Spike watched Buffy intently now. She couldn't be jealous, not Buffy.
"It just doesn't seem professional to call her by her first name to me? I mean how would it sound if Dawn called her teachers by their first names? Right, Dawn?" Buffy looked to her sister for support.
Dawn was watching Buffy as intently as Spike, a smile crept across her lips, Buffy was jealous. Well good, it was about time, "Buffy, I think it's kind of neat that Spike gets along that well with Dr. Lavery. I mean that means she's really working at making him better don't you think?"
Spike stole a look at Dawn who flashed him a grin. Niblet is in my corner, he grinned back at her, before turning back to Buffy, "She has really been good to me Buffy, very helpful."
Buffy looked shamefaced for a moment, "I know...I know she's been helpful. I just ...I just don't think it's a good idea to get that close to your doctor you know?"
"I understand." Spike nodded.
"Come on , Dawn. We better go if we are going to do the shopping thing before leave tonight." Buffy pulled on Dawn's sleeve, "Better tell Spike, bye."
"Okay, bye Spike." Dawn winked at him as she left with Buffy.
"Bye." He smiled as he watched his girls leave the room.
****
"Just a minute, Dawn. I want to talk to Dr. Lavery, you go on outside, this will just take a minute." Buffy scooted Dawn out the door and walked to Dana's office. Knocking brusquely she called out "Dr. Lavery?"
"Come on in, Buffy." Dana answered.
"I need to talk to you," Buffy walked over to the desk, "About Spike," She placed both hands palm down on the desk leaning over she began to question the doctor, " He said you've been playing chess? He calls you Dana now? Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Dana had to fight to hold in her smile, "Yes, Buffy. I believe it's a good idea. Spike needs a friend. He needs someone he can depend on, I'd like to be there for him. We enjoy each others company, a nice game of chess. And it's quite acceptable for friends to call each other by their first names."
"But you're his doctor." Buffy argued.
"Yes, I am and I'm really happy with his progress. As I said earlier I think he'll be ready to leave her soon, he just needs someone to make sure he's going to be okay for a while when he leaves. Buffy, you need to admit that you care for Spike, this being partially here for him isn't any good for either of you. He needs you to commit to your feelings, are you his friend? All the time, even around your other friends? Do you feel more than that? He's a good man he deserves at least to know where he really stands with you." Dana responded seriously.
"I....I..." Buffy fumbled for words as her mind wrapped around what Dana was telling her, soon she realized the implication of the Doctor's words, "You love him, don't you?" Buffy asked her voice soft and slightly hesitant as if she couldn't believe she'd asked.
"To be honest, I think I could." Dana stood, "He has a great capacity for love.....and loyalty." She stood up then, "I could love him but he would nev........" Her sentence was never finished as she watched Buffy's face go pale, "Buffy?"
Buffy walked backwards away from the desk, "You....you would be good for him, better then me, I'm sure." Tears began to slowly run down her cheeks, "He deserves that..
I hope you'll be happy." She turned from the office and ran down the hallway.
Dana ran after the petite blond, "Buffy! Buffy" She called after her, but Buffy was already out the door passing a confused Spike on her way out.
"What's wrong with her?" Spike asked Dana as she caught up to him, "She just passed me like I wasn't even there. She's crying."
"Spike, I think I made a mistake. I tried to make Buffy confront her feelings for you and it got twisted around. She thinks that I....that we.... I'm sorry." Dana rubbed her hand over her face.
"She thinks you and I are ....together?" Spike shook his head, "She seemed a bit jealous earlier when I called you by name, but I didn't think she seriously thought.."
"It's my fault, I told her you deserved someone committed to thier feelings, she asked I if loved you? I told her I could but.." Dana walked Spike back into his room closing the door.
"You said you could love me?" Spike sat down in the chair by the bed, "That's nice thought, but I ...."
"You love Buffy, I know. I was trying to tell her that you would never love me.....because you love her. But she ran out." Dana sighed, "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Buffy's very good at running . Doesn't matter anyway,she's never going to commit to any feelings for me. " Spike went to the dresser to find his clothes, sighing he shrugged, "Maybe I should go after her?"
"No, Spike. I should go, I'll find her." Dana shook her apolgetically as she left the room.
***
Dr. Joseph Dawson watched as Dana exited the room, "Dana is everything okay?"
She looked up at him frowning, "I hope it will be. I need to leave for a little while do you think you could be on call for a little while?"
"Of course, I planned on doing some paperwork anyway." He smiled at her,then added "I do wish you would make sure that your special patient has his lunch before you leave, you made it clear you don't want me near him."
"I'm sorry, Joseph, it's just we don't agree on the ethical ramifications of what you want to do with him." Dana walked into her office and pulled a cup of blood from the small refrigerator.
Dr. Dawson watched her getting the blood, he absently patted his pants pocket, this was going better then planned. He 'accidentally' bumped into her spilling a small amount of the blood on to her jacket. "I'm sorry. Let me take the cup and warm it while you take care of that, then you can take it to your patient."
"Thank you." Dana replied as she reached for a bottle of peroxide and tissue to blot the stain clean.
"No problem." He smiled again as he carried the blood to the lounge. When he got there he took the small packet from his pocket and stirred the powder into the blood before sticking it in the microwave.
Dana arrived as the microwave beeped and she removed the mug of blood, "I really am sorry Joseph, I do understand your points, but I just can't go along with it."
"It's okay, Dana, I understand. We all have to follow our own personal codes of conduct." He patted her shoulder before he left the room.
She carried the warm mug to Spike's room.
"Spike, this is for you. Didn't think you and Dr. Dawson needed to see each other again." Dana offered him the mug, "I'm going to call Buffy's and see if she's there hopefully I can talk to her."
"Don't think it will do any good, she's made her choice." Spike took a drink from the mug.
"Well, it's worth a try." She smiled at him as she left the room.
Dr. Dawson cautiously walked down the hall as he watched Dana return to her office,
he watched as Spike tried to finish the mug of blood, the drug was already taking effect as he watched the vampire drowsily try to set the mug on the table dropping it and spilling what was left on bedsheets. He smiled as he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed, "George, I need your help, now."
Spike realized too late that the blood was drugged, the last thing he saw before slipping into blackness was Dr. Dawson and George entering the room.
"Come on, Buffy!" Dana told the ringing phone as she dialed the third time, obviously, Buffy wasn't home. She would have to try again later. She better go tell Spike what was going on, maybe Buffy would be home soon.
"What do you think you're doing?" Dana called out as she entered Spike's room.
"I'm going to get that chip out one way or another, Dana. I'm sorry, I tried to talk this out sensibly with you. But you seem to have grown attached to this monster." Dr. Dawson
shoved Dana towards the bathroom.
She shoved back but he was stronger, shoving her in the small room he closed the door and put a chair under the door knob. "This will help so many it's worth the risks." He called to her from the other side as she pounded on the door.
"Where are we taking him, sir?" George asked as he threw Spike's limp body over his shoulder.
"Abandoned clinic on Hobson. I have some equipment stored there it will work perfectly."
Dana stopped her pounding on the door when she heard George's question, she put her ear to the door listening to Dr. Dawson's answer. She began to pound on the door again.
Nurse Sherry walked by Spike's room and heard the racket, rushing into the room she first noticed that Spike was gone and that it was Dr. Lavery's voice coming from the bathroom. She quickly moved the chair to let Dana out of the bathroom.
"What's happened, Dr.?" Sherry asked when she noticed the blood on the sheets her eyes widened, "Are you okay? Is Spike okay?"
"I'm fine. And I hope he is too. Did you see Dr. Dawson leaving the building?" Dana asked anxiously.
"No, but I just got here a little while ago." Sherry looked confused, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, but I need to make a phone call." Dana ran to her office, "Please be home, Buffy!" The phone was picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?" Buffy's voice came over the line.
"Buffy, this is Dana Lavery."
"Dr. Lavery, I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't feel like taking right now." Buffy
twisted the phone cord as she spoke.
"I know and I'm sorry. But Spike needs your help." Dana quickly explained what had happened with Dr. Dawson,
"I'll be there in five minutes. You show me where the clinic is and I'll take care of the rest of it." Buffy hung up the phone and found her jacket she was out the door in a flash.
******
"Right there, George. Pull in the back entrance." Dr. Dawson instructed as they reached the clinic. "Now lets carry the patient inside."
George lifted Spike and carried him to the room Dr. Dawson had prepared. A gurney sat in the room with a small table of covered instruments lying beside it. Spike lay on the table under bright light his arms and legs tightly restrained.
"Shall we get started?" Dr. Dawson asked George as he uncoverd the instuments and removed a razor. He carefully shaved a small portion of Spike's head, the platinum curls falling on the dark floor.
Spike's eyes fluttered open and quickly closed again under the glare of the bright light.
"Ah....it's wearing off already, I wondered how long it would take." The doctor nodded.
"Where.....where are we?" Spike asked as he tried to move his hand.
"We are in an operating room of sorts, my own private operating room. I'm going to take out that pesky chip." Dr. Dawson smiled at Spike.
"But, the other doc said it couldn't be done."
"Yes, you told me that. I'm sure I can remove it though." He continued to smile.
"And you really don't care about the consequences to me, do you?" Spike asked although he already knew the answer.
"I'm getting that chip. If you happen to combust while I remove it or if you're brain is mush when I'm done - you're right, I truly don't care." Dr. Dawson began to hum softly as he reached for a scalpel.
****
TBC
"
"It just doesn't seem professional to call her by her first name to me? I mean how would it sound if Dawn called her teachers by their first names? Right, Dawn?" Buffy looked to her sister for support.
Dawn was watching Buffy as intently as Spike, a smile crept across her lips, Buffy was jealous. Well good, it was about time, "Buffy, I think it's kind of neat that Spike gets along that well with Dr. Lavery. I mean that means she's really working at making him better don't you think?"
Spike stole a look at Dawn who flashed him a grin. Niblet is in my corner, he grinned back at her, before turning back to Buffy, "She has really been good to me Buffy, very helpful."
Buffy looked shamefaced for a moment, "I know...I know she's been helpful. I just ...I just don't think it's a good idea to get that close to your doctor you know?"
"I understand." Spike nodded.
"Come on , Dawn. We better go if we are going to do the shopping thing before leave tonight." Buffy pulled on Dawn's sleeve, "Better tell Spike, bye."
"Okay, bye Spike." Dawn winked at him as she left with Buffy.
"Bye." He smiled as he watched his girls leave the room.
****
"Just a minute, Dawn. I want to talk to Dr. Lavery, you go on outside, this will just take a minute." Buffy scooted Dawn out the door and walked to Dana's office. Knocking brusquely she called out "Dr. Lavery?"
"Come on in, Buffy." Dana answered.
"I need to talk to you," Buffy walked over to the desk, "About Spike," She placed both hands palm down on the desk leaning over she began to question the doctor, " He said you've been playing chess? He calls you Dana now? Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Dana had to fight to hold in her smile, "Yes, Buffy. I believe it's a good idea. Spike needs a friend. He needs someone he can depend on, I'd like to be there for him. We enjoy each others company, a nice game of chess. And it's quite acceptable for friends to call each other by their first names."
"But you're his doctor." Buffy argued.
"Yes, I am and I'm really happy with his progress. As I said earlier I think he'll be ready to leave her soon, he just needs someone to make sure he's going to be okay for a while when he leaves. Buffy, you need to admit that you care for Spike, this being partially here for him isn't any good for either of you. He needs you to commit to your feelings, are you his friend? All the time, even around your other friends? Do you feel more than that? He's a good man he deserves at least to know where he really stands with you." Dana responded seriously.
"I....I..." Buffy fumbled for words as her mind wrapped around what Dana was telling her, soon she realized the implication of the Doctor's words, "You love him, don't you?" Buffy asked her voice soft and slightly hesitant as if she couldn't believe she'd asked.
"To be honest, I think I could." Dana stood, "He has a great capacity for love.....and loyalty." She stood up then, "I could love him but he would nev........" Her sentence was never finished as she watched Buffy's face go pale, "Buffy?"
Buffy walked backwards away from the desk, "You....you would be good for him, better then me, I'm sure." Tears began to slowly run down her cheeks, "He deserves that..
I hope you'll be happy." She turned from the office and ran down the hallway.
Dana ran after the petite blond, "Buffy! Buffy" She called after her, but Buffy was already out the door passing a confused Spike on her way out.
"What's wrong with her?" Spike asked Dana as she caught up to him, "She just passed me like I wasn't even there. She's crying."
"Spike, I think I made a mistake. I tried to make Buffy confront her feelings for you and it got twisted around. She thinks that I....that we.... I'm sorry." Dana rubbed her hand over her face.
"She thinks you and I are ....together?" Spike shook his head, "She seemed a bit jealous earlier when I called you by name, but I didn't think she seriously thought.."
"It's my fault, I told her you deserved someone committed to thier feelings, she asked I if loved you? I told her I could but.." Dana walked Spike back into his room closing the door.
"You said you could love me?" Spike sat down in the chair by the bed, "That's nice thought, but I ...."
"You love Buffy, I know. I was trying to tell her that you would never love me.....because you love her. But she ran out." Dana sighed, "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Buffy's very good at running . Doesn't matter anyway,she's never going to commit to any feelings for me. " Spike went to the dresser to find his clothes, sighing he shrugged, "Maybe I should go after her?"
"No, Spike. I should go, I'll find her." Dana shook her apolgetically as she left the room.
***
Dr. Joseph Dawson watched as Dana exited the room, "Dana is everything okay?"
She looked up at him frowning, "I hope it will be. I need to leave for a little while do you think you could be on call for a little while?"
"Of course, I planned on doing some paperwork anyway." He smiled at her,then added "I do wish you would make sure that your special patient has his lunch before you leave, you made it clear you don't want me near him."
"I'm sorry, Joseph, it's just we don't agree on the ethical ramifications of what you want to do with him." Dana walked into her office and pulled a cup of blood from the small refrigerator.
Dr. Dawson watched her getting the blood, he absently patted his pants pocket, this was going better then planned. He 'accidentally' bumped into her spilling a small amount of the blood on to her jacket. "I'm sorry. Let me take the cup and warm it while you take care of that, then you can take it to your patient."
"Thank you." Dana replied as she reached for a bottle of peroxide and tissue to blot the stain clean.
"No problem." He smiled again as he carried the blood to the lounge. When he got there he took the small packet from his pocket and stirred the powder into the blood before sticking it in the microwave.
Dana arrived as the microwave beeped and she removed the mug of blood, "I really am sorry Joseph, I do understand your points, but I just can't go along with it."
"It's okay, Dana, I understand. We all have to follow our own personal codes of conduct." He patted her shoulder before he left the room.
She carried the warm mug to Spike's room.
"Spike, this is for you. Didn't think you and Dr. Dawson needed to see each other again." Dana offered him the mug, "I'm going to call Buffy's and see if she's there hopefully I can talk to her."
"Don't think it will do any good, she's made her choice." Spike took a drink from the mug.
"Well, it's worth a try." She smiled at him as she left the room.
Dr. Dawson cautiously walked down the hall as he watched Dana return to her office,
he watched as Spike tried to finish the mug of blood, the drug was already taking effect as he watched the vampire drowsily try to set the mug on the table dropping it and spilling what was left on bedsheets. He smiled as he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed, "George, I need your help, now."
Spike realized too late that the blood was drugged, the last thing he saw before slipping into blackness was Dr. Dawson and George entering the room.
"Come on, Buffy!" Dana told the ringing phone as she dialed the third time, obviously, Buffy wasn't home. She would have to try again later. She better go tell Spike what was going on, maybe Buffy would be home soon.
"What do you think you're doing?" Dana called out as she entered Spike's room.
"I'm going to get that chip out one way or another, Dana. I'm sorry, I tried to talk this out sensibly with you. But you seem to have grown attached to this monster." Dr. Dawson
shoved Dana towards the bathroom.
She shoved back but he was stronger, shoving her in the small room he closed the door and put a chair under the door knob. "This will help so many it's worth the risks." He called to her from the other side as she pounded on the door.
"Where are we taking him, sir?" George asked as he threw Spike's limp body over his shoulder.
"Abandoned clinic on Hobson. I have some equipment stored there it will work perfectly."
Dana stopped her pounding on the door when she heard George's question, she put her ear to the door listening to Dr. Dawson's answer. She began to pound on the door again.
Nurse Sherry walked by Spike's room and heard the racket, rushing into the room she first noticed that Spike was gone and that it was Dr. Lavery's voice coming from the bathroom. She quickly moved the chair to let Dana out of the bathroom.
"What's happened, Dr.?" Sherry asked when she noticed the blood on the sheets her eyes widened, "Are you okay? Is Spike okay?"
"I'm fine. And I hope he is too. Did you see Dr. Dawson leaving the building?" Dana asked anxiously.
"No, but I just got here a little while ago." Sherry looked confused, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, but I need to make a phone call." Dana ran to her office, "Please be home, Buffy!" The phone was picked up on the second ring.
"Hello?" Buffy's voice came over the line.
"Buffy, this is Dana Lavery."
"Dr. Lavery, I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't feel like taking right now." Buffy
twisted the phone cord as she spoke.
"I know and I'm sorry. But Spike needs your help." Dana quickly explained what had happened with Dr. Dawson,
"I'll be there in five minutes. You show me where the clinic is and I'll take care of the rest of it." Buffy hung up the phone and found her jacket she was out the door in a flash.
******
"Right there, George. Pull in the back entrance." Dr. Dawson instructed as they reached the clinic. "Now lets carry the patient inside."
George lifted Spike and carried him to the room Dr. Dawson had prepared. A gurney sat in the room with a small table of covered instruments lying beside it. Spike lay on the table under bright light his arms and legs tightly restrained.
"Shall we get started?" Dr. Dawson asked George as he uncoverd the instuments and removed a razor. He carefully shaved a small portion of Spike's head, the platinum curls falling on the dark floor.
Spike's eyes fluttered open and quickly closed again under the glare of the bright light.
"Ah....it's wearing off already, I wondered how long it would take." The doctor nodded.
"Where.....where are we?" Spike asked as he tried to move his hand.
"We are in an operating room of sorts, my own private operating room. I'm going to take out that pesky chip." Dr. Dawson smiled at Spike.
"But, the other doc said it couldn't be done."
"Yes, you told me that. I'm sure I can remove it though." He continued to smile.
"And you really don't care about the consequences to me, do you?" Spike asked although he already knew the answer.
"I'm getting that chip. If you happen to combust while I remove it or if you're brain is mush when I'm done - you're right, I truly don't care." Dr. Dawson began to hum softly as he reached for a scalpel.
****
TBC
"