Buffy, Faith, and Xander approached the mansion.
"So, B, What's the plan?"
"Well the spell should be done in a few hours. Until then we have to find Spike and Cordelia and make sure they are safe." Buffy answered looking between the two of them. "Xander, you don't fight. Just get Cordelia and get out. I'll get Spike. Faith be careful of Drusilla. She killed Kendra." They looked at each other seriously.
"B, your love life never runs smooth does it?" Faith said trying to break the somber mood.
"Tell me about it." Buffy muttered as they approached the mansion.
As soon as they entered Xander crept quietly behind the two Slayers as they faced off with the minions. It really wasn't much of a fight. Soon the three of them were searching empty room after empty room when they heard Cordelia scream from the end of the hall. They ran.
Entering the room the first through Xander had, was that he wanted-no needed- to vomit. Spike was a bloody unconscious mess. He heard Buffy gasp beside him and he put his hand on her arm.
"He's still alive." Xander tried to reassure her not even noticing he said Spike was alive not undead. Buffy nodded. Then they looked over at Cordelia. Her ear was bleeding and she had scratches from Dru's nails all over her face and arms. Her legs were bound but her arms were free. Angelus smirked at the horror etched on their features.
"Well hello lover. So glad you could join us for the show. And I see you brought snacks." He said glancing at Faith and Xander.
Without a word Buffy and Faith attacked, too appalled to think of any clever quips. Faith jumped at Dru who immediately pushed Cordelia to the floor. Buffy leapt at Angelus kicking him in the gut. Xander ran to Cordelia and began to drag her from the room. He kept wondering why she was saying that she was sorry.
Drusilla was soon overpowered by Faith but she had one trick left. Gazing into the Slayer's eyes as Faith pulled her stake back to strike…
"Be in me. Be in me…" Drusilla mumbled.
Buffy heard her and glanced over to see Faith's blow stop halfway to the mark.
"Faith no!" Buffy yelled. But with her distraction Angelus backhanded her and she fell to the floor. He was soon on top of her…
Faith looked down at Dru blankly. She didn't understand what was going on. She felt like she was moving in slow motion. She vaguely heard Buffy yell something and tried to move her hand but she couldn't. She did feel it though when Dru's fangs entered her neck…
Xander untied Cordelia once they were out of the room and was helping her down the hallway. She was still mumbling something. Then he heard Buffy yell to Faith. Should they go back? Cordelia didn't look too good…
Cordelia felt numb. She was weak…so weak. She had tortured someone who had only hours before been trying to protect her. She felt some pain in her body now and could tell that she was bleeding, but nothing else seemed to penetrate her fog. Then she heard Buffy yell to Faith. She couldn't let someone else get hurt. Not now. Snapping out of her daze she ran back to the room with Xander close behind her…
Buffy struggled as Angelus held her arms. He laughed and suddenly took a deep intake of breath as his eyes lit up and Buffy knew he now had his soul back. Pushing him off her, Buffy saw two figures rush by her and she realized it was Cordelia and Xander. Buffy leapt up to save Faith but saw Cordelia bend over and pick up a stake and swiftly drive it into Drusilla's back. Drusilla turned to dust and Faith collapsed on the ground.
Xander bent to take her pulse. "She's alive." He breathed in relief. Cordelia began to cry again and Buffy went over to retrieve an unconscious Spike. His face was barely recognizable from the scars and burns. Buffy began to cry over him whispered "I love you." One of eyes opened slightly and he sighed.
"I'll always love you Buffy." Spike said in a half delirious tone and he passed out again.
Angel looked on confused. What was going on? Then he remembered. He had turned Buffy.
"No." He said quietly. "NO!" Angel roared as the last few days came rushing back to him. He looked at the others and quickly ran from them. Xander, Buffy, and Cordelia looked at each soberly.
"Can you get Faith and Cordy to the hospital Xan? I need to get Spike out of here." Buffy said quietly. Xander nodded and they slowly limped out of the mansion.
*****
All he felt was pain. Then slowly his senses began to come back to him. He was lying on a bed. Comfy. There was someone familiar curled up next to him with a hand on his thigh. He inhaled a familiar scent…
"Buffy?" Spike asked softly. Buffy shot up and he slowly opened his eye. She looked beautiful. And worried. "What's wrong pet?"
"Oh Spike." She said softly and she began to cry. He felt her take his hand in hers and he tried to move to hold her but he groaned in pain. "Shhhhh. Don't move. Just…just let me take care of you." She stroked his hair lovingly.
"Don't leave." He murmured. She smiled at him.
"I just need to call my mom to get some blood. We've been so worried about you. You were out for three days. Everyone's been by to see you." Buffy kissed a small unburned spot on his forehead and went to call her mom. That's when Spike realized that they were at her house. He was in her bed. He smiled and then…hey wait…everyone had been to see him? THREE BLOODY DAYS!
Buffy sat next to him on the bed and took his hand again. "I was so worried." She said and kissed his hand.
"Luv, who all has been by? What's been happening?"
"Yeah, well. When I brought you back you here. Mom took one look at you and said she was putting curtains in my room and she ordered Giles to help me carry you up."
Spike hesitantly asked "What do I look like Buffy?"
She bit her lip. "Not too good Spike."
"Tell me." She looked into his weary tired eyes and sighed.
"Almost all the skin is burned off your face. You- you have a hole in your stomach…" She trailed off unable to further catalogue his injuries. He closed his eyes.
"How can you look at me?" He was filled with self-disgust. This was worse than the bloody wheel chair.
"Spike, I love you." His eyes shot open.
"What? No you don't. You just feel bloody sorry for me. I won't have you pity me Slayer."
"I told you when we found you so listen you bleached idiot…" Her mother entering carrying a tray with several mugs of blood interrupted Buffy's tirade.
"Here you go honey. I'll just leave the two of you alone. Oh and try not spill any blood." Joyce said with a smile. "Glad to see you're feeling better Spike." She smiled at him and set the tray down quietly exiting the room and closing the door. She really hoped that Spike would realize that Buffy wasn't telling him that out of pity.
Spike reached for a mug but his hand was intercepted by Buffy's. With gentle movements she began to talk to him, but her tone was still sharp.
"Ok listen. I don't feel sorry for you, you stupid vampire. I realized it before I saw you all bloody and broken. Ask my mom if you don't believe me. God, are you so stubborn that you can't believe that I would actually love you?" She put the mug down and grabbed another.
"But how can you? I don't deserve you ducks."
"Drink." As he took the straw in his mouth she looked at his raw face and gently stroked his hair. "Oh Spike. How can you think so little of yourself? You, you willingly gave up everything you know just to be in my life. You always tell me the truth no matter what it'll cost you. You know me so well Spike. How can I not love you?"
He finished the second mug and she reached for the third but he put his hand on her arm. She looked at him in surprise. He painfully lifted his hand to stroke her cheek.
"I love you too Buffy." She closed her eyes and leaned over to lightly kiss his lips. Spike sighed in contentment. "So that wasn't a dream before? My head in your lap and you saying that you loved me in the mansion?"
Buffy smiled at him and kissed him carefully again. "No. That was real my love." He smiled again at her words and she helped him with the third mug. There was a knock at the door.
"Buffy? It's me. Willow. Your mom said that Spike was up. Can I come in?"
"Sure Wills." Buffy answered. She pulled a blanket over Spike and smoothed back his hair as Willow came in.
"Hey Red." He greeted her and tried to move into a sitting position, but gasped in pain. Buffy moved to help him and he shot her an annoyed look. She rolled her eyes at him and continued to help him.
"Spike...I, uh…well I came to do a spell for you. You know to help with the pain." Willow said. She started to unpack the candles from her bag and Spike looked at her in disbelief.
"Why?" He asked.
"What? Oh well you know. You're not so bad." He gave a look that clearly said 'yeah right'. "I mean you've changed Spike. You saved my life and well…Oz told me what you said." She looked at him thoughtfully. "It means a lot."
Buffy smiled at her friend. Willow's desire to help had probably already made Spike feel a lot better. Willow quickly completed the spell and left Spike and Buffy alone.
"So pet. What else has been happening?"
"Actually I need to ask you about what happened at the mansion. Cordelia has barely said a word since this happened. Way wiggy too. A quiet Cordelia. And Angel's gone. No one's seen him since he ran from the mansion and well Dru's dust." Buffy paused and watched him take in that fact.
Spike sighed. "Who?"
"Cordelia actually. I'm glad too. I don't know if I could have done it knowing how much she meant to you. Even though she was draining Faith and I really don't like Drusilla…" Spike squeezed her hand and blinked back some tears. "It's ok to cry Spike. I know you feel bad about it."
"I'm sad that she is gone pet, but not that the cheerleader did it. What they did to her…" He trailed off looking at Buffy uncomfortably.
"Spike, what is it? I have to know. She hasn't said anything. Not even to complain about the scars on her face."
Spike really didn't want to tell her. But he knew that look she had. "Pet. Angelus told her to torture me or her would kill her. She wouldn't at first and he started to hurt her. I told her to go ahead. She still wouldn't and he said that he would feed her to Dru. She did then. I think she's blaming herself for my condition. But it wasn't her fault love. I'm still alive…er undead. But she would have been dead. I knew you would blame yourself."
"Cordelia did this to you?" Buffy was shocked.
"Not all. Angelus wasn't really satisfied with her job and took over. The last thing I remember was he gave her to Dru to play with and he began again." Spike chuckled a little and Buffy sucked in a deep breathe.
"No wonder she kept crying and saying that she was sorry. Xander said at the hospital she fought them from cleaning out her wounds. Said that she deserved them." Buffy felt really bad. Spike was right- Cordelia would have been dead if she hadn't done anything. "I'd better call her…"
"No. Wait love. Let me heal a bit before she comes over. Don't want her to cry at my bloody ugly face." He tried to smirk at her and she smiled at him sliding back into the bed beside him.
"You'll never be ugly to me." She kissed his lips and snuggled into his form. "Let's get some rest and then you need to eat some more blood."
Spike put his arm around her and closed his eyes in contentment. He couldn't believe that this was his life.
*****
Spike healed fairly quickly thanks to the healing spells Willow performed. Buffy and Cordelia had a talk about what had happened at the mansion and she was able to convince Cordelia to go see Spike. Spike told her not to worry about him and to his great surprise she began to cry again. He threatened to eat her if she didn't stop acting like a 'broody poof'. That promptly stopped her crying and helped her bounce back to her normal self. She was currently freaking out about getting her scars removed.
Faith was out of the hospital quickly thanks to her slayer powers and was taking over patrol so that Buffy could stay with Spike. She was really looking forward to when he got better. Patrol was boring by herself.
Willow and Oz were closer and he was finding it easier everyday to trust her. They would go over to talk with Buffy and Spike after school. It was an odd mix- a werewolf, a witch, and two vampires. But they found that the conversation always flowed easily. They were planning on doing something 'normal' once Spike was better. Like bowling.
Xander didn't know what to think. He was grateful to Spike for the torture he had gone through to keep Cordelia alive. He was still trying to get back together with Cordelia but she wouldn't tolerate him saying anything negative about Spike or his relationship with Buffy since he saved her life. It was going to be a while.
Ever since that night at the mansion the others hadn't seen Angel. They were all relieved because they really didn't know how they would react around him. He was still in Sunnydale watching over Buffy, but he would hide whenever she or Spike started to sense his presence.
After the mansion incident Giles decided he needed to increase up Buffy's training. He set up a training space in her basement so Spike could come and watch. Giles was looking forward to a time when Spike was feeling better and could train with Buffy, but not as much as Buffy and Spike were looking forward to it.
*****
Wesley walked down the halls of Sunnydale high school. It had been one week since his release from the hospital. He couldn't believe that he had been so lax in his duty not to inform the council of this sooner.
"Hello is Quentin Travers there?…this is Wesley Wyndam-Price…Yes the Wesley in Sunnydale…No Faith is still alive…Actually…no Mr. Giles is still here. I called because of Buffy…No. I realize she's dead. She's been turned…well no actually she kept her soul…Yes I understand. I await your arrival."
Wesley hung up the phone. Now this matter would be dealt with in the appropriate manner.
"So, B, What's the plan?"
"Well the spell should be done in a few hours. Until then we have to find Spike and Cordelia and make sure they are safe." Buffy answered looking between the two of them. "Xander, you don't fight. Just get Cordelia and get out. I'll get Spike. Faith be careful of Drusilla. She killed Kendra." They looked at each other seriously.
"B, your love life never runs smooth does it?" Faith said trying to break the somber mood.
"Tell me about it." Buffy muttered as they approached the mansion.
As soon as they entered Xander crept quietly behind the two Slayers as they faced off with the minions. It really wasn't much of a fight. Soon the three of them were searching empty room after empty room when they heard Cordelia scream from the end of the hall. They ran.
Entering the room the first through Xander had, was that he wanted-no needed- to vomit. Spike was a bloody unconscious mess. He heard Buffy gasp beside him and he put his hand on her arm.
"He's still alive." Xander tried to reassure her not even noticing he said Spike was alive not undead. Buffy nodded. Then they looked over at Cordelia. Her ear was bleeding and she had scratches from Dru's nails all over her face and arms. Her legs were bound but her arms were free. Angelus smirked at the horror etched on their features.
"Well hello lover. So glad you could join us for the show. And I see you brought snacks." He said glancing at Faith and Xander.
Without a word Buffy and Faith attacked, too appalled to think of any clever quips. Faith jumped at Dru who immediately pushed Cordelia to the floor. Buffy leapt at Angelus kicking him in the gut. Xander ran to Cordelia and began to drag her from the room. He kept wondering why she was saying that she was sorry.
Drusilla was soon overpowered by Faith but she had one trick left. Gazing into the Slayer's eyes as Faith pulled her stake back to strike…
"Be in me. Be in me…" Drusilla mumbled.
Buffy heard her and glanced over to see Faith's blow stop halfway to the mark.
"Faith no!" Buffy yelled. But with her distraction Angelus backhanded her and she fell to the floor. He was soon on top of her…
Faith looked down at Dru blankly. She didn't understand what was going on. She felt like she was moving in slow motion. She vaguely heard Buffy yell something and tried to move her hand but she couldn't. She did feel it though when Dru's fangs entered her neck…
Xander untied Cordelia once they were out of the room and was helping her down the hallway. She was still mumbling something. Then he heard Buffy yell to Faith. Should they go back? Cordelia didn't look too good…
Cordelia felt numb. She was weak…so weak. She had tortured someone who had only hours before been trying to protect her. She felt some pain in her body now and could tell that she was bleeding, but nothing else seemed to penetrate her fog. Then she heard Buffy yell to Faith. She couldn't let someone else get hurt. Not now. Snapping out of her daze she ran back to the room with Xander close behind her…
Buffy struggled as Angelus held her arms. He laughed and suddenly took a deep intake of breath as his eyes lit up and Buffy knew he now had his soul back. Pushing him off her, Buffy saw two figures rush by her and she realized it was Cordelia and Xander. Buffy leapt up to save Faith but saw Cordelia bend over and pick up a stake and swiftly drive it into Drusilla's back. Drusilla turned to dust and Faith collapsed on the ground.
Xander bent to take her pulse. "She's alive." He breathed in relief. Cordelia began to cry again and Buffy went over to retrieve an unconscious Spike. His face was barely recognizable from the scars and burns. Buffy began to cry over him whispered "I love you." One of eyes opened slightly and he sighed.
"I'll always love you Buffy." Spike said in a half delirious tone and he passed out again.
Angel looked on confused. What was going on? Then he remembered. He had turned Buffy.
"No." He said quietly. "NO!" Angel roared as the last few days came rushing back to him. He looked at the others and quickly ran from them. Xander, Buffy, and Cordelia looked at each soberly.
"Can you get Faith and Cordy to the hospital Xan? I need to get Spike out of here." Buffy said quietly. Xander nodded and they slowly limped out of the mansion.
*****
All he felt was pain. Then slowly his senses began to come back to him. He was lying on a bed. Comfy. There was someone familiar curled up next to him with a hand on his thigh. He inhaled a familiar scent…
"Buffy?" Spike asked softly. Buffy shot up and he slowly opened his eye. She looked beautiful. And worried. "What's wrong pet?"
"Oh Spike." She said softly and she began to cry. He felt her take his hand in hers and he tried to move to hold her but he groaned in pain. "Shhhhh. Don't move. Just…just let me take care of you." She stroked his hair lovingly.
"Don't leave." He murmured. She smiled at him.
"I just need to call my mom to get some blood. We've been so worried about you. You were out for three days. Everyone's been by to see you." Buffy kissed a small unburned spot on his forehead and went to call her mom. That's when Spike realized that they were at her house. He was in her bed. He smiled and then…hey wait…everyone had been to see him? THREE BLOODY DAYS!
Buffy sat next to him on the bed and took his hand again. "I was so worried." She said and kissed his hand.
"Luv, who all has been by? What's been happening?"
"Yeah, well. When I brought you back you here. Mom took one look at you and said she was putting curtains in my room and she ordered Giles to help me carry you up."
Spike hesitantly asked "What do I look like Buffy?"
She bit her lip. "Not too good Spike."
"Tell me." She looked into his weary tired eyes and sighed.
"Almost all the skin is burned off your face. You- you have a hole in your stomach…" She trailed off unable to further catalogue his injuries. He closed his eyes.
"How can you look at me?" He was filled with self-disgust. This was worse than the bloody wheel chair.
"Spike, I love you." His eyes shot open.
"What? No you don't. You just feel bloody sorry for me. I won't have you pity me Slayer."
"I told you when we found you so listen you bleached idiot…" Her mother entering carrying a tray with several mugs of blood interrupted Buffy's tirade.
"Here you go honey. I'll just leave the two of you alone. Oh and try not spill any blood." Joyce said with a smile. "Glad to see you're feeling better Spike." She smiled at him and set the tray down quietly exiting the room and closing the door. She really hoped that Spike would realize that Buffy wasn't telling him that out of pity.
Spike reached for a mug but his hand was intercepted by Buffy's. With gentle movements she began to talk to him, but her tone was still sharp.
"Ok listen. I don't feel sorry for you, you stupid vampire. I realized it before I saw you all bloody and broken. Ask my mom if you don't believe me. God, are you so stubborn that you can't believe that I would actually love you?" She put the mug down and grabbed another.
"But how can you? I don't deserve you ducks."
"Drink." As he took the straw in his mouth she looked at his raw face and gently stroked his hair. "Oh Spike. How can you think so little of yourself? You, you willingly gave up everything you know just to be in my life. You always tell me the truth no matter what it'll cost you. You know me so well Spike. How can I not love you?"
He finished the second mug and she reached for the third but he put his hand on her arm. She looked at him in surprise. He painfully lifted his hand to stroke her cheek.
"I love you too Buffy." She closed her eyes and leaned over to lightly kiss his lips. Spike sighed in contentment. "So that wasn't a dream before? My head in your lap and you saying that you loved me in the mansion?"
Buffy smiled at him and kissed him carefully again. "No. That was real my love." He smiled again at her words and she helped him with the third mug. There was a knock at the door.
"Buffy? It's me. Willow. Your mom said that Spike was up. Can I come in?"
"Sure Wills." Buffy answered. She pulled a blanket over Spike and smoothed back his hair as Willow came in.
"Hey Red." He greeted her and tried to move into a sitting position, but gasped in pain. Buffy moved to help him and he shot her an annoyed look. She rolled her eyes at him and continued to help him.
"Spike...I, uh…well I came to do a spell for you. You know to help with the pain." Willow said. She started to unpack the candles from her bag and Spike looked at her in disbelief.
"Why?" He asked.
"What? Oh well you know. You're not so bad." He gave a look that clearly said 'yeah right'. "I mean you've changed Spike. You saved my life and well…Oz told me what you said." She looked at him thoughtfully. "It means a lot."
Buffy smiled at her friend. Willow's desire to help had probably already made Spike feel a lot better. Willow quickly completed the spell and left Spike and Buffy alone.
"So pet. What else has been happening?"
"Actually I need to ask you about what happened at the mansion. Cordelia has barely said a word since this happened. Way wiggy too. A quiet Cordelia. And Angel's gone. No one's seen him since he ran from the mansion and well Dru's dust." Buffy paused and watched him take in that fact.
Spike sighed. "Who?"
"Cordelia actually. I'm glad too. I don't know if I could have done it knowing how much she meant to you. Even though she was draining Faith and I really don't like Drusilla…" Spike squeezed her hand and blinked back some tears. "It's ok to cry Spike. I know you feel bad about it."
"I'm sad that she is gone pet, but not that the cheerleader did it. What they did to her…" He trailed off looking at Buffy uncomfortably.
"Spike, what is it? I have to know. She hasn't said anything. Not even to complain about the scars on her face."
Spike really didn't want to tell her. But he knew that look she had. "Pet. Angelus told her to torture me or her would kill her. She wouldn't at first and he started to hurt her. I told her to go ahead. She still wouldn't and he said that he would feed her to Dru. She did then. I think she's blaming herself for my condition. But it wasn't her fault love. I'm still alive…er undead. But she would have been dead. I knew you would blame yourself."
"Cordelia did this to you?" Buffy was shocked.
"Not all. Angelus wasn't really satisfied with her job and took over. The last thing I remember was he gave her to Dru to play with and he began again." Spike chuckled a little and Buffy sucked in a deep breathe.
"No wonder she kept crying and saying that she was sorry. Xander said at the hospital she fought them from cleaning out her wounds. Said that she deserved them." Buffy felt really bad. Spike was right- Cordelia would have been dead if she hadn't done anything. "I'd better call her…"
"No. Wait love. Let me heal a bit before she comes over. Don't want her to cry at my bloody ugly face." He tried to smirk at her and she smiled at him sliding back into the bed beside him.
"You'll never be ugly to me." She kissed his lips and snuggled into his form. "Let's get some rest and then you need to eat some more blood."
Spike put his arm around her and closed his eyes in contentment. He couldn't believe that this was his life.
*****
Spike healed fairly quickly thanks to the healing spells Willow performed. Buffy and Cordelia had a talk about what had happened at the mansion and she was able to convince Cordelia to go see Spike. Spike told her not to worry about him and to his great surprise she began to cry again. He threatened to eat her if she didn't stop acting like a 'broody poof'. That promptly stopped her crying and helped her bounce back to her normal self. She was currently freaking out about getting her scars removed.
Faith was out of the hospital quickly thanks to her slayer powers and was taking over patrol so that Buffy could stay with Spike. She was really looking forward to when he got better. Patrol was boring by herself.
Willow and Oz were closer and he was finding it easier everyday to trust her. They would go over to talk with Buffy and Spike after school. It was an odd mix- a werewolf, a witch, and two vampires. But they found that the conversation always flowed easily. They were planning on doing something 'normal' once Spike was better. Like bowling.
Xander didn't know what to think. He was grateful to Spike for the torture he had gone through to keep Cordelia alive. He was still trying to get back together with Cordelia but she wouldn't tolerate him saying anything negative about Spike or his relationship with Buffy since he saved her life. It was going to be a while.
Ever since that night at the mansion the others hadn't seen Angel. They were all relieved because they really didn't know how they would react around him. He was still in Sunnydale watching over Buffy, but he would hide whenever she or Spike started to sense his presence.
After the mansion incident Giles decided he needed to increase up Buffy's training. He set up a training space in her basement so Spike could come and watch. Giles was looking forward to a time when Spike was feeling better and could train with Buffy, but not as much as Buffy and Spike were looking forward to it.
*****
Wesley walked down the halls of Sunnydale high school. It had been one week since his release from the hospital. He couldn't believe that he had been so lax in his duty not to inform the council of this sooner.
"Hello is Quentin Travers there?…this is Wesley Wyndam-Price…Yes the Wesley in Sunnydale…No Faith is still alive…Actually…no Mr. Giles is still here. I called because of Buffy…No. I realize she's dead. She's been turned…well no actually she kept her soul…Yes I understand. I await your arrival."
Wesley hung up the phone. Now this matter would be dealt with in the appropriate manner.