The End and Beginning
Chp. 16
(A.N.: I meant to have this up last night, but computer problems abounded. I'm sorry to everyone who is reading, if anyone is still reading this. To the person that asked about Holden, Spike sired him, in Conversations. To the person that said the last chappy was BORING, I'm sorry that it was, it had to be done or there would have been one heck of a gap in the story.)
Spike finally finds a sign over a door that says 'MEDICAL'.
"Well Bit, looks like we finally found the soddin' infirmary." He says as he pushes the door open.
"Oh!" The nurse says as they enter. "You startled me, what seems to be the problem?"
Dawn blushes as Spike sits her down on an exam table, against the wall.
"Well, luv, seems the Bit here had herself a little accident. I'm sure she can tell you better than me, what happened." Spike says as he crosses his arms over his chest, smirking, and then looking her up and down.
Buffy walks in behind him and smacks him in the back of the head. "Were you flirting with her? You WERE flirting with her, weren't you?"
"Well, Luv." He says turning around to look at her. He sees Knox and the Whelp snickering behind her. " Like I said."
"I know, I know, YOU CAN'T HELP IT." She says sarcastically.
'She isn't even pretty." She says under her breath.
Spike just looks at her and smirks.
The nurse blushes and says again. "What happened, that you would have to be carried in here?" She addresses Dawn and forgets about he conversation the two blondes is having.
Dawn hastily says, just to keep Buffy and Spike from either getting into a fight or getting all mushy. " I jumped down off of a table I was sitting on and twisted my ankle."
"I need to see it, and make sure it isn't broken."
"Oh, believe me, it's not broken."
"How can you tell? From what I see you haven't walked on it."
"I was until" she looks pointedly at Spike. "Spike came along. It's not broken, plus no excruciating pain like when I broke my arm."
"Okay, I'll take you word for it. I still need to see it, so I can see what needs to be done."
Dawn takes her shoe and sock off. The ankle is swollen a little bit, but it's definitely not broken.
"It's a good thing your friend thought to carry you here. That swelling could have been a lot worse, than it is."
Spike gives her a smug look, arms still on his chest. The look screams 'I told you so'.
"From what I can see, it's just a light sprain." The nurse explains while checking out the injury. "You do need to stay off of it for a little while, so the swelling will go down. I'll get you something for the pain and some ice. When the swelling goes down, I'll wrap it for you." She walks off to get the supplies she needs.
"Alright, when can I leave?"
"I don't know, a little while longer. It's hard to tell with swelling, it shouldn't be too long." The nurse says from another part of the infirmary.
"Well there goes my own 'Exclusive Knox Tour'. Dawn says brokenhearted.
"We can always do it after you're done here." Knox suggests.
"Yeah, but I'll be slow and limpy."
"Dawnie, I don't think he cares if you're slow and limpy." Buffy says.
"Don't feel sorry for yourself, Nibblet. You could have broken that bleedin' ankle and instead of sitting her for a little while, you could be in the hospital and have to wait a day or two, before you got to go on that tour."
"Bleach boys, right. Did I just say Spike was right, oh god another apocalypse is comin' isn't it? Anyway, Dawnie think of the good, no hospital, just a tiny cubicle, in a law firm." Xander says.
Buffy and Knox stare stunned at Xander and Spike.
"They really love that girl, don't they?" Knox comments.
"Yeah they really do. I can tell you, you mess with her and you mess with them. A piece of advice to you, you don't want to mess with any of us. Especially Spike, he promised to protect her 'Til the end of the world' and he meant it. He will tear you limb from limb if you try anything." Buffy gives him a stern warning.
"I get it, and I would never do anything, she didn't ask me to. No worries from Lab Boy here."
"That's good to hear, I was giving you sound advice though. Heed it." Buffy says as she turns to walk out into the hall. " We're all family, Knox. All of us." She says over her shoulder.
Spike heard the whole conversation, but only paid attention to the last few comments.
Buffy gets to the door, "Dawn, go on the tour, with him after you're done here." With that she's out the door.
"Take care of her, Lab Boy." Spike says as he follows Buffys' footsteps. "Whelp?"
"Yeah, Bleach Boy?"
"Make sure she stays off that ankle, 'til that swelling's completely gone."
"Will do." Xander calls as Spike walks out the door.
'Wasn't planning on going anywhere, anyway." He says under his breath, as the door closes.
"Heard that, Whelp."
"Damn vampire hearing."
"He's overprotective, isn't he?" Knox points out the obvious.
"Yeah, but he loves them, tolerates the rest for them. If he didn't he wouldn't even give a damn." Xander says.
(Out in the hall)
Buffy's standing by the door of the infirmary, contemplating.
Spike steps in front of her, head cocked to the side, trying to look in her eyes.
"What'cha thinkin' 'bout, Luv?"
"Hey." She says shaken out of her reverie. "Nothing."
"Didn't look like nothin', Luv."
"You look like you have something on your mind." She changes the subject. He lets her. Thinking *If she wants to tell me she eventually will. *
"I was just wonderin' if you meant what you said in there, about the family thing?"
"Spike yes I did, you are family. If you weren't before you defiantly are now. You know what? I think you've been family for awhile now, longer than I care to admit really." She says the last as a joke.
"Really, Luv?"
"Really, Spike, I mean we didn't act like it, I know. You were always around. Your sort of like that long lost, annoying cousin, that we never knew we had."
"Gee, Luv, that was a strange and not so inspiring speech." Spike says sarcastically.
"Well, what did you want me to say? Brother? That has an ick factor that I don't want to address at this moment."
"See your problem with that one, Pet." He says as he slides down the wall at his back, and grabbing her arms to pull her down with him. Placing her between his knees as he sits. He wraps his arms around her, as she turns to face the door.
He whispers, "I think I'd rather be the kissing cousin, though, Pet. Doesn't totally get rid of the ick factor, but it's better than being your brother." He then kisses and nips at the back of her neck.
"Spike, don't do that. At least not here, anyway."
"Why not? We're not far from the medical supplies, if we get a little rough, Luv." He snarks as he leans his head over her shoulder to see her face.
"Spike!" She looks him in the eye, smirking. " Dawn, Xander, and Dawns new thing are in there, not excluding that nurse you found so interesting. Do you want everybody to see just how good it could be?"
'Oh, my god, Xander would just love to that!'
"I see your point there, Luv. I don't think I want the Whelp to see the goods, he's not getting, or see any part of my woman I haven't seen in way too long."
"We can maybe remedy that later tonight, but not right now. Right now we need to make sure that Dawn is really okay, and then figure out what the hell is up with you. When Dawns done in there we'll call a meeting and see what we can do about you."
"Sounds like a plan, Pet, but later I get to sample those goods we were talkin' 'bout, right? God, bloody hope that's right."
"That's right, Spikey, later." She says getting up off the floor, and offering him a hand up.
Ignoring her hand, he jumps up and quickly kisses her. "Right then, let's get this over with."
Buffy chuckles and says, " You just want to get this over with, so you can get to the good parts."
"You're soddin' right, Slayer, as soon as I get this over with, I get you naked." He says looking her Up and down, with an appraising smirk, and looking like the cat that ate the canary.
The others emerge from the infirmary, right at that moment.
"Are we ready to go now?" Dawn asks as they walk out.
"Yep, Dawnie, I think we are." Xander says looking towards Buffy and Spike.
They nod their heads, and walk over to the other three.
Xander points to Dawns newly wrapped foot and asks, " You want me to help you?"
"No thanks Xan, I think Knox can handle it."
"Yeah I can handle it." Knox says looking at Dawn.
"Remember that talk I had with you?" Buffy asks, warningly
"Yeah."
"Don't forget it, it may save your life."
"I got it."
"Just making sure, now take Dawn on that tour."
Knox wraps an arm around Dawn to help stabilize her. They hobble off.
Dawn says, "See you guys later." Beaming brightly over her shoulder.
"She gets what she wants, doesn't she?" Xander snarks.
"Sometimes then other times she wishes that she could get it, like you guys. She never got either one of you. She had such major crushes on both of you."
Spike and Xander stare at her and start chuckling.
"What? She did."
"We know, Buff, that was just funny."
"That was just too bloody funny, I love the Bit, but like she was my own little sister, also it reminded me of that talk we had a few minutes ago. Ick factor, Luv."
"It's the same here, Buff. She's the little sister I never had."
" I know, it's just, she had those crushes and you guys never even noticed. Xander did, but Spike, honey you were just clueless. It was so funny watching her try to get your alls attention. If you had seen some of the stuff, she went through."
"Well, hell, Slayer I was to busy runnin' after you to pay any attention to anything else. That turned out pretty well, though didn't it?"
"We had to die at least once, each, but it did turn out pretty darn well." She says placing a kiss on Spike cheek and taking his hand.
She looks over to Xander. "Xan?"
"Yeah, Buff?"
"Meeting in the conference room, one hour. Take the upper floors and gather everyone you can find. Spike and me are taking the lower floors."
'If anyone asks, we have something that needs to be figured out, but I need to tell the whole group.'
"Is this about the whole vamp hearing thing, Buffy?"
"That's part of it, Xan." She says as she and Spike walk away wrapped around each other.
"Guess I'll see- ya in an hour then."
"Remember everyone you can find in an hour, Xan." She calls back.
"I got it, I got it." He mumbles.
"I heard that Whelp." Spike yells.
Xander yells back "I figured you did."
"Boy always has to get the last word, just like someone else I know." Spike says.
Xander takes off in the opposite direction, thinking *time to muster the troops. *
Chp. 16
(A.N.: I meant to have this up last night, but computer problems abounded. I'm sorry to everyone who is reading, if anyone is still reading this. To the person that asked about Holden, Spike sired him, in Conversations. To the person that said the last chappy was BORING, I'm sorry that it was, it had to be done or there would have been one heck of a gap in the story.)
Spike finally finds a sign over a door that says 'MEDICAL'.
"Well Bit, looks like we finally found the soddin' infirmary." He says as he pushes the door open.
"Oh!" The nurse says as they enter. "You startled me, what seems to be the problem?"
Dawn blushes as Spike sits her down on an exam table, against the wall.
"Well, luv, seems the Bit here had herself a little accident. I'm sure she can tell you better than me, what happened." Spike says as he crosses his arms over his chest, smirking, and then looking her up and down.
Buffy walks in behind him and smacks him in the back of the head. "Were you flirting with her? You WERE flirting with her, weren't you?"
"Well, Luv." He says turning around to look at her. He sees Knox and the Whelp snickering behind her. " Like I said."
"I know, I know, YOU CAN'T HELP IT." She says sarcastically.
'She isn't even pretty." She says under her breath.
Spike just looks at her and smirks.
The nurse blushes and says again. "What happened, that you would have to be carried in here?" She addresses Dawn and forgets about he conversation the two blondes is having.
Dawn hastily says, just to keep Buffy and Spike from either getting into a fight or getting all mushy. " I jumped down off of a table I was sitting on and twisted my ankle."
"I need to see it, and make sure it isn't broken."
"Oh, believe me, it's not broken."
"How can you tell? From what I see you haven't walked on it."
"I was until" she looks pointedly at Spike. "Spike came along. It's not broken, plus no excruciating pain like when I broke my arm."
"Okay, I'll take you word for it. I still need to see it, so I can see what needs to be done."
Dawn takes her shoe and sock off. The ankle is swollen a little bit, but it's definitely not broken.
"It's a good thing your friend thought to carry you here. That swelling could have been a lot worse, than it is."
Spike gives her a smug look, arms still on his chest. The look screams 'I told you so'.
"From what I can see, it's just a light sprain." The nurse explains while checking out the injury. "You do need to stay off of it for a little while, so the swelling will go down. I'll get you something for the pain and some ice. When the swelling goes down, I'll wrap it for you." She walks off to get the supplies she needs.
"Alright, when can I leave?"
"I don't know, a little while longer. It's hard to tell with swelling, it shouldn't be too long." The nurse says from another part of the infirmary.
"Well there goes my own 'Exclusive Knox Tour'. Dawn says brokenhearted.
"We can always do it after you're done here." Knox suggests.
"Yeah, but I'll be slow and limpy."
"Dawnie, I don't think he cares if you're slow and limpy." Buffy says.
"Don't feel sorry for yourself, Nibblet. You could have broken that bleedin' ankle and instead of sitting her for a little while, you could be in the hospital and have to wait a day or two, before you got to go on that tour."
"Bleach boys, right. Did I just say Spike was right, oh god another apocalypse is comin' isn't it? Anyway, Dawnie think of the good, no hospital, just a tiny cubicle, in a law firm." Xander says.
Buffy and Knox stare stunned at Xander and Spike.
"They really love that girl, don't they?" Knox comments.
"Yeah they really do. I can tell you, you mess with her and you mess with them. A piece of advice to you, you don't want to mess with any of us. Especially Spike, he promised to protect her 'Til the end of the world' and he meant it. He will tear you limb from limb if you try anything." Buffy gives him a stern warning.
"I get it, and I would never do anything, she didn't ask me to. No worries from Lab Boy here."
"That's good to hear, I was giving you sound advice though. Heed it." Buffy says as she turns to walk out into the hall. " We're all family, Knox. All of us." She says over her shoulder.
Spike heard the whole conversation, but only paid attention to the last few comments.
Buffy gets to the door, "Dawn, go on the tour, with him after you're done here." With that she's out the door.
"Take care of her, Lab Boy." Spike says as he follows Buffys' footsteps. "Whelp?"
"Yeah, Bleach Boy?"
"Make sure she stays off that ankle, 'til that swelling's completely gone."
"Will do." Xander calls as Spike walks out the door.
'Wasn't planning on going anywhere, anyway." He says under his breath, as the door closes.
"Heard that, Whelp."
"Damn vampire hearing."
"He's overprotective, isn't he?" Knox points out the obvious.
"Yeah, but he loves them, tolerates the rest for them. If he didn't he wouldn't even give a damn." Xander says.
(Out in the hall)
Buffy's standing by the door of the infirmary, contemplating.
Spike steps in front of her, head cocked to the side, trying to look in her eyes.
"What'cha thinkin' 'bout, Luv?"
"Hey." She says shaken out of her reverie. "Nothing."
"Didn't look like nothin', Luv."
"You look like you have something on your mind." She changes the subject. He lets her. Thinking *If she wants to tell me she eventually will. *
"I was just wonderin' if you meant what you said in there, about the family thing?"
"Spike yes I did, you are family. If you weren't before you defiantly are now. You know what? I think you've been family for awhile now, longer than I care to admit really." She says the last as a joke.
"Really, Luv?"
"Really, Spike, I mean we didn't act like it, I know. You were always around. Your sort of like that long lost, annoying cousin, that we never knew we had."
"Gee, Luv, that was a strange and not so inspiring speech." Spike says sarcastically.
"Well, what did you want me to say? Brother? That has an ick factor that I don't want to address at this moment."
"See your problem with that one, Pet." He says as he slides down the wall at his back, and grabbing her arms to pull her down with him. Placing her between his knees as he sits. He wraps his arms around her, as she turns to face the door.
He whispers, "I think I'd rather be the kissing cousin, though, Pet. Doesn't totally get rid of the ick factor, but it's better than being your brother." He then kisses and nips at the back of her neck.
"Spike, don't do that. At least not here, anyway."
"Why not? We're not far from the medical supplies, if we get a little rough, Luv." He snarks as he leans his head over her shoulder to see her face.
"Spike!" She looks him in the eye, smirking. " Dawn, Xander, and Dawns new thing are in there, not excluding that nurse you found so interesting. Do you want everybody to see just how good it could be?"
'Oh, my god, Xander would just love to that!'
"I see your point there, Luv. I don't think I want the Whelp to see the goods, he's not getting, or see any part of my woman I haven't seen in way too long."
"We can maybe remedy that later tonight, but not right now. Right now we need to make sure that Dawn is really okay, and then figure out what the hell is up with you. When Dawns done in there we'll call a meeting and see what we can do about you."
"Sounds like a plan, Pet, but later I get to sample those goods we were talkin' 'bout, right? God, bloody hope that's right."
"That's right, Spikey, later." She says getting up off the floor, and offering him a hand up.
Ignoring her hand, he jumps up and quickly kisses her. "Right then, let's get this over with."
Buffy chuckles and says, " You just want to get this over with, so you can get to the good parts."
"You're soddin' right, Slayer, as soon as I get this over with, I get you naked." He says looking her Up and down, with an appraising smirk, and looking like the cat that ate the canary.
The others emerge from the infirmary, right at that moment.
"Are we ready to go now?" Dawn asks as they walk out.
"Yep, Dawnie, I think we are." Xander says looking towards Buffy and Spike.
They nod their heads, and walk over to the other three.
Xander points to Dawns newly wrapped foot and asks, " You want me to help you?"
"No thanks Xan, I think Knox can handle it."
"Yeah I can handle it." Knox says looking at Dawn.
"Remember that talk I had with you?" Buffy asks, warningly
"Yeah."
"Don't forget it, it may save your life."
"I got it."
"Just making sure, now take Dawn on that tour."
Knox wraps an arm around Dawn to help stabilize her. They hobble off.
Dawn says, "See you guys later." Beaming brightly over her shoulder.
"She gets what she wants, doesn't she?" Xander snarks.
"Sometimes then other times she wishes that she could get it, like you guys. She never got either one of you. She had such major crushes on both of you."
Spike and Xander stare at her and start chuckling.
"What? She did."
"We know, Buff, that was just funny."
"That was just too bloody funny, I love the Bit, but like she was my own little sister, also it reminded me of that talk we had a few minutes ago. Ick factor, Luv."
"It's the same here, Buff. She's the little sister I never had."
" I know, it's just, she had those crushes and you guys never even noticed. Xander did, but Spike, honey you were just clueless. It was so funny watching her try to get your alls attention. If you had seen some of the stuff, she went through."
"Well, hell, Slayer I was to busy runnin' after you to pay any attention to anything else. That turned out pretty well, though didn't it?"
"We had to die at least once, each, but it did turn out pretty darn well." She says placing a kiss on Spike cheek and taking his hand.
She looks over to Xander. "Xan?"
"Yeah, Buff?"
"Meeting in the conference room, one hour. Take the upper floors and gather everyone you can find. Spike and me are taking the lower floors."
'If anyone asks, we have something that needs to be figured out, but I need to tell the whole group.'
"Is this about the whole vamp hearing thing, Buffy?"
"That's part of it, Xan." She says as she and Spike walk away wrapped around each other.
"Guess I'll see- ya in an hour then."
"Remember everyone you can find in an hour, Xan." She calls back.
"I got it, I got it." He mumbles.
"I heard that Whelp." Spike yells.
Xander yells back "I figured you did."
"Boy always has to get the last word, just like someone else I know." Spike says.
Xander takes off in the opposite direction, thinking *time to muster the troops. *