Title: Bombs Away (Chapter 23 of Don't Stop the Dance)


Author: Xionin

Rating: R

Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Other major characters included.

Feedback: Mercy buckets!
Hey Pat – happy reading!
Tracy – I'm so glad you're enjoying this. Thank you so much.
William's Girl – Wow. I'm honored that you've taken the time to read my fic. I am a big fan of As You Wish and check everyday for new chapters. If any of you haven't read it, make sure you do!

And as always thanks to everyone for reading and letting me know how I'm doing.

Disclaimer: *sniff* Joss and I broke up. I let him have his way with me and he took advantage. When I woke up the next morning, he was already dressed and leaving. 'Why?' I asked him. 'You broke my heart!'
He turned his beady little eyes on me and said "I love going for the pain."

Notes: Takes place during 'End of Days'. I'm having a bit of a re-write fest here. There were moments that I loved and couldn't bear to part with, so be kind.


Muchas Gracias: Miss Kitty and Siobhan – Les Grandes Dames de Beta!

Enjoy!

~Xionin

Previously on Buffy [courtesy of UPN.com]: Buffy's gone to the vineyard in search of whatever Caleb is guarding. She's found her old inner strength, and surprises the heck out of Caleb with a serious walloping. As they get into it, Faith and the girls find some Bringers guarding the mass of weapons in the sewer. Pow, bang, kablam: the girls do some serious damage. The Potentials defeat the Bringers, but Faith continues to look around, sure that there's something they're missing. Buffy smacks Caleb down pretty nicely, and slides into an uncovered trap door that drops into an underground chamber. Looks like the Bringers have been digging underground, and a beautifully crafted, deadly scythe juts out of a rock. They clearly couldn't remove it, but Buffy gets a wide smile, knowing she's found the object she's been searching for. Meanwhile, Faith finds what she's been searching for: it's a bomb. The explosion kills two trainees and leaves Faith incapacitated. The Potentials are faced with defending themselves. Buffy arrives in time to rescue them, and Faith, from the encroaching Ubies.

Bombs Away

Dawn stares at the dozing vampire across from her for a long time after she wakes up. He looks dead to her and it makes her uneasy. She studies his face, the lines of his impossibly high cheekbones, his dark brow, and wonders what it's like: immortality.

She's been alive forever, even if she only remembers the last 16 years.

She wonders what it's like to know you won't die from old age or illness; that the only way you'll go out is either in a ball of flame or a whirlwind of dust.

Must make you feel powerful.

Dawn sits up and stretches her long limbs. She notices some wetness on her cheek and dries it, curious as to where it came from. She vaguely remembers a disturbing dream, but the details lie just beyond her grasp. She stands slowly and tiptoes around the coffee table to stand directly in front of the blonde. Kneeling down she is careful not to startle him as that would be, well, stupid. Hello, Vampire?

Spike's skin is smooth and flawless, like water-polished marble. He reminds her of one of those armless statues she'd seen on her field trip to the Sunnydale Museum of Fine Art.

Funny name for a place the size of this living room.

She can see the beginnings of the dark roots creeping in on his preferred white hair. She smiles at the little curls begging to be set free of their gelled prison.

Standing again, Dawn glances over to the window. The sun is low in the sky; almost low enough for them to leave. She walks over to the door, opens it, and looks out. It's a ghost town. The only thing missing is the tumbleweed.

Stepping out and closing the door behind her, she sits on the step and takes in the peace and quiet of the early California evening. How many more will there be? Why hadn't she noticed before how amazing this time of day is? The air is golden in the waning spring sunlight. It actually makes her think of Buffy.

Dawn wonders where her sister is and what she's doing; what she's facing right now.

~~~~~~~

Spike awakes with a start. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but in the absence of any sounds from the world outside, he had slipped into uneasy unconsciousness. He had wanted to watch over Dawn.

Dawn.

He picks up his head and looks over at the couch. No Dawn there, but he can hear her little heart beating. She's close. Just on the other side of the front door.  He stands up and glances quickly out of the bay window. The sun is pretty low. He quietly opens the door and steps out onto the porch.

She only acknowledges his presence by scooting over to give him room on the step. It's a very Buffy thing to do and Spike smiles despite himself.

They sit in companionable silence for quite some time. Both lost in thoughts they wish they didn't have the imagination to conceive. Death, destruction and pain are on the horizon. Dawn closes her eyes and inhales deeply. It causes Spike to look over at her.

"We should go home." Her voice is low and older than she is.

"Yeah, ok." He turns back to the street, but his arm goes around her shoulder. Dawn leans into him for a few moments, her eyes closed. Another tear slips out, but she brushes it away. No time to be the little girl anymore. This is a war for grown-ups.

When she sits up she looks at him and gives him a thin smile that he returns. Silently they both stand and head back inside to retrieve their things.

~~~~~~~~~

The walk home is without words: there isn't much to say. Dawn is still simmering from the previous evening's betrayal and Spike is nervous as hell about seeing Buffy again. As they approach 1630, Spike grabs her arm gently. She turns to look at him.

"What's up?"

"Nothin'. Jes'…look, don't make a fuss about…about last night." He says in a hushed voice. "Buffy needs to work it out with them on 'er own." Dawn looks down and mulls over his words. He's right. And she was about to go in there and give them another piece of her mind.

"Yeah…okay." Spike gives her a smile. "But don't expect me to be nice to any of them." His smile grows wider and she rolls her eyes. They continue on.

Buffy is coming down the stairs, carrying the scythe, when the front door opens. She looks up from it and meets Spike's eyes. They both stare for a moment before Dawn speaks.

"Hey."

"Hey Dawnie…Spike." Buffy glances at her sister and gives her a quick smile. Dawn looks between the two of them and grins.

"D'you tell everyone off yet? Cause I kinda wanted to see that." She crosses her arms and smirks.

"No, there was no telling off. There was…an explosion." Buffy's brow crinkles and she looks at Spike who understands immediately.

"An explosion as in…?" Dawn tilts her head in confusion.

"There was a bomb." Dawn uncrosses her arms and her eyes go wide. "Faith…she's…"

"Oh my God, is…is she" Dawn's expression is the picture of fear and concern.

"She's ok, just banged up. Most of them…are alright." Buffy looks down at her feet and then up at Spike. His jaw sets as his lips form a thin line.

"How many?" He asks, his voice low.

"Two." Buffy's clip whisper is all she can manage. Dawn blinks back a few tears and hugs herself.

"I'll…I'll go see if I can help out." Dawn quietly slips away. Spike feels the overwhelming urge to hold Buffy, but he refrains instead turning his attention to the thing in her hand.

"So…" he nods towards the object. "You did it: Fulfilled your mission."

Buffy looks at the weapon and nods slowly. "You got the Holy Grail or…the holy hand grenade or whatever the hell that thing is." Buffy smiles a little and nods again.

"Right now we're going with scythe." She holds it up for his inspection. "You like?" Spike takes an instinctive step back, however tiny.

"Well, pet, pointy and wooden are not my thing but…it's got flare." Buffy descends the remaining step, smiling at his attempt to lighten her mood.

"And…everything's okay here on the home front? Aside from…" He inquires hopefully. He knows how much Buffy needs everyone to pull together in this.

"Yep. It's all good." She begins walking towards the kitchen, but he dances in front of her, cutting her off.

"Look." He hesitates a moment before looking at her. "Last night…" Buffy's eyes dance for a moment, it confuses him but he continues. "It was just a glitch…a bit of cold comfort. Let's not…"

"Oh." The disappointment creeps in the Buffy's voice immediately. "But didn't you-"

"No. S'ok…I mean yeah, I read the note and I appreciate it. Really." He tries to smile, it doesn't reach the corners of his mouth. Buffy looks at him completely confused. She'd been so sure that he understood what last night meant to her, so there must be something else going on.

Maybe she had been right all along. Lust does not equal love, she'd learned that lesson the hard way. They would always be attracted to one another, but he no longer loved her that way. Did he? She'd thought she'd seen…something…in his eyes last night.

"Okay." She blinks a few times, her brow knit. Something doesn't feel right about this. He's not saying something. Before she can ask, he speaks.

"This…scythe…this is what the preacher was tryin' so hard to keep away from you, yah?" Please oh please let's just change the subject, luv. I can't bear this.

"Uh...yeah." Buffy had almost forgotten what she is holding in her hands. "Willow said it was forged forever ago and something about unconsecrated ground…a tomb of some kind, a-at the edge of Sunnydale Acres. I have to go there."

"Alone?" Spike feels a pang of fear.

"Yeah. Solo mission." He lifts his chin at the word 'solo'.

"Of course. I understand." He looks away.

"Understand? What's to- I have to do this on my own." She looks at him, a little annoyed now.

"Right…gotcha. No need to get shir'y." He matches her tone.

"Shirty? I'm not shirty! And what is that anyway? Is that even a word?"

"Look, Slayer, I'm not getting into this with you. You have to go alone? Fine. I'll just...go to the vineyard and make sure everything's nice and tidy for you." He turns and walks away. Buffy starts to go the other way, but runs after him instead. She catches him at the back door.

"You're a dope!" She calls out and he stops.

"I'm a what?" He looks at her as if she's sprouted another head.

"You're a dope..a-a-and a bonehead…and you're shirty!" She yells, her hand on her hip.

"You're a bleedin' nutter, you are!" His mouth stays open in confusion.

"Do you see this?" She holds up the scythe. "This could help me win my war. This…this could be the key to everything and the reason I'm holding it is because of you!" Spike stares at her for a long moment.

What?

"Look…I said that last night was 'something' for me, not 'nothing' and not 'cold comfort' or whatever the hell you-"

"Buffy-"

"No! I'm tired of this, Spike. I don't know what you felt last night, but-"

"Terrified." He answers softly, before he can catch himself. Buffy stops mid-sentence and her voice softens.

"Of?"

"Of…" He looks at her and suddenly grows uncomfortable. "God…I'm such a jerk. I can't do this, Buffy."

Can't do what? Us?

"Spike…" It's a plea.

"Last night was…" He looks around for help. "It was…the best night of my life." He finishes quietly, looking at her for any sign of trouble. When she merely waits, he continues.

"I've lived for soddin' ever, Buffy. Done everythin'. Done things with you I can't spell. But…" He sighs deeply. "I've never done that…made love…been close…to anyone: Least of all you." She looks down as the pain of their past flashes over her. "But last night...I got to hold you after-…and watch you sleep...and it was the best night of my life.

"So yeah…I'm terrified." He looks into her emerald green and tries to ignore what he thinks he sees there. He knows what's coming. Willow had shown him. Even if Buffy does have new feelings for him, they will be gone the moment Angel arrives. That thought cuts him like a searing knife.

He's had one amazing night with the woman of his dreams and that is all he can ever hope for; ever dream of. Later he will look on it as a gift. Right now, he's in too much pain.

"You don't have to be." Buffy whispers. He looks at her perplexed.

"Were you there with me?" She nods.

"Yeah, I was." She looks at him with all the emotion swirling inside her.

"What does that mean?" He tilts his head. A smile plays on his lips, but he pushes it away.

"Don't you know?" She reaches up to touch his face but he steps back.

"No…no I don't. I can't." He puts his hand on the door. "And...this isn't the right time." She frowns at his withdrawal and finds it hard to hide the hurt in her eyes. Why can't he see?

"Y-you're right…but…maybe later, when-" She's grasping onto hope that what she is seeing in his eyes is exactly what is reflected in her own.

"Nah. Let's just drop it." He says, looking out the door. "We'll go be heroes." He smiles at her a little and walks out.

"Yeah." He doesn't hear her. She absentmindedly bats away a tear that has escaped her eye.

Dawn walks in, quietly observing her sister. She hadn't wanted to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help it. These two are moving towards each other and they don't seem to see it. Something's in the way and Dawn can't see what it is. She only knows that time is running out for all of them. She'll never have what her sister has with Spike and it angers her to no end to know that they're wasting precious time.

"Buffy." Her voice startles the blonde out of her thoughts.

"Dawn...hey. Everything alright?" Buffy's voice is laden with fatigue.

"I'd say no." Dawn frowns in empathy. How can I help them? I don't know much about this stuff, but this is stupid and has to stop. They're both hurting.

"What's wrong?" Buffy forgets her own pain for a moment to concentrate on her sister. "Are you holding up ok? I'm sorry about leaving you at that house, but you were in good hands." She smiles a little.

"Yeah, I was. It's ok, but Buffy…what's going on with you guys?" Buffy takes a deep breath and sighs heavily.

"I don't know, Dawn. I thought…well, I guess it doesn't matter what I thought." She looks away exasperated.

"You thought what?" Buffy rolls her eyes. "Hey, I may be younger than you, but I understand relationships a-and stuff…a little bit...and anyway who else are you going to talk to about this?" Buffy looks at Dawn towering over her by quite a few inches and laughs.

"Huh, I guess you're no longer a kid, kid sister." She reaches up and runs her fingers through her silky, brown hair. Dawn smiles.

"So? Lemme help…if I can." She looks at her so expectantly that Buffy gives in, setting the scythe down and leaning against the doorframe.

"Spike and I…we're…God it soooo complicated! Why does it have to be so complicated?"

"I dunno. Always seems to be that way with you." Dawn shrugs and smiles. Buffy glares at her before she laughs softly.

"I do seem to have a pattern, don't I." It's a statement.

"But you and Spike have something that could be so amazing."

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh c'mon, I'm not blind. You are so in love with him." Buffy blushes and nods, folding her arms protectively.

"Yeah," she whispers. "I am."

"So?" Dawn gives her the *duh* look. Buffy smiles at what she perceives as her sister's naiveté.

"He doesn't feel the same. We're just...close friends." It's Dawn's turn to laugh now.

"Are you insane? Of course he's in love with you. What're you, nuts?"
Whoa…déjà vu.

"No, Dawn, he isn't. I, in my infinite capacity to stomp all over anything good that happens to me, have succeeded in turning him away." Buffy grumbles.

"Well, that's not what he said." She smirks.

"What do you mean 'that's not what he said'?'" She stands up straight, turning towards her. "Dawnie?"

"This afternoon…we had a chat." Buffy's eyes light up and it makes Dawn smile before she continues.

"And?" Dare I even hope that…

"And he's totally completely in love with you!" Dawn smiles big this time, watching her sister process the information. Buffy's heart skips a few beats.

"He…what? But…I don't…he said…" She shakes her head in disbelief. He's in love with her? Then why had he turned away again and again? "Dawn, maybe you misheard him…or…what exactly did he say?"

"He said that he is in love with you, but that this isn't the time for him to make you all confused and stuff."

"Make me confused? But I told him…didn't I? Wait…" Yes she had said those three words, but not the fourth one. That's where the confusion is?

Freakin' semantics?

"He also said…" Dawn hesitates to tell Buffy the rest.

"What, Dawn, what did he say?" Her head is spinning. How stupid she had been. How could he take her at her word? But then she'd try to show him, last night, and what had he called it "cold comfort"?

Like last year oh GOD!

"I...I don't think I should be the one…to…" Dawn trails off but Buffy understands. Spike had told her these things in confidence and she is breaking it by telling her. Buffy smiles at Dawn and embraces her.

"Dawnie…you're a good friend. And the best sister I could ever hope for." Dawn returns her sister's embrace and smiles. "Thank you for looking out for me."

"Anytime." She pulls back. "So what are you going to do?" Buffy looks at the clock and grabs the scythe.

"Right now, I've got a mission. But when Spike comes back, don't let him leave. We'll have to talk this out tonight: Once and for all." Dawn smiles brightly.

"Yes ma'am. He won't get away." She mock-salutes.

"No…he won't." Buffy heads out into the night.

~~~~~~~

TBC Chapter 24: When the World is Running Down...