Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
etc... except of course the ones I make up.
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married.
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FAMILY
Chapter 29: Mere Moments
Spike was just beginning to feel the ache of running two miles without stopping. The backs of his knees were burning and the muscles in his back were seizing painfully with each giant leap toward the house. His body screamed for him to stop but still he pressed on. Spike had long since lost logic as he continued to run.
The wind continued to beat against Spike's face and ears, and he could taste death on his lips. It was hard for him to tell whether or not it was his fears causing this reaction. Was the death drummer's drumming it just in his mind, or was it a sign? Was the beating of the wind against his cool flesh some sort of omen, telling him that he was too late? It couldn't be, he insisted to himself. But that didn't ease the fear of what he might find when he reached the house.
As Revello Drive drew nearer, Spike could swear that he heard blood rushing to his head and pounding in his ears. He came to his senses and realized that it was merely the sound of his feet beating the asphalt as he sprinted the final few yards home.
He turned the corner onto Revello and could see something, though he was not sure what, happening on the front lawn. From where he was, it appeared as though three or four vampires were... were they... dancing?
No, Spike soon realized as he got closer. They were beating something. A small form held by a rather large and ugly vampire. And it looked like...
"Oh God," he moaned quietly, "Buffy."
His legs beat faster and faster. He was only a few feet away now and the three vampires not holding Buffy were stepping back, staring down at her battered form. But as Spike neared, he saw that it was the other Summers being held and abused. The vampire holding Dawn took her head between his hands just as Spike's feet padded on the grass of the front lawn. Before any of the vampires could react, he leaped onto the one holding the Slayer and her head fell from his hands and she collapsed onto the ground.
Spike's head was spinning with rage as his fists beat the already mangled face of the vampire. He pulled out a stake from his pocket and thrust it into the chest of the vampire, who cried out and crumbled to dust beneath him.
Spike turned around and saw that the remaining three vampires were once again advancing on Dawn, but he wasn't going to let that happen. He got up, a predatory growl rumbling in his chest as he shifted into vamp face. Just as he was about to take them on, one of them turned to ashes before his eyes. As he blew away in the wind, Sid's form appeared from behind the ash, still holding a stake where the vampire's heart had just been. His eyes connected with Spike's for just a moment, but he knew what he needed to do.
Spike pulled Dawn into his arm and took her away from where Sid was now beating on the vampires, and doing an amazing job for a human. In the distance, Spike saw Giles running toward the house. Feeling that now things were relatively under control, he looked down at Dawn who blinked at him a few times. He couldn't tell whether or not she recognized him through her bleary, battered eyes.
"Oh God, Dawn..."
"Buffy..." She choked the words eagerly before coughing up a mouthful of blood. "Upstairs," she breathed the word so quietly that Spike was sure he wouldn't have heard it if not for his powerful vampire hearing. He looked up and saw that Giles had just reached the front lawn and was standing next to him and Dawn.
"Dawn! Is she-"
"I don't-" Spike began, but chose not to finish his thought. "Buffy's upstairs."
Giles nodded and leapt up the porch stairs to the front door. He twisted the doorknob but when he found that it was locked he took a step back and kicked it open with a loud crash. He stepped inside to a dismally quiet house and there were no signs of anyone being home.
"Buffy!" He called out desperately, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. He swallowed hard, suppressing his fear, waiting a few moments for a response. When he got none, he bounded up the stairs and headed straight for her bedroom. He opened the door, which he was glad to find she had not chosen to lock, and continued in. He saw her immediately, huddled up next to the bed, crying hysterically with her hands gripping the phone tightly. She looked up at him with large, hazel eyes and choked a sob that sob that shook her entire body.
"Buffy! Are you all right?"
She shook her head and continued to cry. Giles knelt down beside her and took her hands.
"It's okay now, Buffy. Sid and Spike and I are here, you'll be okay."
She nodded and took a deep, calming breath. She blew out the air from between her wet lips and a sudden, terrifying realization hit her. Giles hadn't said anything about Dawn.
"Oh God," she gasped, startling her watcher. "Dawn! Is Dawn okay?"
Giles avoided Buffy's eyes as he told her, "she's alive."
"That's it?" Buffy asked angrily, wanting more information than that.
"Look, I didn't really get the chance to see what was happening with Dawn. I pretty much just ran past that and came in here to get you. All I know from what I saw is that Sid is fighting the two remaining vampires and Spike has taken Dawn away from that."
Buffy felt some relief at these words and she sighed heavily. "Dawn's with Spike..."
"Yes," Giles assured her. "Spike has her. Did you reach anyone on the phone?"
"Yeah, I got to Xander about ten minutes ago. He and Willow are coming over here now."
"That's good," Giles said, nodding his head absently. "A little extra help is always-"
Giles train of thought was run off the tracks by the abrupt pain he felt in his left hand, which was holding Buffy's. She was suddenly bearing down on his hand, and he could feel his knuckles grinding together. He gasped loudly, and Buffy's clenched eyes opened. She hadn't even realized what she had just done.
"Oh! Giles!" She exclaimed apologetically while loosening her grip on him without letting go. "I'm sorry, it's just..."
"Buffy, are you saying that-?"
She nodded and Giles took a moment to take it all in. "How long have you been having contractions?"
"About an hour."
"Right, then. You still have quite a few hours before we need to worry."
"Giles, I've been worrying my freaking brains out for the past hour!"
Giles considered this. "True."
Buffy shot a nervous glance over her shoulder toward her bedroom window when she heard a car pulling up into her driveway. "It's gotten pretty quiet except for that car. Do you think that means that-"
"Only one way to find out," Giles informed her, as he picked her up into his arms and carried her downstairs.
~*~
Spike pulled Dawn's body tightly against his chest. Her violent shivering was her only significant movements, that and the fierce coughs that rattled her body, causing blood to drip down the sides of her mouth.
Spike looked up and saw that Sid had already taken out one of the two other vampires. He moved with speed and stealth that he had never seen on a human, besides the slayers of course. He watched in awe as Sid easily ducked the sloppy blows of his vampire opponent, and before he knew what hit him, he was blowing in the wind. Sid dusted himself off and walked quickly over to where Spike was cradling Dawn.
"How is she?"
Spike was just about to answer when he heard the slightest bit of noise escape from Dawn's lips.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, Sweet Bit?"
"Buffy?" She asked simply, her voice still no more than a slight whisper.
"It's fine, Giles has gone in to get her. It's going to be fine, all right?"
Dawn smiled weakly; her full lips were dry and stained with blood, and Spike had to fight back the tears forming behind his sapphire eyes.
"Look, Dawn, I know you're hurt and all but I need to ask you something... Sid and Giles and I took out two of the eight in the cemetery, and another four when we got here. Were there only four when you came outside?"
Dawn's head swayed gently from side to side.
"No? Right, did you kill two of them?"
Dawn nodded and Spike smiled. He ran his hand through her hair and carefully down the side of her bruised face.
"That's my girl," he cooed gently. But upon hearing these words, Dawn's eyes filled with tears that rolled softly down her cheeks, mixing with and muddying the dirt on her face.
"Dawn, love, what is it?"
"I... I couldn't stop." she coughed loudly, "them. I... failed..." here she took a deep, rattling breath and winced, "Buffy. I couldn't-"
"Shh," Spike quieted her labored speech and shook his head at her. "You failed no one, you understand? You-"
But Dawn had stopped listening. She shifted her body as best as she could and buried her face in Spike's chest as she forced herself not to cry. She couldn't bear look at him though. She didn't dare gaze up into his knowing blue eyes. She was afraid of what she might find there if she did. Guilt, blame, anger, fear... any of those would be just as horrible. She didn't want to know if he felt like it was his fault, and she certainly didn't want to know if he thought it was hers. She couldn't stand having him be angry at her, and she figured she was afraid enough for the both of them, especially since she was so fearful for herself. The pain coursing through her body was like nothing she had ever felt before. She was sure that she must be dying, and if she weren't, she wished she would.
Dawn turned her head slowly toward where she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, and saw that it was Xander's. Buffy must have finally reached him... a little too late though, she thought bitterly. Why was he here now? Why hadn't he been here fifteen minutes ago when she could have used his help. She watched angrily as Xander stepped out of the car and she noticed that Willow was with him as well.
Xander stepped forward and looked around, gripping a stake tightly in his right hand and a bottle of holy water in his left.
"Vampires?" He asked to no one in particular, though Sid received the question. He looked around as if he too believed there might be vampires left. He then turned back to Xander and shrugged.
"Dust."
Xander nodded. "Oh. Good."
He looked around the front lawn again, just to make sure for himself that they were out of danger. As his eyes traveled across the front porch they fell on Spike who was holding a badly beaten Dawn. The weapons fell from Xander's hands as he began to walk toward her.
"Dawn!"
His pace picked up and he ran to where Spike and Dawn were settled in the grass. He kneeled down by them, his face white with shock upon seeing her so bruised.
"They got to her," he stated rather than asked, and Spike nodded. Dawn watched Xander and Spike talk for a few moments in hushed voices, and she couldn't make out what they were saying. All she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears, and she could feel the tears of anger toward Xander burning her eyes and throat. A sudden wave of terror ran through her as she realized that she never told Spike that Buffy was in labor. At the moment, it seemed dire to Dawn that Spike know Buffy was having the baby. Her body gave an involuntary jump which called Spike and Xander's attention back down on her.
"Nibblet? What is it?"
"Buffy!" She choked the words fiercely, determined to let him know. "...Baby!"
It took a moment for Spike to realize what Dawn was trying to communicate to him. The slayer knew immediately when Spike figure it out because his eyes became wide as he stared anxiously down at her.
"Oh. OH! Buffy! She's having the baby?"
Dawn gave a slight dip of her head to answer his question. She was thankful that he did figure it out rather quickly and that she didn't have to talk anymore.
"That must be why..." Xander began, as a look of comprehension appeared on his face, "why the Zeta Khan were here tonight. They were going to do something with the baby."
Spike felt a sudden wave of horror and his stomach lurched violently as he realized that Xander was right. It was too much of a coincidence otherwise. They had come to take Kat away.
"Yeah," he said softly, determined to show as little emotion as possible. "I guess so."
The three of them sat silently for a few moments, contemplating the horrifying possibilities of what could have happened had Spike, Sid, and Giles not arrived as soon as they had. Xander was the first to shake it off.
"Here," he said quietly, "give Dawn to me."
Spike furrowed his brow and his head shook slightly without his realizing it. "What? Why?"
Xander rolled his eyes in frustration. "She needs to go to a hospital and you need to take care of Buffy! Now give her to me."
Spike realized that Xander was right and he gave a weak nod. Dawn's grip on Spike's shirt tightened but he didn't notice. She didn't want to go with Xander! She wanted to stay with Spike. Xander hadn't saved her! Xander hadn't helped her fight! How could she possibly trust him now?
"Take care of her, yeah?" Spike asked Xander as he placed Dawn into his arms.
"I always do."
As soon as she felt her body slip easily into Xander's arms, all the anger that she felt toward him slipped away as if it had never been there at all. She winced from the pains she felt shooting through her broken arms, but she felt warmth and safeness there as he held her and carried her toward his car. She could see Spike standing and mindlessly wiping the dirt from his jeans.
Dawn was distracted from Spike by the sound of Xander's voice.
"Willow!"
Willow turned away from Sid, who had been explaining what he knew of the night's events. When she was facing Dawn and Xander, she saw the beaten and bloodied slayer for the first time. She cupped her trembling hands over her thin lips as horrified tears sprung to her eyes.
"Oh God, Dawn!"
"Will, keep it together! Come on!"
The redhead nodded and ran her hands through her hair. "Okay," she told him as she let out a long, calming sigh.
"All right. Get in the backseat and I'm gonna pass her to you."
Willow did as she was told quickly and settled herself in the backseat so that she would be ready to take Dawn. Xander passed the younger girl gently to his best friend, who received her just as carefully. He closed the backdoor once he was sure that Dawn's long legs were out of the way. He ran to the front seat of the car and took off toward the Sunnydale Hospital which they all knew so well and hated so much.
~*~
Giles trotted quickly but carefully down the stairs with Buffy securely situated in his arms. As he approached the front door he nearly ran head- on into Spike who was scrambling into the house. Spike stopped short as did Giles, still holding Buffy, and the three stood in the foyer in silence for a few long moments. The silence between them was broken when Buffy broke into a fit of sobs. Giles placed her gently on her feet and she practically fell into Spike's open arms. He took her in and held as if it were the first or that last time.
"Oh God! Buffy!" He said in an almost distraught voice, "God, I was so... I thought I might have lost you."
Buffy buried her face into Spike and held onto him for dear life. She was so happy to have the feeling of his arms around her, and to know that Giles was also standing right behind her. She felt a renewed sense of warmth and safety standing with the two of them. But then she remembered what Spike had been doing before he had come inside.
"Oh!" Buffy exclaimed suddenly, jumping back a bit from Spike. "Dawn?"
"Xander and Willow are taking her to the hospital," Spike informed her. "I don't know how she is but I think she'll be okay, so don't worry. Right now, we just need to get you to the hospital. Right?"
Buffy was about to protest when she realized that he was right. "Yeah." She turned around to face Giles. "Giles, could you grab my hospital bag from my room? It's next to the dresser."
Giles smiled warmly at her and nodded. Before he went upstairs, however, he walked to Buffy and wrapped his arms around her. She was a little taken aback at first by the unexpected embrace but it took her mere seconds to get past that feeling.
"Buffy, words can't even explain how afraid I was for you and Dawn. I am... I'm just glad that you're all right."
Buffy nodded against his shoulder and smiled as fresh tears sprung to her eyes. "Me too."
Giles released her and took off his glasses. He wiped his eyes and replaced them again before he spoke. "Spike, take Buffy to the car, I'll be down in a moment."
Spike nodded and took Buffy's arm. "Come on, love."
Buffy gave another small smile in Giles's direction before heading out the front door with Spike. She immediately noticed Sid standing awkwardly on the front lawn, but when he saw her, he ran right over.
"You all right, kid?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah."
Sid lips twitched at the corners but never formed into a smile. "Glad to hear it. You goin' to the hospital after Dawn?"
"Actually, I'm going to the hospital for me."
This time, Sid's lips curled into a genuine smile. "Oh. Well then, better be on your way."
"Yeah, I guess I should. But you can come if-"
"Nah," Sid told her coolly as he shook his head. "Not yet. I'll check in on you later."
"Okay," Buffy said, understanding why he might not want to come. "But Sid..."
"Yeah?"
Buffy took his hands and gave them a slight squeeze. "Thank you so much for what you've done for me. I can't even tell you what it means to me."
Sid's cheeks turned a slight pink and he shrugged nonchalantly. "So don't."
Buffy nodded thoughtfully and released his hands as Spike led her into the passenger's seat of the car just as Giles came trotting out of the house. He had bags in both hands as he walked briskly up to the car. Spike popped open the trunk and Giles put the bags in. The watcher gave a slight nod to Spike who closed the trunk and got into the driver's seat as Giles got into the back. Buffy watched Sid with warm eyes as Spike pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the hospital.
~*~
TBC...
~*~
Summary: Spike and Buffy are going to have a baby together!!! I know, I know, it's been done about a million times but I promise that this one is different. Anyway, it also deals with all different types of families that could exist in the Buffyverse.
Spoilers: None really
Continuity: It's the sequel to "Apocalypse now... Again". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It picks up a few weeks after where "Apocalypse Now... Again" leaves off. Also, I just thought I'd point out that Tara is alive and with Willow, both witches are living with Buffy. Also, Xander and Anya are married.
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FAMILY
Chapter 29: Mere Moments
Spike was just beginning to feel the ache of running two miles without stopping. The backs of his knees were burning and the muscles in his back were seizing painfully with each giant leap toward the house. His body screamed for him to stop but still he pressed on. Spike had long since lost logic as he continued to run.
The wind continued to beat against Spike's face and ears, and he could taste death on his lips. It was hard for him to tell whether or not it was his fears causing this reaction. Was the death drummer's drumming it just in his mind, or was it a sign? Was the beating of the wind against his cool flesh some sort of omen, telling him that he was too late? It couldn't be, he insisted to himself. But that didn't ease the fear of what he might find when he reached the house.
As Revello Drive drew nearer, Spike could swear that he heard blood rushing to his head and pounding in his ears. He came to his senses and realized that it was merely the sound of his feet beating the asphalt as he sprinted the final few yards home.
He turned the corner onto Revello and could see something, though he was not sure what, happening on the front lawn. From where he was, it appeared as though three or four vampires were... were they... dancing?
No, Spike soon realized as he got closer. They were beating something. A small form held by a rather large and ugly vampire. And it looked like...
"Oh God," he moaned quietly, "Buffy."
His legs beat faster and faster. He was only a few feet away now and the three vampires not holding Buffy were stepping back, staring down at her battered form. But as Spike neared, he saw that it was the other Summers being held and abused. The vampire holding Dawn took her head between his hands just as Spike's feet padded on the grass of the front lawn. Before any of the vampires could react, he leaped onto the one holding the Slayer and her head fell from his hands and she collapsed onto the ground.
Spike's head was spinning with rage as his fists beat the already mangled face of the vampire. He pulled out a stake from his pocket and thrust it into the chest of the vampire, who cried out and crumbled to dust beneath him.
Spike turned around and saw that the remaining three vampires were once again advancing on Dawn, but he wasn't going to let that happen. He got up, a predatory growl rumbling in his chest as he shifted into vamp face. Just as he was about to take them on, one of them turned to ashes before his eyes. As he blew away in the wind, Sid's form appeared from behind the ash, still holding a stake where the vampire's heart had just been. His eyes connected with Spike's for just a moment, but he knew what he needed to do.
Spike pulled Dawn into his arm and took her away from where Sid was now beating on the vampires, and doing an amazing job for a human. In the distance, Spike saw Giles running toward the house. Feeling that now things were relatively under control, he looked down at Dawn who blinked at him a few times. He couldn't tell whether or not she recognized him through her bleary, battered eyes.
"Oh God, Dawn..."
"Buffy..." She choked the words eagerly before coughing up a mouthful of blood. "Upstairs," she breathed the word so quietly that Spike was sure he wouldn't have heard it if not for his powerful vampire hearing. He looked up and saw that Giles had just reached the front lawn and was standing next to him and Dawn.
"Dawn! Is she-"
"I don't-" Spike began, but chose not to finish his thought. "Buffy's upstairs."
Giles nodded and leapt up the porch stairs to the front door. He twisted the doorknob but when he found that it was locked he took a step back and kicked it open with a loud crash. He stepped inside to a dismally quiet house and there were no signs of anyone being home.
"Buffy!" He called out desperately, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. He swallowed hard, suppressing his fear, waiting a few moments for a response. When he got none, he bounded up the stairs and headed straight for her bedroom. He opened the door, which he was glad to find she had not chosen to lock, and continued in. He saw her immediately, huddled up next to the bed, crying hysterically with her hands gripping the phone tightly. She looked up at him with large, hazel eyes and choked a sob that sob that shook her entire body.
"Buffy! Are you all right?"
She shook her head and continued to cry. Giles knelt down beside her and took her hands.
"It's okay now, Buffy. Sid and Spike and I are here, you'll be okay."
She nodded and took a deep, calming breath. She blew out the air from between her wet lips and a sudden, terrifying realization hit her. Giles hadn't said anything about Dawn.
"Oh God," she gasped, startling her watcher. "Dawn! Is Dawn okay?"
Giles avoided Buffy's eyes as he told her, "she's alive."
"That's it?" Buffy asked angrily, wanting more information than that.
"Look, I didn't really get the chance to see what was happening with Dawn. I pretty much just ran past that and came in here to get you. All I know from what I saw is that Sid is fighting the two remaining vampires and Spike has taken Dawn away from that."
Buffy felt some relief at these words and she sighed heavily. "Dawn's with Spike..."
"Yes," Giles assured her. "Spike has her. Did you reach anyone on the phone?"
"Yeah, I got to Xander about ten minutes ago. He and Willow are coming over here now."
"That's good," Giles said, nodding his head absently. "A little extra help is always-"
Giles train of thought was run off the tracks by the abrupt pain he felt in his left hand, which was holding Buffy's. She was suddenly bearing down on his hand, and he could feel his knuckles grinding together. He gasped loudly, and Buffy's clenched eyes opened. She hadn't even realized what she had just done.
"Oh! Giles!" She exclaimed apologetically while loosening her grip on him without letting go. "I'm sorry, it's just..."
"Buffy, are you saying that-?"
She nodded and Giles took a moment to take it all in. "How long have you been having contractions?"
"About an hour."
"Right, then. You still have quite a few hours before we need to worry."
"Giles, I've been worrying my freaking brains out for the past hour!"
Giles considered this. "True."
Buffy shot a nervous glance over her shoulder toward her bedroom window when she heard a car pulling up into her driveway. "It's gotten pretty quiet except for that car. Do you think that means that-"
"Only one way to find out," Giles informed her, as he picked her up into his arms and carried her downstairs.
~*~
Spike pulled Dawn's body tightly against his chest. Her violent shivering was her only significant movements, that and the fierce coughs that rattled her body, causing blood to drip down the sides of her mouth.
Spike looked up and saw that Sid had already taken out one of the two other vampires. He moved with speed and stealth that he had never seen on a human, besides the slayers of course. He watched in awe as Sid easily ducked the sloppy blows of his vampire opponent, and before he knew what hit him, he was blowing in the wind. Sid dusted himself off and walked quickly over to where Spike was cradling Dawn.
"How is she?"
Spike was just about to answer when he heard the slightest bit of noise escape from Dawn's lips.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, Sweet Bit?"
"Buffy?" She asked simply, her voice still no more than a slight whisper.
"It's fine, Giles has gone in to get her. It's going to be fine, all right?"
Dawn smiled weakly; her full lips were dry and stained with blood, and Spike had to fight back the tears forming behind his sapphire eyes.
"Look, Dawn, I know you're hurt and all but I need to ask you something... Sid and Giles and I took out two of the eight in the cemetery, and another four when we got here. Were there only four when you came outside?"
Dawn's head swayed gently from side to side.
"No? Right, did you kill two of them?"
Dawn nodded and Spike smiled. He ran his hand through her hair and carefully down the side of her bruised face.
"That's my girl," he cooed gently. But upon hearing these words, Dawn's eyes filled with tears that rolled softly down her cheeks, mixing with and muddying the dirt on her face.
"Dawn, love, what is it?"
"I... I couldn't stop." she coughed loudly, "them. I... failed..." here she took a deep, rattling breath and winced, "Buffy. I couldn't-"
"Shh," Spike quieted her labored speech and shook his head at her. "You failed no one, you understand? You-"
But Dawn had stopped listening. She shifted her body as best as she could and buried her face in Spike's chest as she forced herself not to cry. She couldn't bear look at him though. She didn't dare gaze up into his knowing blue eyes. She was afraid of what she might find there if she did. Guilt, blame, anger, fear... any of those would be just as horrible. She didn't want to know if he felt like it was his fault, and she certainly didn't want to know if he thought it was hers. She couldn't stand having him be angry at her, and she figured she was afraid enough for the both of them, especially since she was so fearful for herself. The pain coursing through her body was like nothing she had ever felt before. She was sure that she must be dying, and if she weren't, she wished she would.
Dawn turned her head slowly toward where she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, and saw that it was Xander's. Buffy must have finally reached him... a little too late though, she thought bitterly. Why was he here now? Why hadn't he been here fifteen minutes ago when she could have used his help. She watched angrily as Xander stepped out of the car and she noticed that Willow was with him as well.
Xander stepped forward and looked around, gripping a stake tightly in his right hand and a bottle of holy water in his left.
"Vampires?" He asked to no one in particular, though Sid received the question. He looked around as if he too believed there might be vampires left. He then turned back to Xander and shrugged.
"Dust."
Xander nodded. "Oh. Good."
He looked around the front lawn again, just to make sure for himself that they were out of danger. As his eyes traveled across the front porch they fell on Spike who was holding a badly beaten Dawn. The weapons fell from Xander's hands as he began to walk toward her.
"Dawn!"
His pace picked up and he ran to where Spike and Dawn were settled in the grass. He kneeled down by them, his face white with shock upon seeing her so bruised.
"They got to her," he stated rather than asked, and Spike nodded. Dawn watched Xander and Spike talk for a few moments in hushed voices, and she couldn't make out what they were saying. All she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears, and she could feel the tears of anger toward Xander burning her eyes and throat. A sudden wave of terror ran through her as she realized that she never told Spike that Buffy was in labor. At the moment, it seemed dire to Dawn that Spike know Buffy was having the baby. Her body gave an involuntary jump which called Spike and Xander's attention back down on her.
"Nibblet? What is it?"
"Buffy!" She choked the words fiercely, determined to let him know. "...Baby!"
It took a moment for Spike to realize what Dawn was trying to communicate to him. The slayer knew immediately when Spike figure it out because his eyes became wide as he stared anxiously down at her.
"Oh. OH! Buffy! She's having the baby?"
Dawn gave a slight dip of her head to answer his question. She was thankful that he did figure it out rather quickly and that she didn't have to talk anymore.
"That must be why..." Xander began, as a look of comprehension appeared on his face, "why the Zeta Khan were here tonight. They were going to do something with the baby."
Spike felt a sudden wave of horror and his stomach lurched violently as he realized that Xander was right. It was too much of a coincidence otherwise. They had come to take Kat away.
"Yeah," he said softly, determined to show as little emotion as possible. "I guess so."
The three of them sat silently for a few moments, contemplating the horrifying possibilities of what could have happened had Spike, Sid, and Giles not arrived as soon as they had. Xander was the first to shake it off.
"Here," he said quietly, "give Dawn to me."
Spike furrowed his brow and his head shook slightly without his realizing it. "What? Why?"
Xander rolled his eyes in frustration. "She needs to go to a hospital and you need to take care of Buffy! Now give her to me."
Spike realized that Xander was right and he gave a weak nod. Dawn's grip on Spike's shirt tightened but he didn't notice. She didn't want to go with Xander! She wanted to stay with Spike. Xander hadn't saved her! Xander hadn't helped her fight! How could she possibly trust him now?
"Take care of her, yeah?" Spike asked Xander as he placed Dawn into his arms.
"I always do."
As soon as she felt her body slip easily into Xander's arms, all the anger that she felt toward him slipped away as if it had never been there at all. She winced from the pains she felt shooting through her broken arms, but she felt warmth and safeness there as he held her and carried her toward his car. She could see Spike standing and mindlessly wiping the dirt from his jeans.
Dawn was distracted from Spike by the sound of Xander's voice.
"Willow!"
Willow turned away from Sid, who had been explaining what he knew of the night's events. When she was facing Dawn and Xander, she saw the beaten and bloodied slayer for the first time. She cupped her trembling hands over her thin lips as horrified tears sprung to her eyes.
"Oh God, Dawn!"
"Will, keep it together! Come on!"
The redhead nodded and ran her hands through her hair. "Okay," she told him as she let out a long, calming sigh.
"All right. Get in the backseat and I'm gonna pass her to you."
Willow did as she was told quickly and settled herself in the backseat so that she would be ready to take Dawn. Xander passed the younger girl gently to his best friend, who received her just as carefully. He closed the backdoor once he was sure that Dawn's long legs were out of the way. He ran to the front seat of the car and took off toward the Sunnydale Hospital which they all knew so well and hated so much.
~*~
Giles trotted quickly but carefully down the stairs with Buffy securely situated in his arms. As he approached the front door he nearly ran head- on into Spike who was scrambling into the house. Spike stopped short as did Giles, still holding Buffy, and the three stood in the foyer in silence for a few long moments. The silence between them was broken when Buffy broke into a fit of sobs. Giles placed her gently on her feet and she practically fell into Spike's open arms. He took her in and held as if it were the first or that last time.
"Oh God! Buffy!" He said in an almost distraught voice, "God, I was so... I thought I might have lost you."
Buffy buried her face into Spike and held onto him for dear life. She was so happy to have the feeling of his arms around her, and to know that Giles was also standing right behind her. She felt a renewed sense of warmth and safety standing with the two of them. But then she remembered what Spike had been doing before he had come inside.
"Oh!" Buffy exclaimed suddenly, jumping back a bit from Spike. "Dawn?"
"Xander and Willow are taking her to the hospital," Spike informed her. "I don't know how she is but I think she'll be okay, so don't worry. Right now, we just need to get you to the hospital. Right?"
Buffy was about to protest when she realized that he was right. "Yeah." She turned around to face Giles. "Giles, could you grab my hospital bag from my room? It's next to the dresser."
Giles smiled warmly at her and nodded. Before he went upstairs, however, he walked to Buffy and wrapped his arms around her. She was a little taken aback at first by the unexpected embrace but it took her mere seconds to get past that feeling.
"Buffy, words can't even explain how afraid I was for you and Dawn. I am... I'm just glad that you're all right."
Buffy nodded against his shoulder and smiled as fresh tears sprung to her eyes. "Me too."
Giles released her and took off his glasses. He wiped his eyes and replaced them again before he spoke. "Spike, take Buffy to the car, I'll be down in a moment."
Spike nodded and took Buffy's arm. "Come on, love."
Buffy gave another small smile in Giles's direction before heading out the front door with Spike. She immediately noticed Sid standing awkwardly on the front lawn, but when he saw her, he ran right over.
"You all right, kid?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah."
Sid lips twitched at the corners but never formed into a smile. "Glad to hear it. You goin' to the hospital after Dawn?"
"Actually, I'm going to the hospital for me."
This time, Sid's lips curled into a genuine smile. "Oh. Well then, better be on your way."
"Yeah, I guess I should. But you can come if-"
"Nah," Sid told her coolly as he shook his head. "Not yet. I'll check in on you later."
"Okay," Buffy said, understanding why he might not want to come. "But Sid..."
"Yeah?"
Buffy took his hands and gave them a slight squeeze. "Thank you so much for what you've done for me. I can't even tell you what it means to me."
Sid's cheeks turned a slight pink and he shrugged nonchalantly. "So don't."
Buffy nodded thoughtfully and released his hands as Spike led her into the passenger's seat of the car just as Giles came trotting out of the house. He had bags in both hands as he walked briskly up to the car. Spike popped open the trunk and Giles put the bags in. The watcher gave a slight nod to Spike who closed the trunk and got into the driver's seat as Giles got into the back. Buffy watched Sid with warm eyes as Spike pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the hospital.
~*~
TBC...
~*~