Description: Buffy's not feeling well, Spike won't go away, and Dawn knows more that she should. The Scoobies lives are about to be changed forever.

Rating: R

Pairing: Buffy/Spike (did you think otherwise?)

Tara and Willow were the first to arrive at the hospital. The fact that they lived only 15 minutes away was a great factor; also because they both ran the whole way there.

"Where is she?" Willow asked as she came to the front desk.

"Where is who, ma'am?" the receptionist asked, confused.

"A patient here." Tara explained, much calmer than Willow. "Buffy Summers?"

The young woman looked at a computer screen in front of her. She punched a few keys then turned back to Tara and Willow. "Room 244. Take the elevator to the second floor and get off. Down the hallway to the left, it's the last room on your right."

"Thanks." Willow muttered as she and Tara took off down the hall.

"Willow?" Tara ventured once they were in the elevator. "Why are we running? I mean Giles s-said that Buffy was fine."

"I know what he said." Willow said. "But Buffy's never been hurt bad enough to be in the hospital."

"I thought she was in the hospital once before though?"

"Well yeah." Willow corrected herself. "But she was sick with the flu and the only reason she stayed was because her made her."

The doors opened before and both witches exited the elevator. They turned left and walked down the hallway to the last door on their right, just as the receptionist had instructed.

"Buffy?" Willow called and knocked on the door before entering.

"Yea." Buffy called back.

Both Tara and Willow went in the room. "How are you?" Willow asked her best friend.

"I'm fine. Except that I almost killed Giles for calling you guys." Buffy shot a look at Giles, who was stationed in the back of the room next to Dawn.

"No." Willow said. "I'm glad he called us." She moved beside Buffy's bed leaving Tara at the foot. "Buffy, if you were seriously hurt."

"I wasn't." she interrupted Willow. "This demon thing, it just hit me hard. And I haven't been feeling all that great lately. I guess he just took me down."

"The doctor said everyone was fine." Dawn blurted.

"Everyone?" Tara asked confused.

Dawn looked at Giles with wide eyes, pleading for help. "Everyone meaning Buffy and Spike. He's the one that brought her in." Giles lied.

"Yeah." Dawn chimed in, trying desperately to cover up her mistake.

"Well we're just glad you're okay." Willow said, her eyes focusing on Buffy. They were deep with concern and sympathy.

"I told you I'm fine." Buffy said. She studied Willow's face to make sure she was believing her.

"W-what happened?" Tara asked.

"Spike and I were on patrol," Buffy began explaining.

"Spike?" Willow asked.

"He found the demon." Buffy supplied; Tara nodded in acknowledgement. "Anyway," she continued, "we got into a major fight and I guess the thing just took me down."

"Well how'd you make it to the hospital?" Tara asked.

"Spike brought me in." Buffy said. "Actually I think he's still around here somewhere."

"I'll go find him." Dawn volunteered. She weaved through the people assembled in the room and out into the hall. As Dawn was leaving, Xander and Anya made it to the room.

"Oh man Buffy, are you okay?" Xander asked, rushing to the side of the bed opposite Willow.

"I wish people would stop asking me that." Buffy sighed. "I'm fine, I should be getting out of here any minute."

"What happened?" Xander asked. Buffy rolled her eyes and dramatically dropped her head back on the pillow.

"Demon, fight, Spike, hospital, ready to go home." Willow said, quickly bringing both Xander and Anya up to speed.

"Spike?" Anya asked, curious. "How does Spike fit into the mix?"

"He's the one that brought her here." Tara added.

"Oh," Xander sighed. "Well where's Deadboy Jr. now?"

"Xander." Dawn warned as she came trotting back in the hospital room, Spike in tow.

"Yeah, whelp." Spike snapped. "I don't much like that name."

"Spike." Buffy whispered with a broad smile across her face.

"What's the what luv?" Spike asked, moving beside Xander. "How ya feeling?"

"I'm fine!" she shouted, earning looks from everyone else in the room.

"Well I met the doc in the hallway," Spike said. Buffy's face immediately lit up. "He said you're good to go anytime."

"Finally." She sighed in exasperation. Buffy swung her legs over the side of the bed to reveal a fully clothed Buffy.

"When did you dress?" Giles asked removing his glasses and cleaning them.

"Well I figured as soon I got word I could leave I would want to be out of here, so when you went back to the Magic Box and Spike and Dawn went for food I got dressed." She explained as she leaned over and slid on her boots, zipping them up the side. "Okay," Buffy said as she stood up, "let's go."

The people that left the hospital room was more than anyone ever thought you could fit in. Buffy walked down the hall to the nurses' station and practically signed her life away, but at last she was free.

"So what are we thinking?" Willow addressed the group as Buffy filled out yet another form. "We reconvening at the Magic Box?"

"We could always head to the Bronze tonight." Xander suggested.

"I like the Bronze." Anya said evenly. "They have loud music, sticky floors, and cheap drinks. It's the ideal place for America's youth to spend their lives."

"Yes," Giles said taking charge of the group, "well it's up to Buffy."

"Why don't we just crash at the house?" Buffy said handing a clipboard and pen back to the receptionist.

"Alright." Dawn said, quickly becoming excited. "We can have a party. A Buffy's Coming Home party."

"Niblet," Spike said wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "she was only gone for a night. Not really celebration worthy."

Dawn looked up at Spike with wide eyes. Spike knew what she wanted to celebrate, but since there were only four people that knew about it thus far, it wouldn't be much of a celebration.

"Here you go Miss Summers," the receptionist said, breaking the conversation. She handed Buffy a small pack of papers she was to give to her insurance company. "Give these to the lady at the front desk on your way out and she can send them to your insurance for you."

"Thanks," Buffy said flashing the young woman a warm smile.

"You're free to go," she said. "I hope you and the twins are very happy and stay healthy."

Everyone froze. Buffy looked up at Spike, Dawn, and Giles, a frightened look across her face. She looked as she had just seen a ghost, only a ghost really wouldn't have scared her that much. Dawn's eyes were huge; like a cartoon characters. Spike looked like he was ready to split. Giles, of course, was cleaning his glasses.

However, Xander, Willow, Tara, and Anya were staring at Buffy with blank experiences. None of them knew exactly what the hell was going on.

"Buff?" Xander ventured, finally breaking the incredibly awkward silence. But Buffy didn't answer.

"Buffy?" Willow asked.

The nauseous feeling in Buffy's stomach had returned. She felt the need to run into the bathroom and never come out again. Everything was coming out into the open and it was not when or where Buffy had planned.

"Well this is awkward." Anya said. Xander looked at her and she gave him her 'what did I say?' face.

"Perhaps we should discuss this in a more, uh, private place?" Giles suggested, momentarily freeing Buffy.

"Back at the house." Buffy said weakly. And without another word, she turned and walked away.