"Oh, Buffy, thank God!" Giles ran to embrace Buffy as she exited Spike's crypt. Buffy stiffened at his touch, and he quickly pulled away.

"What the hell is *this*, Buffy? What's going on?" Xander fumed as Buffy stepped away from Giles. He was holding the note she had left for them. "And what the hell does 'don't blame Spike' mean? What did he do?"

"Oh no..." Willow threw her hand to her mouth. Xander looked at her, then at what she had seen. Two small marks on Buffy's neck. No longer bleeding, but obviously fresh.

"He's dust," Xander ground out as he pushed past Buffy. She grabbed his arm and held him fast.

"No, it wasn't his fault. He...I made him." Buffy refused to look at any of them, something akin to shame washing over her.

"Made him? Yeah, I'm sure you had to try really hard too. Buffy, I swore if he ever hurt you that that would be the end of the line for him."

Buffy gave a grave laugh. "Oh, ok. If we're killing everyone who's hurt Buffy, then you all can take your place in line for the chopping block. Spike's the only one who tried to help me. And yeah, I wanted to die. Still do. But he wouldn't let me. He stopped me. See what I did? See what you made me do?" Buffy ripped off the makeshift bandage from her wrist, baring it for her friends to see.

"Oh, dear Lord, Buffy...you did that?" Giles mouth fell open in confusion. Buffy nodded mutely. "Buffy, you're letter...you were in heaven?" Another nod. "I...I don't know what to say."

"Nothing to be said. It's done. And I just blew my one chance at going back any time soon." Buffy hung her head, grasping her wrist.

"Oh, God, Buffy, I'm so sorry. It was all my idea. Don't be mad at them. I did it. I thought..." Willow broke down into tears. Tara put a bracing arm around her lover.

"Buffy, we *all* thought that you were somewhere bad. W-we just wanted you to be safe and happy," Tara offered, now holding Willow in a supportive hug.

Buffy hung her head and wrapped her arms around herself. "I know, Tara. I know you were all just doing what you thought was right. I know I can't really blame you, but I was so happy. You guys don't understand what it's like to be here again. After being where I was...I'm so miserable."

"Yeah, so miserable you'd let Spike kill you...that's not miserable, Buff, that's insane." Xander was pacing a good distance from the group.

"That's enough, Xander. Obviously Buffy is going through something that none of us can fathom right now. I don't think this is the place for judgments. I think we should all be thankful that Spike had the...good sense to help Buffy instead of harming her further." Giles spoke to Xander but never took his eyes off Buffy.

"Good sense? You call that bite mark good sense?!"

"Look, by Buffy's own admission, she...manipulated Spike into doing that. I don't think we should be surprised that he did it, I think we should be surprised that he stopped. He is, after all, still a soulless creature. Buffy offering her blood to a vampire and living to tell about it is a testament to said vampire's...uniqueness. As are his actions this past month. No, I hold no ill will toward Spike. I think he is the only reason Buffy is standing before us now."

"I can't believe you are ok with this, Giles! He bit her! What kind of world do we live in when vampires can bite our friends and we go congratulate them??" Xander was still pacing, but Tara walked over and put her hand on his arm.

"Xander, think about it. Remember what Buffy told us before about the chip. It works on intent. If Spike had meant to hurt Buffy, he'd never have been able to bite her. I don't know what the circumstance was, but he wasn't trying to hurt her, and she wanted it. She wasn't a food source or a victim...she was willing."

Buffy's head flew up after hearing this. 'The chip. They don't know. They can't know, or they'll kill him.' "Look, guys, I really just want to go home now. I don't feel like talking about this, ok?"

Giles walked up to Buffy and put his arm around her shoulders. She didn't pull back this time. "Buffy, I think it's very important that we all talk about this. Not just what happened today, but everything. But not just now. You need to go home and get some rest. Alright?" Buffy nodded. Giles led her into the group. "Take her home. I'll be along shortly. Don't leave her alone," he instructed the others. "Buffy, I'm sorry but I feel it's necessary that someone be with you at all times, for a while anyway. I realize you're in a certain frame of mind that-"

"It's ok, Giles," Buffy interrupted. "I'm not going to try...this again. But I understand what you mean. It's fine." Buffy let Xander and Tara lead her out of the cemetery. Willow stayed behind with Giles.

"What did I do, Giles? You were right, I shouldn't have messed with that stuff. I just thought..." Willow started crying again.

"I know what you thought, Willow. And I can't say that I wouldn't have considered the same thing. But did you take time to research? Did you even consider what might have happened to her, or did you just automatically assume the worst?" Giles crossed his arms and looked sternly at the crying girl.

"I just wanted her back, Giles. I *wanted* her to be in a worse place, so I convinced myself she was. And I convinced everyone else too...I can't send her back, Giles. I can't do that."

"No, I wouldn't suggest that at all. There's no telling how something like that would turn out. No, I think the only option we have now is to somehow make amends with Buffy. Make her life here as pleasant as possible. I'm not sure how to do that just yet, but Willow, we've got to figure something out. Buffy feels scared and alone right now. We have to try and banish her fears and show her she's not alone." Giles walked to Willow and gave her a hug. "Now, why don't you go home with Buffy. Keep an eye on her, but give her some space. She's been through a very traumatic experience today; the last thing we want to do is make it worse."

Willow nodded. "Aren't you coming?"

"Shortly. There's something I need to do first." Giles nodded for Willow to go and turned toward Spike's crypt.

Giles knocked softly on the metal door. When he received no answer, he pushed it open gently. He gasped at the scene before him. Spike was standing in the middle of the room, shirtless, covered in blood. He was staring down at an area of the floor which Giles saw was a pool of blood. Giles shook his head at the irony. Before him stood a master vampire covered in a Slayer's blood. A Slayer that he saved. A Slayer whose blood her refused to drink, going against every vampiric instinct he had. All Giles could think to say was, "Thank you."

Spike stood motionless, not acknowledging the Watcher's presence. The little snort he gave upon Giles' 'thank you' was the only indication he even knew Giles was there. Giles stood for a moment longer, hoping Spike would be able to enlighten him on what had happened earlier. Upon seeing he was not welcome or wanted, Giles slipped out quietly and left to be with his Slayer.

**

R&R please! Oh the drama! I know I should be going for the 'less depressing than season 6' route, but it just wouldn't be Spuffy without the angst, now would it?!