, too low for normal human ears to pick up. *That* was a sound that she'd heard before. Not wanting to be outdone, he moved his hand down her side and slid it under the waistband of her jeans, still rubbing gently.
Her hips rose involuntarily, a breath caught in her throat. Oh God... Her hand moved up, scratching softly at his abs, above his belt buckle.
He had to repress a purr at that action. Unlike his growl earlier, the purr *was* auditable. He tried to move slightly away from her hand, all the while keeping up his rubbing beneath her waistband.
She switched from scratching to a VERY firm rubbing with the pads of her fingers, dragging them slowly down as far as she could reach without being obvious, then back up.
His eyes closed for a moment. Swallowed. Realized that Xander had just asked him something, and he had no clue what the other man had said. "Huh?"
Xander shook his head. "Earth to Dead-boy Junior. I asked if you'd ever been in France."
"Oh. Uh.. Yeah. Once. For about a week. Got chased out by a mob."
"Oh."
"Why?"
"Why what?", Spike asked, trying not to be too distracted.
Slid her fingers back down and up, this time with almost no pressure. A stark and arousing contrast. "Why'd you get chased out by a mob?"
Swallowed. "Uh.. Well, let's just say that humans don't like it when numbers of the population keep turning up dead." His hand had stopped motion again.
Smiled. "Imagine that."
Damn it. She was not winning. He swallowed, then renued his focus, sliding his hand around to the back of her jeans, and rubbing her tailbone with varying pressure.
Pushed her back against his fingers. Mmm... Xander was... talking... about something. To her. "Huh?"
Xander laughed. "Are the two of you half asleep, or something? I asked if you could see anything in Europe, what would it be?"
"Paris. Shops." Her hand moved down his pelvis. He wasn't winning.
Spike jumped slightly. Very slightly. Not noticable, unless you had your hand on the area that had jumped. He licked his lips, and rubbed from her tailbone, up her spine and under her shirt, following her spine.
Broken off moan. She stopped it. Wondered what the hell she was doing. She had her hand down Spike's pants. Deep breath.
They'd inhaled at the same time. Xander chuckled. "Are you two in sync for some reason? You're breathing at the same time."
Spike froze for a moment, then tried for a chuckle. It came out more like a groaning purr. Thankfully, Xander didn't notice.
Buffy removed her hand slowly, folded them both in her lap like a girl at church. Smiled at Xander. "Dunno. Maybe cuz we're so close."
Xander laughed. "Yeah. Right. You and Spike. Close. Like a cactus and a starfish." He laughed again.
Spike growled quietly.
Buffy smiled. "Heh..."
The vampire sighed. "Yeah. Whatever." He slipped his arm around the sleeping Key next to him, and resting his head against her's. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. At least Dawn loved him.
She sighed in her sleep, nuzzled her head closer, pouted, scrunched her nose, then quieted, her features smoothing out into a smile.
Spike just chuckled a little, and shot Buffy a half grin.
She smiled softly. Even more so when Dawn's hand moved up his chest, to hook on the neckline, much like she might fist her hand in a blanket.
Spike gave a half shrug. A 'what can I do?' motion.
Dawn snorted in her sleep. "Sp...ke'll ge... you..." she muttered defensively.
Spike chuckled. "I even protect her in dreams, apparently."
Buffy started to frown. She knew... when Dawn would have nightmares... This was one, she was sure. And she was always unable to wake her up until the evil had made itself present. She tried everything, and nothing ever worked. She sat, focusing intently on her sister, and waited.
Dawn's eyes darted back and forth under her eyelids. Her hand clutched tighter at Spike's neckline, and she shrunk down into the seat.
Now Spike was getting nervous. He didn't like it when Dawn was uncomfortable, for any reason. He looked to Buffy, as if to ask what to do.
She shook her head. "Wait it out. It'll come." It always did.
He nodded, and kept his arm portectivly around the youngest Summers.
Her shoulders hunched, and she turned her face against Spike's shoulder more, his shirt absorbing the tears that were coming rapidly. "No..." Her body jerked.
Spike growled quietly. His instincts were to shake her awake, get rid of whatever was bothering his Niblet. He held her tight to him, nuzzling her head under his chin.
Buffy's always had been too, but she had learned that waking her up beforehand left Dawn in a jumpy fog for half the day, the dream haunting her at the oddest times, while doing laundry, watching TV, reducing her to tears, crouched on the floor, rocking back and forth. So Buffy waited till the time was right to slay her sister's demons.
Spike rubbed his hand up and down Dawn's arm gently. "S'ok, Bit," he said quietly. "We're here."
Xander, who had gone to the bathroom for awhile, came back and noticed Dawn's distress. He looked at Buffy. "Nightmare?"
She nodded. Xander had helped them out with her dreams before. "Spike. Stop. Let it come."
The vampire bit his lip, but did as the Slayer asked.
Dawn choked out a sob, shuddered. Whimpered. "Oh, God... Stop. Stop... leave her alone... Let her go..." She started to thrash around a bit, her head whipping from side to side.
Xander settled back in the booth, on Buffy's other side. Like Spike, he was fighting his instincts to wake Dawn up, but unlike him, Xander knew the routine. Let it come.
Spike held still, growling quietly, but growing louder with every terrified movement of Dawn's body.
Dawn cried a few more minutes, shaking, pleading with whatever it was. Whimpers, sobs, and a keening wail that chilled the marrow in her older sister's bones. But still. She waited.
Spike chewed his lower lip so hard, he tasted his own blood.
Finally, with a cry, Dawn's head jerked to the side. It had struck her. Buffy knew. Made her stomach roll. But she could start now. She crawled over Spike, to stroke at Dawn's face soothingly. "Baby, I'm here. I'm watching over you... I've got you..."
Spike took his cue from Buffy and started rubbing Dawn's arm again, purring softly, comfortingly.
Dawn began shaking, whimpering. But whatever was in her mind was receding, she was pretty sure.
From the other side of the table, Xander said, "We're here for you, Dawnie. We're here."
Spike held her close and nuzzled her again, murmuring comforts of his own combined with purring.
Buffy's hands were stroking her hair, petting her. Dawn's shaking had given way to a subtle trembling. The whimpering was gone, but tears still streamed down her face. She was almost out. "Xander.. orange. And water, please." She gave the quiet order.
Xander nodded and got up to retrieve the items.
Spike just held her close, his body stiff, an instinct to help him protect someone that he cared about.
"Dawn... come on... wake up... Come see me... I'll make it better..." It was as gentle as Spike had ever seen her with Dawn. Dawn's eyes opened slowly.
When he was sure that she could see him, Spike gave her a soft smile. "Hey, Bit."
She held him tightly, but looked at her sister. "M-mom," she pushed out. "They were... pulling her..." Heaving sob. "They were pulling her out of heaven."
Spike didn't know what to say. He just held the youngest Summers close and rested his chin atop her head.
Xander returned with the orange and a glass of water. The orange had already been peeled and sliced. "Someone want a snack?"
Buffy framed Dawn's face. "Never," she said fiercely at her sister. "Never. No one will ever hurt her again. Never... I swear to you, Dawn. I would stop them." And she would. Dawn nodded, hugged Spike.
Spike returned the embrace. Said with a growl in his voice, "And I'd help your sister."
She nodded. Moved off his lap to set in Xander's.
Xander gave her a grin and held the bowl with the orange slices in front of her. "Hey. Here you go." Put the glass of water on the table so that he could put one arm around her waist in a hug.
She leaned against his chest, biting at her slices. "Thank you." It was soft, her head down, hair curtaining her face off.
Xander just hugged her again in response.
Spike sighed. He didn't know why, but that had taken alot out of him. He slid out of the booth and headed for the back room slowly.
Buffy sat with her sister until she was sure she was fine with Xander, then with a small nod, slipped into the back room.
Spike was laying on his stomach, face down into the pillow.
She closed the door behind her. "Thank you."
He turned his head. "For what?"
"For helping her. For listening to me."
He shrugged. "I love her. And you," he said simply.
"I know." She fidgeted. "Spike.. If I'm ever- if anything...."
He rolled onto his side. "If anything what?"
She sighed. "If I'm... gone. And... and you're with her, and she has a bad dream... don't. Never wake her until it touches her."
"Why would you be-" He paused. "Oh." Licked his lips. "Why?"
"She... it messes her up. It'll... haunt her for the rest of the day. Like it stays dormant in her mind until it can touch her. It's..." She winced. "It's bad."
"Oh," he said again. "I used to have dreams like that, when I was human."
"Yeah?" She sat on the edge of the bed, every muscle in her body tense. She knew she'd be like this the rest of the day. But all that mattered was that Dawn was ok.
He chuckled. "Yeah. Thought there were monsters in my closet. Under the bed. Everywhere." Chuckled again. "I had no idea how right I was."
"Dawn's aren't... aren't... fake, I don't think. I honestly think something haunts her. Maybe a Key side-effect or something. But... they physically hurt her. You saw. Her cheek was red."
He nodded and growled softly. "Like Freddy Kreuger. That movie scared the hell out of me. Could barely sleep for a week." Snorted. "Now Dru, on the other hand, saw it the same time I did, and slept like a baby. I guess bein' insane has some advantages."
She smirked and tried to roll some of the tension out of her shoulders. "I'd hope so."
He cocked his head at her. "Could you lock the door, then come back and sit next to me?"
She gave him an odd look, then did as he asked.
By the time she'd sat back down, he'd sat up slightly. "Tell me if I hurt you." Started massaging the tension out of her neck and shoulders.
Winced slightly, tilted her head back. "Little..."
He lightened his touch, and kept working. "How 'bout now?"
Opposite reaction. Her head tilted forward, giving him more access. "Mm..."
He grinned. "I'll take that as a no." Moved a little lower to work her shoulderblades.
Soft sigh, pushed back into his hands.
He chuckled quietly. "You want to lie down? Might help a little. Since you seem to be nearly tipping over."
She flopped down to her stomach. When his hands didn't immediately follow, she pouted. "More." It was almost a grunt.
He stifled a laugh. He'd been resituating himself. "I'm coming, luv. Hang on." Started massaging again.
Happy sigh, but she pushed his hands away and sat up. Pulled her shirt off. Laid back down.
He grinned, and went back to work. It WAS easier to find the tense muscles without that annoying shirt in the way, anyway.
She arched into his hands again.
He bit his lip slightly. Wondered if she was even aware of the sounds that she was making. Moved lower on her back and to the sides where the ribs curved around.
Groaning sigh.
He shifted a little, using his knuckles on her spine and moving up and down the length of it. "I take it you're enjoying this, eh?"
Pleased, muffled noise. "Mm... Ooooohhhh......"
He chuckled softly, continuing with the massage. "So. When Dawn has a nightmare, does it always make you this tense?"
She sighed, and a consecutive string of muscles tightened again. "Yes."
"Oops." He worked the tension out of them again. "Let's talk about something else."
"... Kay..."
Instead of talking, the vampire busied himself with working the tension out of the muscle mass that was just above her waist and connected to her ribs.
Sigh. "Best..."
Rubbed a little harder, then smoothed it out. "Best what?"
It slipped out unchecked. "Everything."
He 'hmm'ed interestedly. "Oh really?" Moved up and down her sides where they curved to meet her back.
Low, drawn out, "Yeesss...."
"Well, I've heard *that* before," he said to himself with a chuckle. Didn't break his rhythm.
Moaned. "Shhh.... more touching and rubbing..."
"Whatever the lady wishes."
======================================================
Buffy shifted from foot to foot outside his door. They had pulled into the hotel hours ago, and she had sat with Dawn until she was sure no dreams would dare plague her sister tonight. She looked at the oil in her hands. She wasn't sure this was a good idea.
In his room, Spike layed on his back on the bed. Much better than those acursed cots. Though, he had begun to like Buffy snuggling up against him every night after she fell asleep. Only good thing about the cot arrangement, as far as he was concerned. Sigh. He was bored. Again.
Small, tentative knock. Like, if he didn't hear that, she was walking back to her room, and forgetting the whole thing.
"Who is it?"
"Buffy?"
He sat up immediatly. "Oh, uh, come in, luv. It's unlocked." Why the hell had he left it unlocked, anyway?
She walked in, the bottle against her chest, arms crossed over it. "Hey."
He grinned at her. "Hey, luv. Dawn doin' okay?"
She nodded. "No bad dreams tonight."
He sighed, genuinely relieved. "Good. I was really close to going and sleeping on the floor next to her bed tonight."
She smiled. "I can- I can usually tell when she's gonna have a nightmare. Her... presence changes."
He nodded. "Yeah. I feel it, too. And her scent changes a bit. More.. fear." Shook his head. "Makes me feel so bleedin' helpless when she gets upset like that."
She shrugged. "You just... have to wait for it to come."
He nodded with a low growl. "Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm not good at waiting. 'Specially when something's bothering someone I love." He made wringing motions with his hands. "Just want to.. Jump in there and.. and.. kill something."
Her eyes darkened, and she nodded her understanding. "I know. I shook her awake one time. It was... toying with her. Wouldn't touch her. I couldn't take it." Shuddered at the emotional breakdown she had watched twelve hours later. "Never again."
He got up, his body needing to move. Paced back and forth. "Bloody stupid.. whatever they are. Maybe Red and Tara can find some spell to make them go away."
"No," Buffy barked.
He jumped. "What? Why not?"
"No...." she said more softly. "I don't want... don't want her being used with magic. You don't know how it would react to her. She's different."
Spike sighed and sat back on the bed, a defeated air about him. "Yeah. You're right." Another deep sigh. "Damnit all to bloody hell. I want to help her. To do something. Anything." He ran a hand through his hair. "Damnit," he muttered again, ending in a snort.
Buffy sighed. "You did help her. I mean... that's all we can do."
"I hate that phrase. 'All we can do'. That's what they say when people die." He sighed again.
"Hey. No one died. All accounted for and breathing. Well... ya know."
He chuckled. " 'Cept me."
"Yeah..."
He looked at her, noticing the object in her hands for the first time. "What's that?"
She stared intently at the label, fiddling with it. "Sandalwood oil."
Gave her a half grin. "You wanting another massage so soon, luv?"
"Um... I... wanted to know if I could return the favor."
He looked at her confusedly. "What favor?"
Held the bottle up. "Massage favor."
He still looked confused, and then his eyes widened almost comicly. "Oh. Oh! Uh.. Yeah?"
"Yeah. Ok."
He nodded a little. "Uh, okay. What do I do?"
Shrugged. "Lay down."
He stretched out on the bed on his stomach. "Alright." This was a new thing, and it made him slightly wary. All predators are unnerved by new things.
"Um... shirt?"
"Oh, yeah." Sat up, took shirt off, layed back down.
She moved to the bed, kneeling over his back, her knees beside his hips. The oil was warm already. She had set it in a glass of hot water, as per the directions.
He was tensed up, purely out of instinct. It was one thing for him to massage her, but totally another for him to be in the subordinant position.
She slipped the oil open, dripping it slowly onto his back.
He twitched slightly. The oil was warmer than his body tempreture, but not uncomfortably so. Actually, it felt kind of good. He relaxed just the slightest bit.
She wasn't sure, but that seemed like a pretty good amount. She slid her hands over it, making them slick as she smoothed it over his back. She began to knead, manipulating the tense muscles by his shoulders.
Ooh. Okay. That felt really good. He could feel himself relaxing, and he purred softly.
She would rub at the muscle, then smooth her hands over his back, the oil making his alabaster skin shine, and the muscles move languidly under her small hands.
Spike let out a deep sigh, feeling like overcooked pasta. His eyes closed.
Her fingers slid firmly over the skin between his ribs, pressing. Slid the heels of her hands down his spine, massaging by his tailbone, sliding her hands around his hips, squeezing, kneading. Ran her hands back up over his skin to slide over his shoulders, down his arms, squeezing, rubbing, even scratching lightly.
Spike let out a moaning purr, followed by a sigh and pushed against her hands.
She shifted slightly. Reminded herself that she had nothing to do with this. All for Spike. Bad Buffy. Kept kneading, rubbing, rolling his muscles.
Spike tried to say something, but another happy moan came out. Licked his lips, tried again. "Thank you..."
Something in her contracted, released. On an outgoing breath,"You're welcome."
"I think... I'm going to sleep.. Luv, you'd better... stop for now.."
Nodded, slid off the bed, let him sleep. Washed her hands, and slipped from the room. Against her better judgement, and Dawn's insitance, she had gotten her own room. She opened her door, pulling her clothes off in favor of the blue boxers and a beater. Sighed. Time to lay here and want. Fun.
==================================================================================
Dawn stretched. Mmm... better than good dreams was no dreams. Go her. Moved out of her bed, her tousled hair and Hello, Kitty! jamma pants making her look young. Young, but hungry. Spike was always good about breakfast. She padded barefoot down the hall to his room. Knocked.
"Come in?", came the sleepy reply. Spike had actually spent the whole night stretched out across the bed wearing nothing but his jeans.
Dawn slipped in, smiled at him. "Mornin'."
He rolled onto his back and yawned. Then grinned. "Hey, Bit. How you doin'?"
Big grin. "Good. No dreams. You?"
Stretched slowly, yawning again. "Best sleep I've had in awhile."
Nod. "Good." Frowned. Sniffed. "Wha-" Sniffed again.
His eyes got wide, and he squirmed around on the bed, trying to rub the leftover oil off. Swallowed. "Somethin' wrong, Bit?"
Sniffed again, shrugged. "Your room smells nice. Guy-ish. But nice."
He sighed. "Oh. Must be something they... vaccumed with or something." He rolled over and got up. "You must be hungry, huh?" Get her mind *off* the scent. Before he had to explain any further. Not like she'd believe the truth anyway.
Funny grin, involving her biting her bottom lip and scrunching her nose. "Yuppers!"
He chuckled and got up, stretching again. "Order room service, Bit. I'm gonna take a shower." Before she identifies that scent.
Nodded, put a hand on his arm when he went to pass her.
He glanced down at her. "What's up, Bit?"
Sniffed again. "I'll ask for new sheets. Cuz you reek of this room. Honestly." Frowning pout. "I'll take care of it. Must be the blankets."
He hid a chuckle. "Could be." Headed for the shower.
When Spike got out of the shower, Dawn smiled at him over a plate of gigantic muffins, and two pitchers of orange juice. Moonlighting on the TV.
He chuckled and settled down on the bed next to her. Took a couple of bites of one of the muffins.
By the time the show was over, Spike was not feeling good. The slight twinges he'd been feeling in his stomach for the last couple of days had turned into a flock of bumblebees, buzzing around in his digestive tract. Not a good feeling.
"Housekeeping will be up in an hour," she mumbled around her mouthful.
"Good." He swallowed. Ooh. That was nausea. Another not good feeling. "Bit, does your stomach feel weird?"
Shook her head. "Empty, and rumbly."
He put his half eaten muffin off to the side of the plate. "Oh. Good. Then it's not the muffins." Swallowed again.
Cocked her head, unknowingly mimicking him. "What's wrong?"
Licked his lips. "I think you'd say... that I've got a tummy ache." Swallowed again. "Only it's more like a tidal wave."
Intense frown. "Gonna get sick?"
He shook his head. "Don't think so. At least, I hope not. I don't really know. It's been awhile since I've been nauseaous."
She made a sympathetic face. "Sucks, huh?"
Slow nod. He turned slowly, crawling up the bed and laying his head on the pillow. "Ooh. Not good."
Dawn gave a concerned pout, moved up to sit behind him, her hand rubbing circles on his back.
He gave a half moan. "How do I make it go away, if you know."
"Um... do you bring your first aid kit in with you?"
He motioned toward the bathroom. "In there."
She got up, and came back a minute later with some Tums. "Chew."
He did as she asked. Then settled back on the pillows, not wanting to move too much. "I do not feel good, Bit. Maybe you should go."
She made a noise at him. "Whatever." Started rubbing circles on his back again.
He sighed, going for exasperated, and not quite making it. "Fine, then. Stick around. Don't blame me if you wind up with a red stain on your pajamas."
Nodded. "Ok." Murmured to him for a while. Felt his back jerk. "Gonna get sick??"
In answer, he jumped up and ran for the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet.
She was on his heels, letting him heave as she soaked a washcloth with cool water. When she was done, she put a hand on his back. Her mom always did that when she got sick.
He moaned and leaned back against the side of the bathtub. "Alright.." Wiped at his mouth. "That is not something that I want to do again." Swallowed. "Feel like my stomach is inside out."
Handed him a cup of cool water. "Swish."
He did, and spit into the toilet rather than get up.
She knelt in front of him, used the wet rag to wipe at his face. Pressed it into his hand, flushed the toilet. "Suck on that. You shouldn't drink anything right now."
He put the washcloth in his mouth, sucked a little. It did make him feel better.
She smoothed her hands over his hair. Had seen the toilet before she flushed it. "You yakked a lotta blood."
He nodded, taking the washcloth out of his mouth. "Yeah. Animal blood, Bit. Not mine."
"I know. Want me to get Buffy or Giles?"
He shook his head, then changed his mind and nodded. "Get Buffy. Ask her to go check the fridge in the Ohana. Might be some bad blood."
She nodded and stood. "I'll be back in a few. Don't move. Just suck."
He put the washcloth back in his mouth and watched her leave.
Ten minutes later, Buffy was staring at the fridge of the Ohana in confusion. How the hell was she supposed to know what 'bad blood' was?? As far as she knew, that was something that inbreds in the hills of West Virginia had when one family hated another. Sniffed. God. That was awful. Pulled the milk carton out. Sniffed it, pulled back with a repulsed face. The milk had gone bad. Disgusting. No doubt the blood had, too, then. She felt the carton. It was barely even cool. Almost room temperature. She sighed, then went back upstairs to report. She slipped back in Spike's room, where Dawn was hovering around Spike. "Bad blood," she told him. "Bad milk, bad all perishables."
Spike moaned quietly. "Bad fridge, then. Thought that last batch tasted funny..." Swallowed hard, obviously trying not to puke again.
Dawn cooed sympathetically, still rubbing circles. Gave her sister a look. Fix it.
"What am I-" Sighed. "Fine." Picked up his phone, called Giles' room, explaining everything. A few minutes later she hung up. "Dawn. Get dressed. You and Giles are gonna go pick up a new fridge for the Ohana, and some blood."
The Key nodded, and kissed Spike on the forehead before she left, waving at the door.
He waved weakly, then moved to snuggle down against the pillows, keeping in mind the bucket that Dawn had put by the bed.
Buffy sat on the bed opposite him. "Feeling bad, then?"
Moaned in response.
Made a sympathetic face. "Washcloth warm yet?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Will this go away?"
She nodded. Took the cloth away from him, went to the bathroom, rinsed it, soaked it again with cold water, brought it back out. "In a day or two. Just gotta get the bad stuff out of your system."
Spike sighed. "I am not happy with this. Not at all."
She handed him the cloth. "I'd bet not. I'm sorry, if that helps."
He gave her a shaky smile. "It does. I don't know why, but it does." Put the cloth in his mouth, sucking a little.
She sighed, and laid down behind him, one hand wrapping around his side to rest on his stomach. Rubbed circles.
Spike moved a little, wanting to be closer to her, snuggled backwards up against her.
She let him, rested her nose at the hairline behind his ear. Sniffed.
He smiled a little. "Like what you smell, luv? I took a shower this mornin'."
Nuzzled a little there, soft bite. "Yeah..."
He purred quietly. "Good.. When I'm feelin' better, you can tell me just how much you like it." Semi-playful tone.
Wrapped one leg over his hip, rubbing against his back. "Really?"
Louder purr, another attempt to get closer to her. "Yeah.." Moaned at a twinge in his stomach.
Buffy dropped her leg, resumed her other, less-happy-involving comfort.
He sighed. "Sorry."
Licked, bit at his neck. "Not your fault. You'll make it up to me later."
"Sure will." He hoped it would be awhile before Dawn came back.
Dawn paused outside the door, shifting the bag of blood to her other hand. She didn't hear anything. Maybe he was sleeping. Being as silent as possible, she used the key she had swiped to open the door slowly.
She walked in and froze. There was a hand on Spike's stomach. And it was attached to Buffy's arm. And Buffy's body.
Spike's eyes were closed, so he didn't see her. There was a quiet purring coming from within him. A different pitch than the one she was used to hearing. It was lower. And she thanked God that HER purr wasn't that sexy, because.... euch.
Buffy's head tilted up as the door closed behind a heedless Dawn.
Spike opened one eye, and yawned a little, then moaned quietly. "Hey.. Bit."
She looked like a deer in the headlights. "S-s- Blood. I... I brought blood."
Buffy was frozen, gauging her sister's reaction. Her OWN reaction. God. Nausea.
Spike tried not to let the sisters reactions make him feel worse. It wasn't working. He swallowed hard. Moved away from Buffy, trying to help it. "Uh.. Buffy was just tryin' to help me, Bit.. It wasn't..uh.. what it may have looked like..."
Dawn shrugged and smiled brightly. The, "I'm-repressing-this-because-therapy-is-too-expensive" smile. "Oh, for sure. Just... blood. Good blood. Not bad blood. Well, I mean, I'm pretty sure all blood TASTES bad, but, bad blood in the sense that it's bad. As in... spoiled, and gone, well, bad, and-"
Spike rolled onto his stomach, whispered so low that only Buffy could hear. "Sorry, luv. I didn't mean to-"
Buffy nodded, cutting him off. "We gotcha, Dawn. Um... Why don't you go check if they have a pool?"
Dawn's fuzzy gaze snapped back from babble-land. "Pool? Oh. Mmm... Yeah. P-pool. Good, with the swimming." She set the packet of blood on a table, smiled warily, backing out the door. Not... exactly of the bad. But of the weird? Totally.