A/N: Aight, fore I get into this next chapter, here's your warning: I'm a sap for Spike's-in-pain-and-Buffy-pities-him stories. This chapter is all about Buffy babying the po bleached vampy, so beware! It doesn't help that I was inna sappy mood when I wrote this, so apologies if they seem way outta character. Imma loser! Yay!

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Spike awoke to the taste of blood in his mouth. Pig's? Nope. He ran his tongue over his upper lip, tasting more of the coppery liquid. Yep, it was most definitely his. He groaned, attempting to stand up. Nope, that wouldn't work. Something was holding him down. No again. Not something, someone. He could feel a hand on his shoulder, gripping tightly and keeping him lying on his side. The carpet pressed against his face was rather uncomfortable.

"Mmmm…." Well, that had sounded a lot better in his head. Spike had planned on a firm 'Let go.', but it seemed that odd moaning noises were all he was able to produce at the moment.

"Spike?"

That was reassuring. He'd much prefer to hear the Slayer's voice when coming out of some comatose state then, oh say, a demon? "Buffy?" He managed to choke out, prying his eyes open.

"Dammit, Spike, you're bleeding again…" She grumbled, pressing a small cloth under his nose.

He cringed, shrugging her hand off his shoulder and sitting up. "Bloody hell." He snapped, pressing a hand against his forehead at the sudden sharp pain that shot through his skull.

"Lay back down, you're just making it worse." Buffy said in a knowing tone, pulling his hand from his head and pushing him back down to the ground. "Just stay still for awhile…"

He closed his eyes once more, taking the bloodied cloth from her and holding it in place. "What happened?"

She sighed, folding her hands in her lap. "You freaked out." She sat there for a moment, her legs crossed, watching as he layed there, his body trembling slightly. "I heard you yell, and when I got into the living room you were on the ground… crying." She trailed off slightly, diverting her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at him when he opened his.

"Wha…" As expected, he turned his head, staring up at her with a bewildered expression.

"You don't remember?" She asked quietly, bringing her eyes back to his.

He turned from her, staring blankly at the wall. "I… I remember…" His eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh God…"

Buffy cringed as he rolled onto his side, curling up on the floor in the middle of her bedroom. "Spike."

"Not again…. Buffy, please don't let it happen again…"

"Let what happen, Spike?"  She asked, regrasping his shoulder, this time in more of a comforting manner. "Talk to me."

"It was in my head again. I can still hear it… singin'."

"Who?"

"The First… singin' that stupid song." He spat, curling up a bit more. "I don't wanna do it again, Buffy. Don't let me…"

"Spike." She said softly, trying to roll him back over to face him. When he wouldn't budge, she settled for running her hand from his shoulder and down his arm, wrapping her hand around his. She leaned over him, allowing him to see her face. "Spike, listen to me. It can't get you anymore. Not like that." She swallowed, watching as he slowly turned his head to face her, his eyes brimmed with tears. "It was a dream, Spike. A nightmare. You were unconscious and you were dreaming. That's it…"

"But…"

"No." She said firmly. "You've been in here with me for the past three hours. Nothing happened. You didn't do anything. It can't get you like that, I promise." She smiled slightly at the relief that wash over his face, but the smile faded quickly. "Shit."

Spike cringed as she grabbed the bloodied cloth from his clenched fist, pressing it against his nose once more.

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"Could it be an after effect of what The First was doing to him?"

"Buffy, I already told you. Even with the substantial physical abuse that Spike underwent, there was nothing that would have caused…. that."

Spike flinched, prying his eyes open. He was still curled up on Buffy's floor, a heavy blanket thrown over him. He could hear the Slayer and her Watcher in the hallway just outside the open door. He shivered, pulling the blanket more tightly around himself.

"But that's just it Giles. What was that if it wasn't something that The First did?"

"To be quite honest, I'm not sure. There was no serious head trauma, but…"

"No head trauma? Giles, that thing was inside his head!"

"Buffy, The First was corrupting Spike with some type of mystical power, nothing that would cause such…"

"Such what, Giles? I have a freaking bath towel soaked with blood that flowed from his head and you're telling me that it has nothing to do with The First? What is it then, huh? 'cause I'd really prefer that he wasn't…"

"Buffy, please, just…"

"No, Giles." She snapped, stomping her foot. She pressed the palm of her hand to her forehead, closing her eyes, trailing off. "What else could it be? After what it did to him… Giles, he's laying in my room, shaking like crazy, and bleeding like there's no tomorrow. We have to do something…" She finished, her eyes pleading with him.

"And we will. But until we find out what…"

"It's all we have, Giles." She said softly. "Just… check. Find something. Anything."

The Watcher sighed, taking off his glasses and staring down at the blonde. "Alright, but there are more pressing matters at hand, such as looking for a way to keep the Potentials alive."

"And Spike can help us with that, but we need to help him first." She stated stubbornly.

Giles sighed once more, replacing his glasses. "I'm not guaranteeing anything, but I'll see if I can find something."

Buffy gave him a small smile, crossing her arms more tightly across her chest. "Thanks…" She stood there for a few moments, watching as he walked down the stairs and out of sight. "…thanks." She mumbled once more, under her breath. Drawing in a long breath, she turned, walking silently back into her room. She shut the door quietly, then remaining next to it, her head resting against the frame.

"'m'sorry…"

Buffy turned her head quickly, looking down at where Spike was laying, his back to her. "What?"

He gave her a grim chuckle. "For bein' a pain in the ass… m'sorry."

She smiled slightly, wiping at her eyes before he could see her. "Don't be. It's not your fault."

He shifted a bit as she sat down beside him, leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes.

"You alright?" He asked.

"I'm in better shape than you…"

"That's not sayin' much, luv."

"Yeah…" She mumbled, dropping her hands to her sides defeatedly. "I know." She sniffled, opening her eyes and staring down at him. "You feel any better?"

"Feels like there's a soddin' freight train in my head…"

She nodded slightly, looking back down at her hands. "Giles is trying to find out… he's looking for something that could have caused this. The whole 'freaking out and bleeding like crazy' thing…the headaches…all of  it."

"Buffy, there's more important thi…"

"No." She said, cutting him off. She stared at him stubbornly for a moment before going to climb to her feet.

"Where're you goin'?"

"To get you something to eat. Your nose puked up most of what you ate earlier." She stated, making her way towards the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Spike sighed defeatedly, running a hand over his eyes. Stubborn girl. He groaned, trying his best to ignore the stinging-hot pain running through the back of his skull. Stubborn girl…

TBC…

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Told you I was a sap for Ouchie!Spike stories. Pity the poor vampire, I tell you! And a few reviews would be nice, too. :3

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