Good evening, All,
Here is chapter ten of The One, as promised. Alas, I don't know if there will be a Friday release this week as more family drama has plagued Casa de Nim. I will do my best, but I do assure you, you will have at least one additional chapter by week's end. I will send out notifications to the yahoo group when I release.
Speaking of the group, I get a lot of requests on where to find all of the previous books in one place. Where, you ask? Well, at Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com (insert shameless plug here), in the files section, I have uploaded books one through five in continuous format. In other words, they look rather more like a book than a chapter by chapter release. Please check it out. All are welcome (at least all Buffy/Spike shipper fic addicts).
Thanks again for all of your support. And to Brat, Cindy and Malena, my betas, my great thanks. Also to Bittn, Karen, Alane, Laurie and Eliz. Without you, I would be drifting aimlessly at the moment. Many thanks.
Without further ado..
*Cheery Vibes* , Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Until the Next Apocalypse (Chapter Ten of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Willow and Tara come to talk to Buffy about their decision. Draconius is concerned about the effectiveness of their plan. Will they have to step up the pace? Buffy finds Dawn and the kids, but something has happened to Will.
Until the Next Apocalypse
They walked up the sidewalk in silence, hand in hand. It was too odd a concept. Too. progressive of them. They needed to bounce this one off of Buffy. Sure, Spike would probably be put out that he set this all in motion and they wanted to talk to her, but Willow couldn't imagine discussing this with any man. At least any man who wasn't directly involved.
"What do you think she'll say?" Tara asked, her fingers wound around Willow's.
A sly smile broke on the redhead's face. "I think.I think for the first time ever, it will be us making her blush."
"You know she'll tell Spike," Tara responded, holding back her own grin. "And.and then he'll look at us all."
"Leery," Willow contributed, raising an eyebrow.
"No," her lover giggled. "But he'll wonder. he'll be all. proud of himself."
"He's always like that," Willow answered as they turned the corner onto Revello. "But I don't think he'll tell. You know. Xander. And. and Giles."
Tara's face went blank a moment and she stopped in her tracks. "Giles? Oh Willow, what if. what would they think?"
The redhead turned to face her love. "Who. cares? I mean, this is our decision, right?"
"Right," Tara agreed. "So, why are we telling Buffy?"
"To see if it's the right one?" Willow answered timidly. "Oh, I don't know, sweetie. Because we want to be right."
Tara smiled. "We are."
The woman heard the scream from her space in the shed in the back. Something about that scream. The sound. The tone. It was so familiar. And there was a child wailing. That child. The pitch, the *soul* of the sound reverberated in her ears.
Do souls make a sound?
She dropped to her belly, trying to look out under the bottom wooden beam. Nothing. There was a dog in the yard, but he hadn't noticed her yet. The dead, or the reanimated dead, must not have a smell.
Do spirits have a smell?
There was nothing in her line of sight but a fence. And the dog. And a flower bed that needed tending. Some swings. But the sound carried to her. It carried right into her mind, her spirit. Why can't I remember? She thought ruefully. What pained her more was that curiosity was the only thing she felt. The part of her that cared was missing. Even worse was the fact that she knew it had once been there.
That she had once cared.
Spike flew out the door behind Buffy, nearly knocking her down as they both hurdled the steps. Dawn was on her knees on the ground, hovering over something. She was blocking Spike's view. Emma stood on the sidewalk nearly silently, her hands folded in front of her, her fingers nervously threading in and out.
"He. he fell," Buffy panted as they made it to Dawn. "Dawn said he on the swings one minute and the next there was."
Part of Spike relaxed. This was normal drama. Not Draconius has stolen my family theatre. But then he saw the boy, his small, gentle face coated in blood, his little arm cocked at a weird angle. A dam in the Vampire's heart burst and sheer panic threatened to take control.
"Spike?" Giles called from the porch.
"Page Takina. Number's by the phone," Spike shouted back, scooting Dawn over and dropping to his knees next to the boy. William was wailing, hitching sobs coming out of his small, bloody mouth.
"Buffy, can you get some supplies? I'll bring him into the house," Spike said, sliding his hands under the little boy. William looked up at him with wet and frightened blue eyes.
"Daddy?" His voice was shaky.
"S'alright," Spike whispered, pulling the child against him, holding the arm in place. "Be right as rain."
The boy cried quietly against his chest, burrowing his face into Spike's shirt. "Hurts," he sobbed.
"I know, Will," Spike answered.
"Should we call an ambulance?" Cyrus asked as Spike bustled past Dawn, intent on getting the boy inside. Emma grabbed his belt loop as he went past, tagging quietly behind.
Spike didn't speak, brushing past the Watchers and carrying the boy into the kitchen, where the light was best. "Is he. is he going to be okay?" Dawn asked timidly, her arms crossed over her chest, tears running down her face.
"You were supposed to be watching him," Buffy snapped at her sister, pulling medical supplies out of the cabinet and lining them up within Spike's reach. Dawn cringed into the corner.
"I was," Dawn answered quietly. "Emma. she wanted me to watch her on the jungle gym. I just turned my head and."
"If you can't handle them both, don't take them," Buffy stated again, setting a bowl of water on the counter as Spike worked off the child's shirt.
"I. I'm sorry," Dawn whispered.
"Not good enough," Buffy pressed, her voice full of venom, her face covered in tears.
"Buffy, I."
"Enough," Spike stated simply. "Dawn, please go to your room. Giles, when Takina calls back, let her know that I'm bringing Will into the hospital. Cyrus, I'd ask you keep an eye on Emma." His voice was neutral, but Buffy could feel his mind working overtime, trying not to fall apart at the sight of their son. "Buffy?"
She stood stock still, staring at Spike, biting her lip. Her body was as tense as wire. He softened looking at her. "Love, can you grab a blanket and one of those soft elastics."
"A... an ace bandage?" She stuttered, watching Spike dab blood off of William's face. The little boy stared up at his father as if he was hypnotized. Buffy wondered if Spike did have some kind of thrall the way William just stared intently at his dad.
"Yes, Pet," Spike answered, his concentration on William.
"Is... is it bad?" She asked, her voice quaking, her heart thumping in her chest. He could feel her body like a rubber band ready to snap.
Spike turned to look at her. Terror was in her eyes. She'd seen demons and hell gods, even watched people die, but she was falling apart at the sight of Will. Hell, Spike thought. He was close to falling apart. "No, Love. But he needs to go to hospital. Think his arm's broken."
"The... the blood?" Buffy asked.
Spike chuckled. "Split his lip. Probably did worse to me last week. Bleeds like a sodding fountain. "He turned his attention back to her, watching her face a moment. "It's all right, Buffy. Just go get what I said and we'll both take him." He nodded at her encouragingly, trying to break his brave Slayer out of being paralyzed by fear. "It'll be right as rain, Pet," Spike's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the contours of her face. "Be home before nightfall, but we have to move fast."
Buffy nodded, shaking her head a little, feeling a bit entranced herself. She leaned down, kissing Will's cheek and tore off out of the room in a blaze of energy fueled by fear and anger and upset.
~~~~~~~~
Draconius stood, sipping brandy from a paper cup. Luke had not told him that their torture rallies, as the resident hell god had referred to this nightmare, was something akin to that horrid television show his younger minions insisted on watching when Draconius had been on Earth. Smackside or something like that.
More of just a testosterone driven free for all, but this time it was real. The torturers did seem to have a right good time of things, but their methods were uncreative to Draconius's more refined tastes. Much evil can be done in the absence of barbarism.
A beeping sound made Luke spin, stopping his wildly flailing arms and bellowing screams of glee. As the hell god turned to grab the small device on his belt, his beer upended on Draconius, covering the elder one in smooth, amber liquid.
Draconius stood, eyes ablaze, waiting, wanting one false move so that he could challenge this hell god to power over this dimension. One flaw in his rule itself other than just being rather annoying. But Luke just shrugged. "Sorry, Drac. Didn't see ya there."
"Been here the whole time," Draconius seethed as Luke released the device from his belt, unfolding the metal into his hand and making a little humming noise. "Well," Draconius continued, "What is it?"
"Well, first off, it's time to feed the dogs," Luke chirped. "Oh," he cooed, his finger rolling down the screen. 'And *I* have a date with a three breasted prostitute." He looked at Draconius. "She was on Jerry Springer before she kicked it. Sorry, but you're going to do something *else* for a while."
Draconius took a deep breath, trying to control his boiling blood. "Anything of any importance?"
"Hey, Candy is important," Luke snapped, nodding generously. "They're not small breasts."
"About our *plan*" Draconius seethed.
"Oh!" The hell god replied, hitting a button on the little device and bringing a screen into view. "Looks like she's just hanging out. Listening to something."
"Can you tell what?" Draconius asked, trying to peer over Luke's broad shoulder at the picture.
Luke turned the sound up and the wail of a small child and the shouting of several frightened voices filled the air. Luke cringed, turning the sound down. "Dunno. Kiddy took a nose dive?"
Draconius studied the woman's face. She seemed confused. Afraid. Curious. He could almost feel her wondering, waiting, trying to figure out what was so familiar. It was too much like concern for the Old One's liking. "We will have to move faster."
"What?" Luke asked, shaking his head. "Why? She's not in the open. Doing *just* fine." He waved his hand in the air as if their current predicament was nothing.
"She's too close. She's starting to wonder and where there is curiosity, there is desire. Where there is desire, there is will. We must have her begin tonight."
"After my date with Candy?" Luke asked, looking down at Draconius with large, puppy dog eyes.
Draconius sighed, shaking with anger. "I don't suppose you'll last that long, anyway. Two organs at work and only enough blood for one. Be gone. But we will have to start tonight."
Takina came into the examining room, shaking her head and smiling. Buffy sat on the table, Will in her lap as Spike paced the room like a jungle cat. She had to chuckle. This family needed a live in physician.
"Well," she began. "It seems that our boy did break his wee arm," she cooed, lifting William up and kissing his cheek.
"Is it bad?" Buffy asked, suddenly without anything to hold onto. Just as she thought it, Spike slid onto the table beside her, pulling her head against his shoulder.
"It's a clean break," Takina said. "Not to mention, the bones are already starting to knit. We need to get this set pronto."
Spike quirked a brow. "Accelerated healing?"
"Looks like it," Takina said, cradling the boy against her. "Not quite up to Slayer or Vampire speed, but we took two sets of x-rays and the change was noticeable to me. Small enough that one of the regulars wouldn't have picked it up."
"But you were looking for it," Buffy replied, nodding, the crown of her head brushing Spike's shoulder as she moved.
"Well, might as well look when we have the opportunity." The doctor hoisted the now sedated little boy against her hip and looked at the couple. They looked war torn and heart sick. "It's just a broken arm," she commented, smiling. "Happens all the time. Kids fall."
"It's Will's broken arm," Buffy said, sounding almost childlike.
Takina smiled softly. "He'll be fine in. two weeks at this rate," she comforted. "Oh," She was walking through the door when she spoke. "Don't be too hard on Dawn. You know how it is watching them. It could've happened to any of us."
Spike nodded, pulling Buffy closer and watching the Doctor walk through the doors.
The house was crowded when Spike opened the door. Pony was laid out on the bottom step, growling until he saw his master's face, and then licking his hand in recognition. The Watchers sat in their chairs, Willow and Xander facing them on the couch, culling through dusty tomes. Emma sat on the floor, watching cartoons, pressed against Cyrus's chair.
"Hey!" Willow said, hopping up as Buffy followed Spike through the door, a sleeping little boy with a bright yellow cast cradled against her chest.
"Hi," Buffy whispered, letting Spike shut the door behind her.
"How is he?" Xander asked, moving towards the door.
"Broken arm. Split lip. Bloody nose," Buffy said quietly. "I should put him to bed."
"Be right up, Pet," Spike said, kissing the little boy's head and turning back towards the group as Buffy made her way up the stairs. "Where are Glinda and the Niblet?"
"Haven't you learned our names by now?" Xander complained half heartedly. Spike looked tired. He didn't want to press too hard.
"Yes, *git*," Spike commented, annoyed. "Where are they?" He sighed.
"Tara is making dinner. Dawn sort of locked herself in her room," Willow said, looking down. "I think she feels pretty bad about..."
Spike nodded, cutting the sentence off. "Wasn't her fault. Nothing too serious. Anya?"
"Work," Giles replied. "The nanny will bring Randy by on the way past, if that's all right with you."
Spike nodded. "He can stay in Will's room. Buffy'll want to."
"Daddy?" Emma asked, turning away from the television.
Spike walked towards her, crouching down in front of the little girl. "What is it, Mite?"
"Will can stay with me. If. if he's scared."
"Thank you," Spike said quietly. "We'll see what your mum wants."
"K," Emma agreed, nodding. "Is he okay?"
"He'll be right as rain," Spike answered, smiling softly and tousling her blonde curls. "You been proper while we were gone?"
"Yes, daddy," she answered, smiling.
"Good," he answered, kissing the crown of her head. "I promised Will I'd take him to the Zoo when he's up to it. Would you want to join us manly types?"
She grinned, her face lightening up. "Unhunh," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Spike asked, pulling away enough to look at her pretty eyes.
She was quiet, worrying her lip. "I. I told Aunt Dawn to look at me. I was. I was trying to show her that I could swing by my knees." Her words trailed off.
Spike rested his forehead against hers. "Not your fault, Mite. Not your Aunt Dawn's fault. Just an accident."
"You.You're not mad?" Emma asked, her face heavy with guilt. Spike shook his head, his forehead still pressed to hers. "Is. is mummy?"
"No," Spike said softly. "She's not mad. Just a little frightened is all."
"Okay," Emma accepted, her nose rubbing his in an Eskimo kiss.
"Stay put with the rest while I check on Will, then?"
"Yes," she answered. "I'll be good."
"Always," Spike answered, ruffling her hair again. He stood, walking back to the stairs. Xander and Willow were watching him with soft grins on their faces, like people who had seen something almost embarrassingly sweet. "What?" Spike huffed as he got to the stairs.
"You're so whipped," Xander answered, still grinning.
"You're one to talk," Spike shot back, taking off up the stairs.
"Buffy?"
The voice was meek. She sounded as if she had been crying for hours. Buffy turned to face her, eyes tired and wet. "Hey."
"Is. is he alright?" Dawn asked, making her way slowly, tentatively, to the edge of the little boy's bed.
Buffy looked down. It was actually kind of cute, now that it was over. Will was out like a light, wearing a t-shirt Takina had found for him at the hospital. It was black. That coupled with the ruffled blonde hair made him look so much like his dad. Buffy smiled. "He's going to be fine, Dawnie."
"Good," Dawn whispered. "I. You know I."
"Know you didn't mean it, Nibs," Spike said quietly, walking into the room. "Same would've happened if Buffy or I had been there."
Dawn looked from Spike back to Buffy. Buffy nodded, agreeing. "Dawn, I didn't mean to snap at you before."
"I know," Dawn said quietly. "I just. don't not trust me with them."
"There is no one I trust more," Buffy said quietly, wrapping her arm around the quaking girl in front of her.
"If it helps any, she'd likely have knocked my teeth out had it have been me," Spike commented, sitting down behind Buffy on the edge of the bed.
'Would not," Buffy countered, shaking her head. Spike looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Well, maybe one."
"So... so you're not mad. at me?" Dawn asked, stroking Will's hair. She loved those kids as much as if they had been her own. The last thing she wanted to do was let Buffy or Spike down.
"No, Niblet," Spike said softly, nuzzling the back of Buffy's neck as he spoke. He couldn't have been that close to her and not touched her.
Dawn smiled. "The cast is as big as he is."
"And yellow," Buffy chirped. "Worlds of yellow." Spike chuckled against her.
"His choice," Spike commented.
Dawn was quiet a moment, teeth rolling her bottom lip. "So. you really aren't mad? You aren't all worried that I'll take them out and let horrible things happen to them."
"No," Buffy sighed. "But you will owe some baby sitting overtime."
Dawn shrugged. "All right. If I have to."
"Staying in tonight, though," Spike said softly, the hum of worry buzzing through his veins yet again. Something was coming. He could feel it. He could feel Buffy knew it as well.
"Can I.?" Dawn asked tentatively.
"You can patrol with Willow and Xander," Buffy agreed. "But try not to ruin my shirt."
Dawn looked down sheepishly. "Oops."
"Oops," Buffy repeated, smiling. She ran her hand over her sister's dark hair. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Dawn smiled warily. "Until the next apocalypse."
To be contd.
Here is chapter ten of The One, as promised. Alas, I don't know if there will be a Friday release this week as more family drama has plagued Casa de Nim. I will do my best, but I do assure you, you will have at least one additional chapter by week's end. I will send out notifications to the yahoo group when I release.
Speaking of the group, I get a lot of requests on where to find all of the previous books in one place. Where, you ask? Well, at Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com (insert shameless plug here), in the files section, I have uploaded books one through five in continuous format. In other words, they look rather more like a book than a chapter by chapter release. Please check it out. All are welcome (at least all Buffy/Spike shipper fic addicts).
Thanks again for all of your support. And to Brat, Cindy and Malena, my betas, my great thanks. Also to Bittn, Karen, Alane, Laurie and Eliz. Without you, I would be drifting aimlessly at the moment. Many thanks.
Without further ado..
*Cheery Vibes* , Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Until the Next Apocalypse (Chapter Ten of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Willow and Tara come to talk to Buffy about their decision. Draconius is concerned about the effectiveness of their plan. Will they have to step up the pace? Buffy finds Dawn and the kids, but something has happened to Will.
Until the Next Apocalypse
They walked up the sidewalk in silence, hand in hand. It was too odd a concept. Too. progressive of them. They needed to bounce this one off of Buffy. Sure, Spike would probably be put out that he set this all in motion and they wanted to talk to her, but Willow couldn't imagine discussing this with any man. At least any man who wasn't directly involved.
"What do you think she'll say?" Tara asked, her fingers wound around Willow's.
A sly smile broke on the redhead's face. "I think.I think for the first time ever, it will be us making her blush."
"You know she'll tell Spike," Tara responded, holding back her own grin. "And.and then he'll look at us all."
"Leery," Willow contributed, raising an eyebrow.
"No," her lover giggled. "But he'll wonder. he'll be all. proud of himself."
"He's always like that," Willow answered as they turned the corner onto Revello. "But I don't think he'll tell. You know. Xander. And. and Giles."
Tara's face went blank a moment and she stopped in her tracks. "Giles? Oh Willow, what if. what would they think?"
The redhead turned to face her love. "Who. cares? I mean, this is our decision, right?"
"Right," Tara agreed. "So, why are we telling Buffy?"
"To see if it's the right one?" Willow answered timidly. "Oh, I don't know, sweetie. Because we want to be right."
Tara smiled. "We are."
The woman heard the scream from her space in the shed in the back. Something about that scream. The sound. The tone. It was so familiar. And there was a child wailing. That child. The pitch, the *soul* of the sound reverberated in her ears.
Do souls make a sound?
She dropped to her belly, trying to look out under the bottom wooden beam. Nothing. There was a dog in the yard, but he hadn't noticed her yet. The dead, or the reanimated dead, must not have a smell.
Do spirits have a smell?
There was nothing in her line of sight but a fence. And the dog. And a flower bed that needed tending. Some swings. But the sound carried to her. It carried right into her mind, her spirit. Why can't I remember? She thought ruefully. What pained her more was that curiosity was the only thing she felt. The part of her that cared was missing. Even worse was the fact that she knew it had once been there.
That she had once cared.
Spike flew out the door behind Buffy, nearly knocking her down as they both hurdled the steps. Dawn was on her knees on the ground, hovering over something. She was blocking Spike's view. Emma stood on the sidewalk nearly silently, her hands folded in front of her, her fingers nervously threading in and out.
"He. he fell," Buffy panted as they made it to Dawn. "Dawn said he on the swings one minute and the next there was."
Part of Spike relaxed. This was normal drama. Not Draconius has stolen my family theatre. But then he saw the boy, his small, gentle face coated in blood, his little arm cocked at a weird angle. A dam in the Vampire's heart burst and sheer panic threatened to take control.
"Spike?" Giles called from the porch.
"Page Takina. Number's by the phone," Spike shouted back, scooting Dawn over and dropping to his knees next to the boy. William was wailing, hitching sobs coming out of his small, bloody mouth.
"Buffy, can you get some supplies? I'll bring him into the house," Spike said, sliding his hands under the little boy. William looked up at him with wet and frightened blue eyes.
"Daddy?" His voice was shaky.
"S'alright," Spike whispered, pulling the child against him, holding the arm in place. "Be right as rain."
The boy cried quietly against his chest, burrowing his face into Spike's shirt. "Hurts," he sobbed.
"I know, Will," Spike answered.
"Should we call an ambulance?" Cyrus asked as Spike bustled past Dawn, intent on getting the boy inside. Emma grabbed his belt loop as he went past, tagging quietly behind.
Spike didn't speak, brushing past the Watchers and carrying the boy into the kitchen, where the light was best. "Is he. is he going to be okay?" Dawn asked timidly, her arms crossed over her chest, tears running down her face.
"You were supposed to be watching him," Buffy snapped at her sister, pulling medical supplies out of the cabinet and lining them up within Spike's reach. Dawn cringed into the corner.
"I was," Dawn answered quietly. "Emma. she wanted me to watch her on the jungle gym. I just turned my head and."
"If you can't handle them both, don't take them," Buffy stated again, setting a bowl of water on the counter as Spike worked off the child's shirt.
"I. I'm sorry," Dawn whispered.
"Not good enough," Buffy pressed, her voice full of venom, her face covered in tears.
"Buffy, I."
"Enough," Spike stated simply. "Dawn, please go to your room. Giles, when Takina calls back, let her know that I'm bringing Will into the hospital. Cyrus, I'd ask you keep an eye on Emma." His voice was neutral, but Buffy could feel his mind working overtime, trying not to fall apart at the sight of their son. "Buffy?"
She stood stock still, staring at Spike, biting her lip. Her body was as tense as wire. He softened looking at her. "Love, can you grab a blanket and one of those soft elastics."
"A... an ace bandage?" She stuttered, watching Spike dab blood off of William's face. The little boy stared up at his father as if he was hypnotized. Buffy wondered if Spike did have some kind of thrall the way William just stared intently at his dad.
"Yes, Pet," Spike answered, his concentration on William.
"Is... is it bad?" She asked, her voice quaking, her heart thumping in her chest. He could feel her body like a rubber band ready to snap.
Spike turned to look at her. Terror was in her eyes. She'd seen demons and hell gods, even watched people die, but she was falling apart at the sight of Will. Hell, Spike thought. He was close to falling apart. "No, Love. But he needs to go to hospital. Think his arm's broken."
"The... the blood?" Buffy asked.
Spike chuckled. "Split his lip. Probably did worse to me last week. Bleeds like a sodding fountain. "He turned his attention back to her, watching her face a moment. "It's all right, Buffy. Just go get what I said and we'll both take him." He nodded at her encouragingly, trying to break his brave Slayer out of being paralyzed by fear. "It'll be right as rain, Pet," Spike's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the contours of her face. "Be home before nightfall, but we have to move fast."
Buffy nodded, shaking her head a little, feeling a bit entranced herself. She leaned down, kissing Will's cheek and tore off out of the room in a blaze of energy fueled by fear and anger and upset.
~~~~~~~~
Draconius stood, sipping brandy from a paper cup. Luke had not told him that their torture rallies, as the resident hell god had referred to this nightmare, was something akin to that horrid television show his younger minions insisted on watching when Draconius had been on Earth. Smackside or something like that.
More of just a testosterone driven free for all, but this time it was real. The torturers did seem to have a right good time of things, but their methods were uncreative to Draconius's more refined tastes. Much evil can be done in the absence of barbarism.
A beeping sound made Luke spin, stopping his wildly flailing arms and bellowing screams of glee. As the hell god turned to grab the small device on his belt, his beer upended on Draconius, covering the elder one in smooth, amber liquid.
Draconius stood, eyes ablaze, waiting, wanting one false move so that he could challenge this hell god to power over this dimension. One flaw in his rule itself other than just being rather annoying. But Luke just shrugged. "Sorry, Drac. Didn't see ya there."
"Been here the whole time," Draconius seethed as Luke released the device from his belt, unfolding the metal into his hand and making a little humming noise. "Well," Draconius continued, "What is it?"
"Well, first off, it's time to feed the dogs," Luke chirped. "Oh," he cooed, his finger rolling down the screen. 'And *I* have a date with a three breasted prostitute." He looked at Draconius. "She was on Jerry Springer before she kicked it. Sorry, but you're going to do something *else* for a while."
Draconius took a deep breath, trying to control his boiling blood. "Anything of any importance?"
"Hey, Candy is important," Luke snapped, nodding generously. "They're not small breasts."
"About our *plan*" Draconius seethed.
"Oh!" The hell god replied, hitting a button on the little device and bringing a screen into view. "Looks like she's just hanging out. Listening to something."
"Can you tell what?" Draconius asked, trying to peer over Luke's broad shoulder at the picture.
Luke turned the sound up and the wail of a small child and the shouting of several frightened voices filled the air. Luke cringed, turning the sound down. "Dunno. Kiddy took a nose dive?"
Draconius studied the woman's face. She seemed confused. Afraid. Curious. He could almost feel her wondering, waiting, trying to figure out what was so familiar. It was too much like concern for the Old One's liking. "We will have to move faster."
"What?" Luke asked, shaking his head. "Why? She's not in the open. Doing *just* fine." He waved his hand in the air as if their current predicament was nothing.
"She's too close. She's starting to wonder and where there is curiosity, there is desire. Where there is desire, there is will. We must have her begin tonight."
"After my date with Candy?" Luke asked, looking down at Draconius with large, puppy dog eyes.
Draconius sighed, shaking with anger. "I don't suppose you'll last that long, anyway. Two organs at work and only enough blood for one. Be gone. But we will have to start tonight."
Takina came into the examining room, shaking her head and smiling. Buffy sat on the table, Will in her lap as Spike paced the room like a jungle cat. She had to chuckle. This family needed a live in physician.
"Well," she began. "It seems that our boy did break his wee arm," she cooed, lifting William up and kissing his cheek.
"Is it bad?" Buffy asked, suddenly without anything to hold onto. Just as she thought it, Spike slid onto the table beside her, pulling her head against his shoulder.
"It's a clean break," Takina said. "Not to mention, the bones are already starting to knit. We need to get this set pronto."
Spike quirked a brow. "Accelerated healing?"
"Looks like it," Takina said, cradling the boy against her. "Not quite up to Slayer or Vampire speed, but we took two sets of x-rays and the change was noticeable to me. Small enough that one of the regulars wouldn't have picked it up."
"But you were looking for it," Buffy replied, nodding, the crown of her head brushing Spike's shoulder as she moved.
"Well, might as well look when we have the opportunity." The doctor hoisted the now sedated little boy against her hip and looked at the couple. They looked war torn and heart sick. "It's just a broken arm," she commented, smiling. "Happens all the time. Kids fall."
"It's Will's broken arm," Buffy said, sounding almost childlike.
Takina smiled softly. "He'll be fine in. two weeks at this rate," she comforted. "Oh," She was walking through the door when she spoke. "Don't be too hard on Dawn. You know how it is watching them. It could've happened to any of us."
Spike nodded, pulling Buffy closer and watching the Doctor walk through the doors.
The house was crowded when Spike opened the door. Pony was laid out on the bottom step, growling until he saw his master's face, and then licking his hand in recognition. The Watchers sat in their chairs, Willow and Xander facing them on the couch, culling through dusty tomes. Emma sat on the floor, watching cartoons, pressed against Cyrus's chair.
"Hey!" Willow said, hopping up as Buffy followed Spike through the door, a sleeping little boy with a bright yellow cast cradled against her chest.
"Hi," Buffy whispered, letting Spike shut the door behind her.
"How is he?" Xander asked, moving towards the door.
"Broken arm. Split lip. Bloody nose," Buffy said quietly. "I should put him to bed."
"Be right up, Pet," Spike said, kissing the little boy's head and turning back towards the group as Buffy made her way up the stairs. "Where are Glinda and the Niblet?"
"Haven't you learned our names by now?" Xander complained half heartedly. Spike looked tired. He didn't want to press too hard.
"Yes, *git*," Spike commented, annoyed. "Where are they?" He sighed.
"Tara is making dinner. Dawn sort of locked herself in her room," Willow said, looking down. "I think she feels pretty bad about..."
Spike nodded, cutting the sentence off. "Wasn't her fault. Nothing too serious. Anya?"
"Work," Giles replied. "The nanny will bring Randy by on the way past, if that's all right with you."
Spike nodded. "He can stay in Will's room. Buffy'll want to."
"Daddy?" Emma asked, turning away from the television.
Spike walked towards her, crouching down in front of the little girl. "What is it, Mite?"
"Will can stay with me. If. if he's scared."
"Thank you," Spike said quietly. "We'll see what your mum wants."
"K," Emma agreed, nodding. "Is he okay?"
"He'll be right as rain," Spike answered, smiling softly and tousling her blonde curls. "You been proper while we were gone?"
"Yes, daddy," she answered, smiling.
"Good," he answered, kissing the crown of her head. "I promised Will I'd take him to the Zoo when he's up to it. Would you want to join us manly types?"
She grinned, her face lightening up. "Unhunh," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Spike asked, pulling away enough to look at her pretty eyes.
She was quiet, worrying her lip. "I. I told Aunt Dawn to look at me. I was. I was trying to show her that I could swing by my knees." Her words trailed off.
Spike rested his forehead against hers. "Not your fault, Mite. Not your Aunt Dawn's fault. Just an accident."
"You.You're not mad?" Emma asked, her face heavy with guilt. Spike shook his head, his forehead still pressed to hers. "Is. is mummy?"
"No," Spike said softly. "She's not mad. Just a little frightened is all."
"Okay," Emma accepted, her nose rubbing his in an Eskimo kiss.
"Stay put with the rest while I check on Will, then?"
"Yes," she answered. "I'll be good."
"Always," Spike answered, ruffling her hair again. He stood, walking back to the stairs. Xander and Willow were watching him with soft grins on their faces, like people who had seen something almost embarrassingly sweet. "What?" Spike huffed as he got to the stairs.
"You're so whipped," Xander answered, still grinning.
"You're one to talk," Spike shot back, taking off up the stairs.
"Buffy?"
The voice was meek. She sounded as if she had been crying for hours. Buffy turned to face her, eyes tired and wet. "Hey."
"Is. is he alright?" Dawn asked, making her way slowly, tentatively, to the edge of the little boy's bed.
Buffy looked down. It was actually kind of cute, now that it was over. Will was out like a light, wearing a t-shirt Takina had found for him at the hospital. It was black. That coupled with the ruffled blonde hair made him look so much like his dad. Buffy smiled. "He's going to be fine, Dawnie."
"Good," Dawn whispered. "I. You know I."
"Know you didn't mean it, Nibs," Spike said quietly, walking into the room. "Same would've happened if Buffy or I had been there."
Dawn looked from Spike back to Buffy. Buffy nodded, agreeing. "Dawn, I didn't mean to snap at you before."
"I know," Dawn said quietly. "I just. don't not trust me with them."
"There is no one I trust more," Buffy said quietly, wrapping her arm around the quaking girl in front of her.
"If it helps any, she'd likely have knocked my teeth out had it have been me," Spike commented, sitting down behind Buffy on the edge of the bed.
'Would not," Buffy countered, shaking her head. Spike looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Well, maybe one."
"So... so you're not mad. at me?" Dawn asked, stroking Will's hair. She loved those kids as much as if they had been her own. The last thing she wanted to do was let Buffy or Spike down.
"No, Niblet," Spike said softly, nuzzling the back of Buffy's neck as he spoke. He couldn't have been that close to her and not touched her.
Dawn smiled. "The cast is as big as he is."
"And yellow," Buffy chirped. "Worlds of yellow." Spike chuckled against her.
"His choice," Spike commented.
Dawn was quiet a moment, teeth rolling her bottom lip. "So. you really aren't mad? You aren't all worried that I'll take them out and let horrible things happen to them."
"No," Buffy sighed. "But you will owe some baby sitting overtime."
Dawn shrugged. "All right. If I have to."
"Staying in tonight, though," Spike said softly, the hum of worry buzzing through his veins yet again. Something was coming. He could feel it. He could feel Buffy knew it as well.
"Can I.?" Dawn asked tentatively.
"You can patrol with Willow and Xander," Buffy agreed. "But try not to ruin my shirt."
Dawn looked down sheepishly. "Oops."
"Oops," Buffy repeated, smiling. She ran her hand over her sister's dark hair. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Dawn smiled warily. "Until the next apocalypse."
To be contd.