Killing Dream

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss and ME

Feedback: I'd love some…..however critical

A/N Thanks Pete.

Buffy's stance is tight and hostile, very definitely ready for the fight.

"Come get me then slayer." Spits Spike. Buffy knows his mood is black, his pain eroding.

Buffy feels fear searing through her stomach. The fate of one of them seems clear. He isn't in vamp face and this doesn't surprise her.

"Haven't seen you take a step towards me yet. Afraid of going the same way as your whore?"

"I'm not biting slayer. We'll do this my way. You'll die when I want you to."

"Come on Spike, you aren't going to kill me. You can't. Even a few days ago it was nothing but 'I love you Buffy' and following me around like the whipped puppy you are."

Spike begins to laugh, slowly, mockingly. "You think I could love anyone like I love Dru? I'll give you something, I at least thought you were saner than her. You were my obsession. I was yours." His gaze is intense as one hand trails suggestively down his abdomen. "Made me feel all manly."

Buffy gasps. The truth she'd always suspected from Spike winding her. To think she'd trusted him so much.

"Ready for this, Buffy? You. Me. Fight to the death." His voice is soft, purring at her as he had when he'd been far closer to her.

Buffy knows she has to get her game together. This turn, though, has left her completely unprepared.

Spike begins to advance on her, and Buffy fights an instinct to run. She understands. She killed Dru, and Spike will try to have his revenge.

"You can't kill me Spike. I'm far stronger than you, we both know it." Buffy needs him to stop now. She's not ready.

"You think. I've been alive for two hundred years and more, luv. Not going to give it up anytime soon. And not to you."

His eyes are close enough for Buffy to see the anger flashing, but it isn't there. There's only the calm of certainty that this is going to be it. His one good day.

That's her last thought as his fist smashes into her face, finally firing her into action. She turns. She runs. Faster than when she tried to rescue any human, and faster than when she was chasing any monster. Silent tears are streaming from her eyes.

He hasn't followed.

Doesn't need to.

Buffy wakes up. Disorientated and confused. Her dream hangs clear in the surrounding haze of her brain, and when she lifts her hands to her face, it's damp. The tears real, and still falling.

She now knows she can never end him.