Chapter 10

Buffy was moved to one of the rooms upstairs so she would be more comfortable. After sitting with her for a while, Spike headed downstairs to join the others. Wesley explained that he didn't know of an antidote, but Spike wouldn't listen to that. He knew that there had to be a way to save her because he believed that the Earth wouldn't bring her back to him and everyone else and then take her away again. So, he would do whatever he could to find a way to help her. He walked into Angel's office to find them all looking through books. "You find anything?" They all looked up at him.

"I'm afraid not." Wesley told him. "There doesn't seem to be anything." Spike sighed.

"There has to be, you just have to keep looking." Wesley nodded and went back to his book. Angel turned his gaze on Spike.

"I know this is hard, but you have to understand that there may not be a way to save her." Spike glared at him.

"Are you willing to give up on her, to just let her die?" Angel looked down and didn't say anything. "Well, neither am I." With that he walked out of the office. He went outside to light a cigarette when he saw Dawn. "Hey nibblet, how you holding up?" Dawn looked up at him and he noticed that she has been crying.

"Not good, my sister is dying again and there's nothing I can do." Spike sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned her head on his shoulder and cried.

"Shhh, it'll be alright. Big sis is a fighter, if anyone can get out of this she can." Dawn nodded and then raised her head to look at him.

"Someone should call Giles and let him know. He might have books that Wesley doesn't; maybe he could find something that will save her." Spike nodded.

"I'll get right on that, you just relax alright. She's not dying again, I won't let her." Dawn seemed better after that and Spike went inside. He decided to let Wesley be the one to call Giles. He figured it would be better coming from him. Angel decided that he couldn't stick around with everything that was going on and decided to patrol to make himself useful. Gunn offered to go with him, but he wanted to go alone. While Wesley went to call Giles, Spike went upstairs to sit with Buffy. He walked in to see her in the same position he left her in. She looked so young and helpless just laying there. He pulled a chair up to her bed and sat in it. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and held her hand, which felt so tiny in his. "You'll get through this, sweetheart. I know you will." He told her even though she probably couldn't hear him. "Just know that I will always love you, Buffy. I'm not going anywhere." He said as he kissed her forehead. He then sat back down and watched her when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked up to see Alex standing in the doorway.

"Sorry to interrupt, how is she?" She asked.

"There's no change." Alex nodded and pulled up another chair to sit in.

"Wes said that Giles will call back if he finds anything." Spike nodded and didn't say anything. "I feel like this is my fault, that I wasn't able to save her." Spike shook his head.

"It wasn't your fault, pet. You did all you could. At least she got more time because of you." Alex nodded.

"Yeah, I just wish I could have done more. I could imagine how hard it was for you guys to lose her that other time. I took it hard and I didn't even know her as well. I just would hate to see you go through that again." Spike nodded and they just sat there in silence when Dawn walked into the room.

"Is there room for one more?" She asked, looking at them.

"Always for you, nibblet." Dawn smiled as Spike stood up to give her his chair. She sat down and Spike sat on the floor by Buffy's bed, still holding on to her hand. Then they all managed to fall asleep.