TITLE: "The Tell-Tale Hearts"
AUTHOR: Elise D. (aka LilHairyEyeball)
FEEDBACK: Gimme gimme. Just be gentle.
SUMMARY: AU version of the Season 5 climax
SPOILERS: Up through Weight of the World
RATING: R for naughty words and bad touching.
DISCLAIMER: Nobody buys me good presents, so I steal other peoples

---

No more than three steps in, and Ben hit the floor. Dawn looked up to see Xander nursing his fist, and Spike, barely containing his rage.

"You!" growled the vampire. "Die. Now!" He started to advance on Ben, who was scrabbling backwards on the floor, while Dawn started to pull him backwards.

"Spike, no!" It's okay! I'm okay, see?" Dawn was frantically trying to hold the vampire back, and was doing nothing more than slowing him down, a step at a time.

"He's here to help! To help stop Glory!"

Spike stopped, his whole body tense. He didn't trust this Ben guy one bit, but he knew better than to ignore Dawn. And the less than subtle cough from Xander meant that he agreed.

"Right then. You talk, or he punches again," Spike threatened, with a nod of his head to Xander, who puffed out his chest in an attempt to seem more intimidating.

"And no funny business, buster!" added Xander, before deflating at the impact of his own corny line.

"I . . . I want to help. I helped Dawn escape," stuttered a terrified Ben, hoping that his small act of heroics would gain him some points with the small angry man before him.

"Yes, fabulous plan, that. What with the bringing Glory's vessel right back to the bloody Slayer, so she can finish the job. Of course, now I trust you implicitly!" Spike ranted, praying to God that Xander would just hit the git already.

Ben lay there, shocked beyond all comprehension. The man remembered what was going on? Was Glory's hold on this world relaxing? Was he going to be safe? Or did it mean . . .

"You're not human!" Exclaimed Ben, jumping up, and positioning himself between the fierce looking man and Dawn.

"Dawn, run. Don't look back, you have to get out of . . ." He was interrupted by a snort from the young woman behind him.

"Oh, pu-leeze. As if Spike would hurt me, of all people. Hello? He was about to kill you for kidnapping me, remember?"

Ben hesitated, unsure of what the hell was going on. Spike noted the confusion on the human's face, and decided to take a little pity (and yes he could admit, pleasure) on his circumstances.

"Here mate, let me clear this up for you, okay?" and with that, he vamped out causing Ben to jump back with a yelp. The confused man noted the way Dawn only seemed to gravitate towards the vampire, instead of away. There was unhesitating trust there; he could see it clear as day.

"You! You're a vampire? Helping a Slayer? To save the world?"

Spike but couldn't help bark out a laugh at the look of shock on the boys face. Even Harris had a hard time keeping it together. Dawn of course, now she was the voice of reason this evening, it appeared. Bossy little chit, that she was.

"Oh, Spike saves the world! He joined up with Buffy years ago to save it, and like, now he won't stop. He's cool, you don't have to worry." She spares a glance in Spike's direction, and notes the raised eyebrow the vampire is brandishing at her.

"Okay, so worry a little bit. I really don't think he likes you much."

With that parting line and a smirk worthy of Spike, she linked arms with her favourite vampire, and started towards the apartment building, while Xander gave Ben a hand getting up.

"So, why are you guys covered in goo, and what's with the box?" asked Dawn, as they walked out of earshot.

"That girl is amazing," said Ben as he and Xander began the walk along the driveway. Xander just smiled, and gave the doctor a pat on the back, before fishing out his collection of keys.

"Move it, Harris. The womenfolk will be getting restless wondering where we got to."

Xander sighed, and found the key he was looking for. "Spike, Giles is in there as well."

Spike snorted, in that sarcastic yet cool way that really bugged Xander. "Yeah well, my comment stands. Let's get inside all right? Red's going to be mighty peeved when she realizes who's coming for dinner. We need to get this over with, before the boy passes out from fear."

He tilted his head, looking the shaken Ben right in the eyes.

"It's coming off him in waves. He's petrified, as well he should be."

---

Inside, things seemed a little different to the chaos of the outdoors. There were a few candles lit, and Anya sat on the couch next to a napping Tara. The silence was deafening to the new arrivals

"Oi, Anya," whispered Spike. "Where's the Watcher at? We need him"

Anya slowly disentangled herself from Tara and the mountain of cushions, and shuffled over to the kitchen where the motley crew were gathered.

"Giles isn't back yet. He called from the hospital, saying he wanted to check out a few things while Willow and Buffy were locked up doing that mind-meld thingy."

Spike frowned. He and the whelp had managed to traipse half way across town, kill a demon, and face off against Ben. Where the hell was Giles? What the hell were they supposed to do now? Xander interrupted Spike's planning, with a question of his own.

"Ahn, honey, what about Willow and Buffy? You haven't heard anything from in there?" The concern for his two friends was evident, but this wasn't just about them, was it? It was about everyone. They needed to be together on this one.

"Well, I heard some sobbing a few minutes ago – and before you ask, two sets of sobs, actually. I decided I should give them a little time to get over everything. Willow was performing some pretty impressive magic. She might need a few minutes to recuperate from raping Buffy's mind."

"Ahn!" exclaimed Xander, but the phone was ringing and Anya went to answer it with a wave of her hand. He turned to face Spike, who was still deep in thought.

"So what do you reckon, Captain Peroxide? How are we going to handle this? More importantly, who's going to save Ben from the wrath of Willow before he can tell us anything useful?"

Spike shook his head, why was he being made big chief all of a sudden? Oh, right. Who's Buffy going to blame for this? Right then, let's play it that way, he thought.

"Right. Bit, there's a bag of your stuff over there. Why don't you nip into the bathroom and change, while we wait for big sis, yeah? Make sure she sees you're okay and all in one piece." Not waiting for a response, he immediately turned his attention to the two men to his left.

"Harris, got any ropes, chains or manacles?" At the sight of Xander's shocked expression, he gestured towards Anya, causing Xander's shoulder's to slump in defeat.

"Yeah, I've got something. Why? It's not going to hold a Hell God, should she decide to make an appearance."

Spike nodded in agreement. "Right, but at least poor Ben here can at least show he's got good intentions. Might buy him a couple of extra minutes when the girls see him, yeah?"

---

By the time Buffy and Willow emerged from the bedroom, everyone was ready for the big explosion. Dawn had taken the time to sit with Tara, and was currently brushing her hair, hoping to keep the witch calm. Ben was now trussed up in a chair, placed in the centre of the room, while Spike and Xander flanked him, and Anya paced nervously in the kitchen.

"No freaking way! Who was the moron that thought bringing him here was a good idea?" exclaimed Buffy. She had that look about her, Spike noted. A look she'd worn a lot recently, a fierce mix of determination and utter resignation over their situation. This had to end, and soon, before it bloody well killed her.

"Buffy?" A timid Dawn called out. Buffy rushed over and enveloped her sister in a tight hug, while Willow just stood in the doorway staring at the man before her. She knew she couldn't blame him for Tara's current state. But the reason was in him, and every part of her subconscious was screaming for vengeance. She was shaken from her thoughts, by Dawn who was beginning to explain the situation.

"He saved me, Buffy. He wants to stop Glory too. I promised him you'd help. We can help, right? Willow? You can do something to save him? To save us?"

Willow sighed. "Dawnie, I don't have that kind of power. All I've done up until this point is hold her back. I can't harm her enough. I can't stop her. I wish there was a way, but it would take a miracle to stop her."

A large thump directed everyone's attention to a smug looking Xander and Spike, who had dropped the box from Docs on the table.

"So, do you have a hug for the miracle workers?"