The next day resumes like it is any other. The potentials wake up bright and early in the morning to get ready for the days training. Willow, Anya, Xander and Giles are in the dining room with all the books that they have. They are still researching even though they have no lead or any new information on the First.
Meanwhile, Buffy is in the living room trying to wake the dead.
"Faith. Faith." Buffy says. Realizing that Faith isn't going to budge, Buffy does what she does best.
"Ow!" Faith grumbles as she clutches her jaw.
"Do you wake everyone up this way, B?" Faith murmurs.
"I could get used to it," Buffy replies. "Get up, you are going to train the girls today."
"Great, I get to train walking fashion disasters." Faith says.
"They're waiting for you whenever you are ready." Buffy says.
"Right, B." Faith replies.
Faith has arrived at the Summers' home yesterday. She had gotten a message from someone that the Hellmouth was brewing up again so she got out of jail and came to the rescue.
Faith fixes herself up and heads for the bathroom for a quick brush and to wash her face. Buffy heads into the kitchen to get some breakfast, she starts to pour herself some orange juice when Willow walks into the kitchen.
"Hey," Willow says.
"Hey," Buffy replies.
"How ya doin'?"
"I'm ok, just a little worried."
"About Spike."
"Yeah. Well, it's just that he's been so quiet and all avoid-o since Mya left. I'm afraid that maybe I made a mistake."
"Buffy, don't worry. He'll be fine. He just needs time to adjust."
"I know. But Mya just seemed so different. I mean one minute she's getting you guys to shake your groove thing and then the next she's pinned Spike down with a stake above his heart. It's just so confusing, Will."
"You think maybe, maybe it's another trigger?"
"I doubt it. She's not all insane and crazy. And plus I doubt that the First would use the same strategy twice."
"I dunno, Buffy. This situation is a little shaky. But you're probably right. The First does seem to like variation. "
"But what was wrong with Mya?"
"Who knows? She was nice though."
"Well, what-what do you think about her and Spike?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, do you think they're – um – well together?"
"Oh, um, I dunno Buffy. Maybe they're just really, really good friends. You're not-"
"No. I mean no, I was just wondering."
"Ok, Buffy. I'm gonna go check on the research mill. You wanna come with?"
"No thanks. I've gotta go check on something."
"Alright. Take care, ok?"
"I will."
Spike is sitting on his cot with Dawn sitting beside him. Dawn wants to make sure that Spike is ok and that he doesn't do anything crazy. She sits next to him with rapt attention.
"You ok?" Dawn asks.
"Yeah, I'm alright." Spike responds.
"Here," Dawn says and hands him a mug. "Drink this. You haven't had any blood in while."
"Thanks, Niblet." Spike replies and drinks the warm pigsblood that Dawn had brought him in his favorite mug. Spike finishes his blood and puts the mug down. He turns to Dawn with a serious demeanor.
"Dawnie, promise me that everything we say, talk about, stays between us." Spike asks.
"Spike, what if-" Dawn tries to say.
"Just promise me. I don't want anyone to know about this. I don't want anyone feelin' sorry for me." Spike interrupts.
"Spike, no one is going to feel sorry for you," Dawn says. "But I promise that whatever we talk about, stays between us."
"Thanks, Dawn." Spike whispers.
Just as Spike finishes his thank you, the door of the basement squeaks open as Buffy walks down the stairs. She stops halfway down the stairs when she sees two pairs or eyes staring back at her.
"Dawn? What are you doing down here?" Buffy questions.
"I-I was just giving Spike some-some blood." Dawn says.
Dawn grabs the mug and quickly gets off the cot to go upstairs. Dawn walks up the stairs to meet Buffy and gives her a pat on the arm. She walks up a couple more steps before glancing back at Spike as he returns an assuring nod. Dawn finally leaves the basement and Buffy descends the stairs.
"You ok?" Buffy asks.
"I'm fine, how are you?" Spike replies.
Buffy quickly recognizes the phrase and reacts. She turns her head to question the remark but only to find a confused vampire staring back at her.
"What? Was it something I said?" Spike asks.
"No, no. I just thought that-" Buffy starts.
"I lost it." Spike finishes.
"No," Buffy says comfortingly, "It's just that you said that right before you went all bumpy fangy."
"Oh." Spike responds.
An awkward silence fills the room as they both wait for one another to say something. The silence goes on for about one minute but it feels like an eternity.
"I am detriggered, you know." Spike finally speaks.
"I know," Buffy replies, "It's just that I'm always one alert, you know, if something happens."
"I understand." Spike says.
The silence returns but this time it is deafening. Buffy stands in the darkness as Spike sits on his cot. They both have nothing to say. Buffy finally decides that this is no use so she makes up her mind.
"I'm gonna go check on the research, maybe they've found something. You wanna join?" Buffy asks.
"'S alright. I'm gonna get some sleep, you know creature of then night and all." Spike declines.
"Ok." Buffy says and heads up the stairs.
Buffy walks into the dining room as Willow, Xander, Anya, and Giles are up to their necks in research.
"Find anything?" Buffy asks hopefully.
"Well, we found out that the First plans to-" Xander tries to say.
"We have nothing." Anya interrupts.
"I was gonna get to that part." Xander pouts.
"We haven't found anything that we don't already know," Giles says.
"I guess we're back to square one." Willow adds.
"Keep trying guys. I know we'll find something eventually." Buffy says helpfully.
"How's the research goin', guys?" Spike says cheerfully.
"Spike!" Buffy almost screams. "I thought you were sleeping."
"Couldn't," Spike answers. "So, what's the plan?"
"We're just researching today. Faith is with the potentials." Buffy answers.
"Alright," Spike says, "I guess I won't be any help there."
Spike walks out of the dining room and plops himself onto the couch. He sits there effortlessly as if he doesn't have a care in the world. Buffy looks on as Spike flips through a magazine that is on the table.
"Guess he's feelin' better." Xander comments.
"Look at him, all depressed and lonely," Buffy whispers under her breath.
"What did you say, Buff?" Xander asks.
"I mean yeah. I guess he's taking it well," Buffy lies. "Let's get back to the research, shall we?"
Everyone gets settled once again as they start to flip through the pages of all the books that they have. Dawn quickly slips out of the room to go accompany Spike. She sits next to him on the couch as he flips through the magazine.
"You do know that you're reading that upside-down," Dawn tells.
Spike peers over the edge of the magazine as he lifts his eyebrow annoyed. He takes another look at the magazine and flips it around. He looks through a couple more pages before throwing it back on the table.
"How am I doin'?" Spike whispers.
"Seems good to me," Dawn answers.
"Hey!" Spike says suddenly, "Remember that story I was tellin' you in my crypt?"
"Yeah," Dawn answers.
"You wanna know how it ends?" Spike questions.
"Totally!" Dawn squeaks.
Dawn grabs a pillow and gets comfy on the couch as Spike starts the story from where they had left off. Thing were getting easier for Spike, little by little.