Vignette I

Rating: PG

Pairing: S/B usually comes through in the stories

Summary:

Disclaimer: It's all Joss' even if he doesn't want to claim it...his creations, not mine :)

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"I'll help you," she said, her voice unreadable. She does that when she has something inside of her that she can't bear for you to read.

He closed his eyes tightly in response.

Buffy sighed heavily; he was shaking. She grabbed his hands in hers, holding them as tightly as she could. Like she just couldn't stand to not be holding them...comforting him at this moment.

"Spike," she whispered, "let's get out of here."

Those eyes. He looked at her like he had never been so lost.

"You're touching me." His voice wavered more with every syllable.

"I know. We need to leave," she replied patiently.

He nodded.

Buffy stood; one hand still holding his. And surprisingly, he didn't have any problem waling out of the house.

It was cold outside, especially for Sunnydale. At least the streets were empty. Buffy held Spike's wrist as she walked just slightly in front of him...leader that she was. After a few minutes, she heard his quiet crying, but she couldn't turn and look at his face. The guilt would overtake her. She should have gotten him out of that basement a lot sooner.

They finally arrived at the back porch. She sat him down on their personal "steps of misery."

"You okay?"

He looked at her and shook his head.

"Well, who would be?"

He sighed in response.

"Listen, the gang is all inside...and I know that you probably don't want to see anyone right now...but it's too cold out here and you've had a long night."

"I...I don't think I can go in there...I'll just sit here."

"Spike."

"You know you don't want me in your home. We both know it."

She sighed. "I asked you didn't I?"

A small nod.

"Honestly, Spike, I want you to come in. I'd feel a lot better knowing that this thing wasn't doing this to you anymore. You should get some sleep. You can't have been getting much at all recently..."

"I don't want to-"

She cut him off, "I know you don't want to be around everyone else, but I think this is-"

"No, I don't want to hurt you." A stare of sheer pain and love directly into her eyes.

"You won't."

"You don't know-"

"You won't."